####### *May 21-23, 2005*![](media/image1.png){width="0.875in" height="0.875in"}

**"USAID/Philippines does not vouch for the accuracy or the opinions of
the articles provided in this press clipping service and assume no
responsibility for their content.  Please contact USAID/Philippines at
<webmaster@usaid-ph.gov> if you have any questions about USAID programs
and projects."**

**[STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE #3]{.underline}**

[(Desired family size and improved health sustainably
achieved)]{.underline}

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.5833333333333335in"
height="4.270833333333333in"}

**(Source: Philippine Star, 5/21/05, page K4)**

**STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE #12 (SO12)**

[(Conflict Reduced in Mindanao and Other Areas Vulnerable to
Violence)]{.underline}

**[Want to understand rido?]{.underline}**

(Source: MindaNews Online -- 5/22/05)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/22 May) -- Want to understand rido? Should it be
translated into "blood feud," "family feud" or "clan feud?" Is it s a
major

contributor to the bigger conflict in Mindanao? Does it eat a huge chunk
of a town's meager budget?

Find out more about rido in a conference here on May 31 and June 1 aimed
at presenting the findings of 11 researches to "deepen our
understanding" of the

"dynamics of rido and its relation to peace interventions, conflict
management and security situation."

The conference, "Taking rido seriously: Top level participatory analysis
of clan and community conflicts in Mindanao" is being convened by the
Mindanawon

Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue, with USAID support through The Asia
Foundation.

Venue of the two-day conference is the Marco Polo hotel.

"This academic and executive-level activity carries crucial elements in
understanding various degrees of clan conflicts, family feuds among
communities, and tribal warfare in Mindanao particularly in Regions 9

(Western Mindanao), Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11
(Southwestern Mindanao), and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,"
Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, executive director of Mindanawon, said in his
letter-invitation.

"The results of 11 researches will be discussed and validated in this
conference to deepen our understanding the dynamics of rido and its
relation to peace interventions, conflict management and security
situation," he said. The researches are "Dynamics and Management of
Rido: Study of Rido in the Province of Maguindanao" by Prof. Abhoud Syed
Lingga of Institute of Bangsamoro Studies; "The Celebrated Cases of Rido
(Endemic Clan Conflict)

in Maguindanao and North Cotabato" by the United Youth for Peace and
Development in Cotabato City; "Understanding Interethnic Rido Resulting
to Tribal Conflict in the Boundaries of North Cotabato and Bukidnon:
Towards Creative Conflict Management and Resolutions" by the Consortium
of Bangsamoro Civil Society in Cotabato City); "Management of Clan
Conflict & 'Rido' Among the Tausugs, Maguindanao, Maranao, Sama and
Yakan Tribes" by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Research Center and
Notre Dame University Research Center in Zamboanga City and Cotabato
City, respectively.

The other researches are "Incidences of Clan Conflict and Conflict
Management: Survey of Feuding Families and Clans in Selected Provinces
of Mindanao" by Dr.

Jamail Kamlian, Mindanao State University --Iligan Institute of
Technology ; "Inventory of Existing Rido in Lanao del Sur 1994-2004" by
Dr. Moctar I. Matuan,

Mindanao State University in Marawi City; "Big Wars, Small Wars:
Interplay of large-scale and community armed conflicts in Central
Mindanao" by Jose Jowel

Canuday of the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue in Davao
City; "Conflict Resolution Among Meranao in Baloi, Lanao del Norte" by
Monalinda E.

Doro of the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture in Cagayan de Oro
City; "Choices of Response to Inter-Kin Group Conflict in Northern
Mindanao" by Drs. Erlinda M. Burton and Moctar I. Matuan, Research
Institute for Mindanao Culture in Cagayan de Oro City and "The Rido
Report" by Newsbreak Magazine.

Town mayors, military officials and other government fficials and
representatives of non-government organizations, are expected to attend
the conference,.

(MindaNews)

**[Innove, USAID team up to improve quality of education in
Mindanao]{.underline}**

*By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes\
\
***(Source: Philippine Star Internet Edition -- 5/23/05)**

 

Innove Communications and the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) have joined hands to improve the quality of
education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and in
neighboring conflict-affected areas in Mindanao (CAAM) through the
implementation of various education improvement programs.\
\
In a memorandum of understanding signed recently, both parties agreed to
expand and accelerate the effective use of computer and Internet
technology in at least 300 selected public secondary schools in the
region under the \"CLIC/Innove Partnership Program\" for ARMM and CAAM
schools.\
\
Specifically, USAID, through its Computer Literacy and Internet
Connection (CLIC) project being implemented under the Growth with Equity
in Mindanao (GEM) program, will provide Internet connection to the
target schools until Dec. 2006 and will supply the local area network,
computers, software, printers, training and education.\
\
Innove, for its part, will offer free installation of Internet
connection hardware and a one-year Internet subscription, a reduction of
subsequent Internet fees by 50 percent in the second year onward, and a
donation of three computers to selected schools.\
\
Innove, a Globe Telecom subsidiary, will also help previously-connected
CLIC schools to migrate to the latest Internet technology as needed.\
\
Innove and USAID said that by sharing resources, skills and expertise,
they will be able to extend the benefits of their individual programs to
a greater number of schools in ARMM and CAAM, thereby, supporting the
efforts of the National Government to expand computer literacy and
information technology preparedness among students and teachers in the
area.\
\
The two organizations also plan to initiate similar activities that will
expand the training opportunities for teachers and students, as well as
assist schools in implementing a sustainability plan.\
\
\"We are committed to supporting the socioeconomic development of
Mindanao. And one critical area of concern which warrants assistance
from the business community is education, particularly in ARMM and CAAM
which are suffering from poor literacy rate caused by poverty, limited
access to schools, long-standing armed conflict and an historically
unstable peace and order situation,\" said Gil B. Genio, Innove's chief
executive officer.\
\
He added: \"Through innovative partnerships like what we have with
USAID, we hope to upgrade the skills of both the teachers and students
and equip them with basic information and communications technology
(ICT) skills and competencies that will allow them to become globally
competitive.\"\
\
On the other hand, US Amb. Francis Ricciardone, a former US school
teacher, noted that computer and Internet skills would give the students
an expanded opportunity to find high quality employment and to become
global entrepreneurs.\
\
\"Narrowing the digital divide between schools in Mindanao and
elsewhere - both in the Philippines and the rest of the world - is
important and vital, both as a means of equalizing educational
opportunity and expanding access to worldwide information and as a tool
for economic development and global citizenship,\" Ricciardone said.

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![](media/image4.jpeg){width="3.875in" height="3.7381944444444444in"}

**(Source: Manila Bulletin, 5/22/05, page B1-B2)**

![](media/image5.png){width="3.5527777777777776in"
height="4.045138888888889in"}

**(Source: Philippine Star, 5/23/05, page B5)**

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height="2.7840277777777778in"}

**(Source: Philippine Star, 5/23/05, page A26)**

![](media/image7.png){width="3.1444444444444444in"
height="5.871527777777778in"}

**(Source: The Daily Tribune, 5/23/05, page 11)**

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height="3.620833333333333in"}

**(Source: Philippine Star, 5/22/05, page 18)**

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height="4.204166666666667in"}

**(Source: Manila Standard Today, 5/23/05, page B3)**