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Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao Archived News

Seal of ARMM

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:

The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

GPH, MILF peace panels urged to return to nego table, agree on new timetable

Source: http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2015/05/31/gph-milf-peace-panels-urged-to-return-to-nego-table-agree-on-new-timetable/
Sunday, May 31, 2015 5:40 pm

By Carolyn O. Arguillas (MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/31 May) — A former member of the government (GPH) peace panel in the negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is proposing that the peace panels return to the negotiating table to agree on a new timetable given that the continued delay and difficulties in the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will leave no more time for a transition period.

Dean Tony La Viña of the Ateneo School of Government, who served as member of the GPH peace panel in the last days of the Arroyo administration, proposed at the Experts’ Forum of the Cotabato City-based Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City on Friday that the new timetable should ensure there is at least one year transition from the ratification of the law and not peg the establishment of the Bangsamoro government to the May 2016 polls since “no real transition can happen.”

La Viña said passing on to the next administration the passage of a BBL may also be considered instead of rushing under the Aquino administration the passage of law that may create a “Bangsamoro Autonomous Region” with “lesser autonomy and powers than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).”

In the same forum, Gerry Salapuddin, former House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and principal author of RA 9054, the law passed to incorporate the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) warned that “if Congress will give another failed experiment, do not expect the Bangsamoro to produce miracles. The same failed experiment will also be the result of the kind of law that Congress will enact for the Bangamoro.”

The peace panels are in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the “Normalization” activities on decommissioning of weapons and combatants, among others.

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal in a text message to MindaNews on Saturday afternoon said “no comment” on the La Vina proposals while GPH peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer sent no reply.

“Less than ARMM”

The House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (AHCBBL) approved on May 20 its substitute bill that, benchmarked against the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that the GPH and MILF signed on March 27, 2014 and the ARMM that it seeks to replace, is “less than ARMM,” a section-by-section presentation of the Bangsamoro Study Group pointed out (see other story). Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Committee chair, will deliver his sponsorship speech on the BBL at the plenary on Monday, June 1, the same day the plenary debates will begin. Rodriguez told MindaNews he remains optimistic the bill would pass before they adjourn sine die on June 11.

At the Senate, however, Senator Franklin Drilon announced Saturday that they are now looking at a new timetable – October – within which to pass the law.

Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., chair of the Committee on Local Governments, has yet to wrap up his public hearings on June 2 and 3.

A dozen senators, including himself and Mindanawon senators Teofisto Guingona III and Aquilino Pimentel III have signed the report of Sen. Miriam Santiago, chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment and Revision of Codes, that says the BBL should be “substantially revised” to withstand legal scrutiny.

Moving forward

La Viña noted that the Senate vote is a signal to the President “because by voting that way, they are putting themselves in a situation where it would be very difficult for them to reverse themselves.”

“I think it is a very clear signal. What we don’t know is how they’re going to move forward but if they move forward, we can expect a much more conservative version (of the BBL). So in other words, from an autonomy point of view, from a CAB point of view, this is the best that you can get – the Ad Hoc (Committee) version. Are we actually even willing to lower the bar for that?” he asked.

The peace process, he said, is “strong enough” and there are “political processes in the peace process that they can actually go back and say ‘let’s change the timetable.’ You don’t have to change any substantial agreement. You can change the timetable and negotiate a transition agreement.”

Under the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed on October 15, 2012, the government and MILF agreed that the peace panels “shall continue the negotiations until all issues are resolved and all agreements implemented.” They also agreed that “an exit document officially terminating the peace negotiation may be crafted and signed by both parties if and only when all agreements have been fully implemented.”

For next President

“With apologies to my colleagues in OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process), who’d really want this closed, I actually think a BBL that is owned by the next President is much better than a BBL owned by this President,” La Viña said.

He explained that it is necessary for the next President to own the process, to “champion this” because transitions that do not have the support of the President, will not work.

“Under the circumstances now, it’s gonna work with President Aquino totally committed but President Aquino will no longer be there” next year, he added.

President Aquino steps down from his six-year term on June 30, 2016.

Under the roadmap that the GPH and MILF agreed upon since FAB in late 2012 was to ensure at least one year transition period for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to perform its tasks and prepare for the May 2016 election of the first set of officials of the Bangsamoro.

Passing the BBL in October, as Drilon said, means the plebiscite would be in January 2016 . “No real transition can happen” La Viña told MindaNews, as it is too close to the May 9 elections and by March, it would already be campaign period for the synchronized national, local and regional elections.

From seven years

The MILF originally negotiated for a seven-year transition period, one year of that as pre-interim.

The transition was shortened to three years following the August 4, 2011 meeting of President Aquino and MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim in Japan where they agreed to fast-track the peace process by signing a peace agreement within the first three years of Aquino’s term (2010 to 2013) so implementation can be done in the second half (2013 to 2016).

But it took until January 25, 2014 to finish all four annexes to the FAB that should have been completed before yearend 2012. And the CAB was signed only on March 27 last year.

“Very, very rationally, we’re actually better off assuming that the peace process is strong enough to withstand a one year extension of the deadlines– and assuming that it is – as we’ve seen in Mamasapano, the military forces on both sides are very committed to the peace process already, we’re probably better off taking time and really getting this right than have to push a law that ‘s not only imperfect but worse than what we have here.”

He said he knows that legislators who support the BBL are trying their best. “History will judge you but we should also think, if it doesn’t work, then the alternative is actually not so bad and will actually be even better from an implementation point of view.”

La Vina also said the Supreme Court is another arena to watch out for as quite a number have vowed to question the BBL there.

Three years

Salapuddin recalled that before the January 25, 2015 tragedy in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, he submitted in writing a proposal to Ad Hoc Committee chair Rodriguez, requesting for an extension of the period for the BTA “so they can fully perform their functions.”

“If the BTA will still be created and ARMM abolished, truth of the matter is they will not be able to do their duties very effectively,” he said.

He cited as example the ARMM under Governor Mujiv Hataman who was appointed as OIC Governor on December 22, 2011 when the ARMM election scheduled in August that year was synchronized with the May 2013 polls, and when he was elected in May 2013.

Salapuddin said that as OIC Governor for nearly two years, Hataman “did not even finish the reorganization and reforms.”

He said Hataman has been serving as ARMM Governor for nearly four years now “but he has not yet fully filled up the necessary plantilla in the ARMM.”

“Yet he was not (heading) a new political entity,” Salapuddin, a former Governor of Basilan, and a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said.

Unlike the ARMM, the Bangsamoro will have a parliamentary form of government.

The ARMM was set up in 1990 following a Constitutional provision creating autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Cordilleras. It was expected to ensure autonomy for the Moro peoples, following the non-implementation of the autonmy set-up in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement.

The agreement provided for an autonomous region in 13 provinces and nine cities in Mindanao and Palawan but then President Ferdinand Marcos, using his legislative powers under martial law, created two instead of one autonomous region. Following the collapse of the 1976 agreement, then MNLF vice chair Salamat Hashim left to set up the MILF.

Disastrous

Salapuddin said it would be “disastrous” to pass a law that is not acceptable to both the MILF and the MNLF.

He said he wonders what the BTA can do given the time constraints “and if they will fail, we will again blame them, that they are a failure, that they are not competent, that they are not this and that.”

“That is why I told the Senate… during the hearing last week that if you do the same thing over and over again, do not expect another result. Therefore if Congress will give another failed experiment, do not expect the Bangsamoro to produce miracles. The same failed experiment will also be the result of the kind of law that Congress will enact for the Bangamoro,” Salapuddin said.

If the BBL is “not successfully passed, as much as possible as a true expression and reflection of whatever is in the CAB… I don’t think the Moro mujahideen will accept their fate to be cheated twice — from the MNLF to the MILF. If in case this one will still fail, then it’s not only going to be a recipe for disaster but it might be the glue that will reunite all the different factions … to continue the struggle not anymore for autonomy but even if I don’t have to tell you this, but I know you will be guessing the same as I do, but for independence,” he said.

Murad seeks OIC aid for Bangsamoro

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/05/30/murad-seeks-oic-aid-bangsamoro-410446
Saturday, May 30, 2015

By Ryan D. Rosauro

MORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim has invited the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to “journey with us” and help the Moro people meet the challenge of development in a post-war Mindanao.

“The Muslims in Mindanao have long craved for development, physically and mentally. And it is hoped that it will be delivered in the form of peace dividends as the fruits of the current peace process,” Murad told the OIC-Council of Foreign Ministers during their 42nd conference in Kuwait from May 27 to 28.

“... I would like to take this opportunity to humbly request the OIC member states and affiliated institutions to help us. We would welcome any kind of financial assistance and investments. And on our part, we will give our level best to live up to your expectations,” Murad said.

Murad’s speech was posted in the MILF’s official website on Friday, May 29.

Murad said that he spoke “not only as Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) but mainly on behalf of the Bangsamoro Coordinating Forum (BCF), a forum designed by the OIC for coordination of the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and for the purpose of achieving unity in our struggle.”

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal disclosed that it was Murad’s first time to address the OIC-CFM “as a representative of the Bangsamoro people through the BCF.”

Apart from Murad, other Moro leaders attended the conference including former Cotabato City Mayor Muslimen Sema, chair of the largest MNLF faction called Council of 15, and his vice-chair Hatimil Hassan; and Randolph Parcasio, who represented MNLF chair Nur Misuari.

The 57-member pan-Islamic body has played a key role in the search for peace in southern Philippines since the mid-1970s. Under its auspices, negotiation between the government and the MNLF was pursued in 1975 that led to the landmark Tripoli Agreement on Peace in 1976. A Final Peace Agreement with the MNLF was forged in 1996 through the mediation of OIC-member state Indonesia.

In the negotiations between government and the MILF, the OIC served as an observer. Another OIC member, Malaysia, facilitated the forging of a pact between government and the MILF.

The OIC also brokered the creation of the BCF to serve as platform for cooperation between the MILF and the now factionalized MNLF.

During his speech, Murad said the Bangsamoro “are on the verge of opening a new chapter in our history” made possible by the peace pact the MILF inked with the government in March 2014.

“However, the peace agreement would be meaningless if there is no peace dividend delivered,” he added.

He explained that the failure to “truthfully implement” the 1976 pact and to bring “immediate benefits for the conflict-affected communities” led to the rise of radical groups “and spur extremism in Mindanao.”

“That has made us realize that without thorough development, conflicts will continue to prevail and the Bangsamoro will forever be at the losing end,” Murad stressed.

We... have always recognized the importance of economic development and political stability as the pillars to a sustainable development. In order to achieve that, we will have to make sure that situation is conducive for future investments and businesses,” he said.

Murad narrated that the work for development in the region requires massive resources, worrying that “the Bangsamoro will remain as just another dream if it is not supported with equal financial commitments.”

“Although the government has pledged to provide the necessary funding but we fully understand the financial constraints that they face since we are talking about an amount that could reach hundreds of billions of dollars,” Murad explained.

When enacted and ratified, the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law currently pending in Congress provides for a special development fund for the region within a period of five years.

Murad, a former iron-willed combatant who rose from the MILF’s military ranks, spoke frankly about the fate of the peace pacts forged by the MNLF with government for which the OIC were also involved.

“(The) Bangsamoro’s destiny has not changed since 1976 until now. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) established in 1989 and later strengthened in 1996 has failed to address the root causes of our grievances,” Murad narrated.

“The Bangsamoro remain neglected since the ARMM does not enjoy genuine autonomy as opposed to what its name suggested. Major decision making powers continue to be at the central government’s disposal,” he added.

Murad assured the OIC these “these weaknesses have been addressed” in the agreements the MILF entered into with government. He added that the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro recognizes and builds on the gains of the peace process involving the MNLF.

Even then, Murad asked the OIC “to continue to urge the Philippine Government to faithfully implement the CAB and pave the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Government.”

“If, by the grace of Allah, the Bangsamoro Government is established, we strongly appeal to you to help us rebuild our communities that have been ravaged by decades of war. We ask you to welcome us in the community of Muslims, establishing relations and building cultural links to our cities and your countries,” he implored.

“A rare moment in history unfolds, as we step out of the past and embrace the promise of dawn, when we bid farewell to war and strife, and when the struggle of our people finally finds a measure of success in the building of an institution that allows them to shape their future and partake of the resources that Allah endowed them,” Murad said.

P77M in projects showered on Mamasapano

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/694771/p77m-in-projects-showered-on-mamasapano
Friday, May 29, 2015 11:22 pm

By Edwin Fernandez (Inquirer Mindanao, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

COTABATO CITY—The town of Mamasapano in Maguindanao province, made infamous by the deaths of 44 elite police commandos in an operation to get international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” is being showered with P77 million in infrastructure projects that would be finished next month, according to officials.

Jame Mlok, head engineer of Maguindanao’s second district engineering office, said among the projects is a 120-meter-long steel bridge that would take the place of a wooden footbridge in the village of Tukanalipao, which played a key role in the debacle that defined the operation to get Marwan.

The operation to get Marwan was delayed as members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police had to cross the wooden footbridge to get to Marwan’s hideout in Mamasapano.

It was on that footbridge where some of the SAF members were killed. Bloodstains could still be found on parts of the bridge.

According to Mlok, also being built is an 880-meter-long access road worth P17.5 million, nine school buildings worth a total P44 million, water sanitation facilities, a farm to market road and a mosque.

Mlok said the steel bridge, which would be called “Bridge of Peace,” would be completed next month.

Another ongoing project is the renovation of the Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School, in the village of Tukanalipao, worth P3.5 million.

The infrastructure projects were started in March this year with Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov.

Mujiv Hataman, the region’s Public Works Secretary Emil Sadain and officials from the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division leading groundbreaking ceremonies.

Hataman said the military has shown that it was supportive of the Mindanao peace process through its active involvement in the implementation of the projects.

The Army’s engineering battalion is involved in the construction of a mosque in the area.

Mlok said most of the infrastructure projects are to be finished on schedule.

The province of Maguindanao is also the recipient of projects from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) worth at least 100 million yen.

The projects are part of Jica’s commitment to support Bangsamoro communities following the signing of the peace pact Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro last year, according to Akihiko Tanaka, Jica president.

In other parts of the ARMM, Jica is funding the construction of multipurpose halls, warehouses with solar dryers and school buildings.

Treason, inciting to sedition raps filed vs PH peace panel, MILF over BBL

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/694365/treason-inciting-to-sedition-raps-filed-vs-ph-peace-panel-milf-over-bbl
Thursday, May 28, 2015 3:38 pm

By Tetch Torres-Tupas (AC)

A COMPLAINT for treason and inciting to sedition has been filed before the Manila Prosecutors Office against officials and members of the government peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for pushing for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Named in the complaint are Government of the Philippines (GPH) negotiating panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former GPH chairman Marvic Leonen who is currently an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, GPH negotiating panel members Senen C. Bacani, Yasmin Busran-Lao, Mehol K. Sadain, former GPH panel consultant Zenonida Brosas. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles is also included in the complaint.

Also included as respondent in the complaint are MILF negotiating panel chair and the Transition Commission Mohagher Iqbal and members Datu Michael Mastura, Maulana Alonto, Abdulla Camilian, alternate negotiating panel member Datu Antonio Kino, Transition Commission members Ibrahim Ali, Talib Abdulhamid Benito, Pedrito Eisma, Raissa Jajurie, Froilyn Mendoza, Hussein Muñoz, Akmad Sakkam, Said Shiek, Asani Tammang, Timuay Melanio Ulama and Johaira Wahab.

Complainants include Buhay Rep. Jose Atienza, Abakada Representative Jonathan dela Cruz and Atty. Jeremy Gatdula.

The House Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has already approved the measure that will formalize the creation of a new political entity to replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The new measure is now known as the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The complainants said BBL has usurped the power of Congress to enact laws as it attributes to the Bangsamoro instead of Congress as the author, promoter of the BBL. In effect, complainants said it gives the Bangsamoro people not only the autonomy as a local unit but its independence.

“The proposed BBL, in its entirety, promotes the eventual self-determination of the Bangsamoro political entity, which violates the sovereign of the Republic of the Philippines,” complainant lawmakers said.

Citing a Supreme Court ruling, the complainants pointed out that “no sub-group within the Philippines is entitled to self-determination. Despite this ruling, the respondents still chose to include the sovereign concept of “self-determination” in the BBL. Such persistence is a clear sign of intent to incite others to secede.”

Complainant lawmakers added that the asymmetric relation between the Bangsamoro Government and the National Government has caused the curtailment of the power of the executive branch of the government.

Some of the powers given to the Bangsamoro government that were supposed to be for the national government only include:

• Power to appoint

• Creation of a Bangsamoro Commission on Audit and Shari’ah Supreme Court. The Constitution only allows one Supreme Court and one Commission on Audit.

• Allows the Bangsamoro Parliament to create provinces and cities

• Taxing powers despite absence of guidelines and limitations from Congress.

“The respondents’ strategy for inciting sedition or treason is comprehensive…The respondents also incite people to strip away the superiority of the National Government and to prevent the executive department to freely exercise its power as provided by the Constitution,” the complaint stated.

“The acts of the Respondents, in executing the Framework Agreement and in proposing the BBL also effectively aided the MILF armed forces to successfully assert their existence as a separate and independence state. Therefore, the respondents must be held liable for the crime of treason as punished under the Revised Penal Code,” the complaint added.

All set for class opening in ARMM, education officials say

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=766224
Wednesday, May 27, 2015

(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 27 (PNA) -- All is set for the opening of classes on June 1 in all public schools in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the ARMM education secretary today said.

"We are 100 percent ready for the incoming school year, 2015-2016," Dr. John Magno, Department of Education (DepED-ARMM) secretary told reporters.

He said school heads and teachers in the region have already been reminded on what they must do to ensure orderly opening of classes next week.

There are around 27,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel in the region who have started preparing two weeks back.

‘Oplan Balik Eskwela’ an annual drive to prepare for the school opening was earlier conducted in the region. It aims at ensuring that students are properly enrolled and are able to attend school when their classes start.

As stated in DepEd Order, the school year will consist of 201 school days, inclusive of the five-day in-service training break. The school year for 2015-2016 begins on June 1 and will end on April 1, 2016.

Zainudin Dalgan, school head of Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, said despite the January 25 bloody encounter in Mamasapano, teachers in his area are all prepared for the incoming school year.

“In fact, on Thursday, May 28, I will meet with six teachers in preparation for the opening of classes,” Dalgan said.

He added that DepEd wants the children of Mamasapano to learn a lot to achieve their dreams and help their community because this is the only way to bring them out of poverty and ignorance.

The Mamasapano incident, a bloody clash between Philippine police commandos and Moro armed men that left 67 people dead, 44 policemen, 17 Moro rebels and civilians, has left a scarce in the community but it also uncovered how poor the village was.

In Basilan, teachers exert extra efforts to bring back children to school.

“As the head of the school, I and the teachers of Upper Taberlongan, had house-to-house approach in encouraging the students to go to school,” said Kamrie Tadjah, teacher-in-charge of Upper Taberlongan Elementary School in Maluso, Basilan.

To date, about 300 students have enrolled in Upper Taberlongan and more enrolees are expected in the coming days.

“Attendance is an important factor in school success, so we planned more extra-curricular activities to prevent absenteeism,” Tadjah added.

The ARMM's Education department will also work in addressing the problem of flooded schools in the region especially in the province of Maguindanao.

Bai Tina D. Husin, Grade 2 teacher of Balong Elementary School in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, said that in case of natural calamities, the plan is to have make-up classes to compensate for the school days lost.

Magno appealed to community leaders to help, as stakeholders, in ensuring the class opening on Monday will come smoothly.

The Maguindanao police office has also started deploying peacekeepers and traffic enforcers in front of elementary ad high schools to ensure the safety of students.

CDA-ARMM hosts Successful Cooperatives Congress

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=765435
Tuesday, May 26, 2015

(PNA), JBP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 26 (PNA) -- To further improve and promote the viability and growth of cooperatives in the region, the Cooperative Development Authority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CDA-ARMM) launched on Monday in Cotabato City the 1st ARMM Successful Cooperatives Congress, officials said.

Dimnatang Radia, CDA-ARMM administrator, said successful cooperatives will present their best practices -- specifically new management techniques, good governance and entrepreneurial activities -- to newly established cooperatives.

“The 1st ARMM Successful Cooperatives Congress will form part of the benchmarking program of the CDA-ARMM and will enable small and micro cooperatives to be inspired by the best practices of the successful ones,” Radia said, adding that many cooperatives in the region have struggled to uplift their members’ economic status.

“With their unyielding conviction, hard work, and determination, some of these cooperatives surpassed their goals and have become millionaires,” he said.

The CDA-ARMM has registered around 4,600 cooperatives from 2010-2014, the highest number among regions in the country.

Orlando Ravanera, CDA national chairman, said the cooperatives are one of the ways to end poverty.

“With the promotion of cooperatives as instruments for equity, social justice, and economic development, we can hopefully end poverty that besets the region,” Ravanera said.

Data show more than 12,000 cooperatives are registered in Mindanao with PHP150 billion worth of assets.

Partners of the cooperative movement at the local, national and international levels will also share during the event their respective programs, projects and services that the region’s cooperatives may avail of.

Those scheduled to make presentations during the event include international agencies such as the World Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as well as national partners led by the Land Bank of the Philippines and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

The congress also serves as a venue to showcase the services and goods of ARMM’s successful cooperatives.

About 200 participants from the five provinces of the region -- Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi -- are participating in the two-day activity.

PNP-ARMM deploys cops for Balik Eskwela 2015

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=765188
Monday, May 25, 2015

By Noel Y. Punzalan [(PNA), CTB/NYP]

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao, May 25 (PNA) -- Chief Supt. Ronaldo R. Estilles, acting police regional director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) has deployed police officers in the region to assist the "Balik Eskwela 2015."

"PNP-ARMM is working closely with the regional DepEd office and other national and local government agencies to ensure the peaceful and orderly school opening on June 1, 2015," Estilles said.

Police personnel have been deployed region-wide to conduct foot patrol near schools, aside from establishing Police Assistance Desk (PADs) where students and other individuals can report cases of bullying and other crimes, he said.

Likewise, mobile and foot patrols will also be conducted along major routes leading to all learning institutions and within the immediate vicinity of school premises.

Moreover, the PNP-ARMM further cautions the students to be wary of strangers and to refrain from talking to them, to avoid wearing expensive jewelry and to avoid bringing large amounts of money or from using expensive phones while on the streets.

The PNP will also continue extending its help to the DepEd’s “Brigada Eskwela” program in preparing the public school classrooms for the opening of school classes.

PNP-ARMM encourages the public especially the students to report any incident of bullying or other street crimes to the nearest police station or through social media (Twitter - @PNPHotline / @ pnppio or Facebook Page – Philippine National Police) or through the following: Dial 117 or text 2920; and Isumbong Mo Kay TSIP 09178475757; while for PRO ARMM Social Media Accounts-@proarmm (twitter); pnp proarmm bulletin (Facebook Account).

MNLF, ARMM legislators will be in Bangsamoro Transition Authority

Source: http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2015/05/24/mnlf-armm-legislators-will-be-in-bangsamoro-transition-authority/
Sunday, May 24, 2015 9:14 pm

By Carolyn O. Arguillas (MindaNews)

QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 24 May) — If the provision in the House Committee-approved Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on the composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is adopted by the plenary, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front -led governing body in the Bangsamoro during the transition period will now be composed of 60 instead of 50 and will now include representatives from the Moro National Liberation Front and all 24 incumbent members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The 15-member joint government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that drafted the BBL (now proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee to be renamed “Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region”), provided for 50 members in the BTA, including representatives from “non-Moro indigenous communities, women, settler communities and other sectors” who will be appointed by the President.

The GPH and MILF roadmap to peace targets June 30,2016 as the establishment of the Bangsamoro government.

As the principal party to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that the parties signed on March 27 last year, the parties agreed that the MILF “shall lead the BTA, in its leadership and membership.”

The Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (AHCBBL), however, amended the provision by adding “with the participation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in its leadership and membership.”

It also included “all the incumbent members” of the ARMM’s Regional Legislative Assembly, who shall serve in the BTA “until the expiration of their term.”

The ARMM’s legislative body has 24 members elected in 2010 for a three-year term.

The AHCBBL also amended the list of sectors to read “non-Moro indigenous peoples, women, Christian residents, youth and other sectors.” It also provided that “at least two members thereof shall come from non-Moro indigenous peoples” and that women “will be adequately represented in all decision-making mechanisms.”

Who introduced what?

The color-coded Committee’s consolidated working draft shows who introduced what amendments.

Davao del Norte Rep. Anthony del Rosario, Batanes Rep. Dinah Abad, Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor and Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal, one of eight vice chairs of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (AHCBBL), did not touch the first paragraph of the section and maintained the MILF leadership in the BTA.

They proposed to add “nominees of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) shall likewise be appointed to the BTA.”

But Representatives Tupay Loong of Sulu, vice chair; vice chair Bai Sandra Sema of Maguindanao, Maryam Arbison of Sulu, Mariano Piamonte of A Teacher party-list, vice chair Democrito Mendoza of TUCP party-list, Rep. Dhjalia Turabin-Hataman of Anak Mindanaw party-list, Jorge Almonte of Misamis Occidental, vice chair Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato, Lilia Macrohon-Nuno of Zamboanga City, Imelda Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Ferdinand Hernandez of South Cotabato and Ansaruddin Adiong of Lanao del Sur proposed to add in the first paragraph the participation of the MNLF in the BTA’s “leadership and membership.”

The proposal to increase the BTA membership from 50 to 60 came from Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, AHCBBL chair.

Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat proposed “50 plus 36 members.” MindaNews sought Lobregat for a clarification on the figure but he has not replied as of 6 p.m. Sunday.

Representatives Rodriguez. Loong, vice chair Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman, Sema, Surigao del Sur Rep. Philip Pichay, Sacdalan, Amatong (not indicated if Isidro or Rommel), Turabin-Hataman, Macrohon-Nuno proposed to include in the BTA “all the incumbent members of the Regional Assembly of the ARMM which shall serve in the BTA until the expiration of their term” and the rest of the BTA members, as proposed by Loong, will be appointed by the “incumbent” President.

Only RLA members

The Chairman’s Working Draft as well as the Chairman’s and Vice Chairpersons’ Working Draft carried the proposal of the group but amended it to read “all incumbent members of the ARMM.” Loong’s proposal was not carried in both drafts.

At the section by section deliberation last May 19, the ARMM membership in the BTA was specified to mean only RLA members.

The RLA has 24 assemblymen from the ARMM provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Ansaruddin Adiong asked, “what about the Vice Governor?” but Rodriguez replied the BTA membership is only for the RLA.

Rodriguez said ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman had signified his intention to resign once the BTA is set up. Hataman’s wife, Rep. Dhjalia Turabin-Hataman, confirmed her husband’s intention. Hataman himself told MindaNews he would resign once the BTA is set up.

The inclusion of the RLA members into the BTA was reportedly due to a lobby by governors in the ARMM provinces and the ARMM’s RLA members.

Rep. Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato proposed to add that “at least two members shall come from non-Moro Indigenous Peoples” while Representatives Turabin-Hataman and Mendoza proposed to add “women will be adequately represented in all decision-making mechanisms.”

Both proposals were carried.

Transition Period

The draft BBL proposed that the transition or interim period for the establishment of the Bangsamoro “shall commence upon ratification of this Basic Law.”

The Committee amended the sentence by adding “Autonomous Region” after Bangsamoro. The AHCBBL had aproposed to rename the new political entity from “Bangsamoro” to “Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”

The consolidated Committee draft shows there were proposals for the transition period to end in 2019, but these were not carried into the Chairman’s or the Chairmans’ and Vice Chairpersons’ Working Draft.

For the record, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano proposed, according to the Committee draft, a transition for the establishment of the Bangsamoro “of three years starting from 2016 to 2019.”

Representatives Loong, Sema, Hattaman-Salaliman, Piamonte, Sacdalan, Almonte, Amatong, Dimaporo , Pichay Mendoza, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon and Catamco proposed that the transition for the establishment of the Bangsamoro shall commence upon ratification of this Basic Law “up to 2019.”

The Alejano and the group’s proposals were not carried into Rodriguez’ 107-page Chairman’s Working Draft and the 109-page Chairman’s and Vice Chairpersons’ Working Draft (CVCD). By a vote of 37-16, the AHCBBL approved to make the 109-page draft the basis for the voting.

As this section on transition is in the latter part of the draft BBL, it was taken up in the late hours of the 13-hour session on May 19. Neither Alejano nor the group proponents pushed for the amendment they earlier introduced.

Chaotic transition

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal does not see the new composition of the BTA as a problem.

“Basta MILF ang mag-lead at mas marami kami,” (For as long as the MILF will lead and we’re majority), Iqbal told MindaNews Sunday.

The intent of the legislators to add MNLF representatives and RLA members in the BTA may appear laudable but fears have been expressed that the BTA “will not be able to bring a common agenda at the most crucial period of transition” if the membership is unwieldy.

“This is a chaotic transition or a transition to chaos,” a MindaNews source privy to the current discussions in the GPH-MILF peace process, said.

Omar Sema, legal counsel of the MNLF faction under his father, Muslimin Sema, told MindaNews that including the MNLF in the BTA “while laudable, means nothing as there is no assurance it will not be a deleted in the plenary, considering particularizing the MILF and MNLF amounts to a class legislation which put the entire provision in danger of deletion because of its apparent unconstitutionality.”

The MNLF under Nur Misuari signed a peace agreement with the government in 1976 and a Final Peace Agreement in 1996. Misuari’s vice chair, Salamat Hashim, broke away from the MNLF after the collapse of the 1976 peace agreement and set up the MILF.

BTA’s tasks

During the transition, the BTA exercises legislative and executive powers, with the executive authority exercised by the interim Chief Minister, who shall be appointed by the President, while the BTA shall exercise legislative authority.

Within the transition, the BTA is tasked, among others, to enact priority legislations such as the Bangsamoro Administrative Code and the Bangsamoro Revenue Code.

The enactment of a Bangsamoro Electoral Code and a Bangsamoro Civil Service Code was scrapped from the original provision since the AHCBBL amended the draft and made the elections and civil service offices mere regional offices.

The BTA is also tasked to organize the bureaucracy of the Bangsamoro Government including the approval and implementation of a transition plan, and the institution of a placement process for hiring of personnel during transition, the setting up of offices and other institutions necessary for the continued functioning of government and delivery of social services in the region, “as well as those necessary for the smooth operations of the first elected Bangsamoro Government in 2016.”

“Fast-track”

The MILF had earlier demanded for a seven year transition period, one year of that as pre-transition. It later agreed to a three-year transition after President Aquino and MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim met on August 4, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan.

Aquino and Murad agreed to fast-track the peace process by signing a peace agreement within the first half of the Aquino administration (2010 to 2013) so that the second half (2013 to 2016) , as suggested by Aquino, would be for the implementation of the peace agreement.

The peace negotiations, however, suffered delays even as the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) was signed on October 15, 2012, within the first half of Aquino’s term.

It took over a year to finish the four Annexes to the FAB that was supposed to have been finished by December 31, 2012. The last annex was signed on January 25, 2014 and the Comprehensive Agreement (CAB) was signed on March 27, 2014.

The election of officials nationwide is on May 9, 2016.

Council of Elders

Also to be organized during the transition is the Bangsamoro Council of Leaders, which, according to the BTC-drafted BBL is composed of the Chief Minister, provincial governors, mayors of chartered cities, and representatives from the non-Moro indigenous communities, women, settler communities, and other sectors.

The role of the Council is to advise the Chief Minister on matters of governance in the Bangsamoro The representation of the non-Moro indigenous communities is “pursuant to their customary laws and indigenous processes.”

ARMM private schools won’t raise tuition, says CHEd

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/693141/armm-private-schools-wont-raise-tuition-says-ched
Saturday, May 23, 2015 6:42 pm

By Karlos Manlupig (RC, Inquirer Mindanao)

DAVAO CITY—Despite having been granted permission by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to raise tuition fees, private colleges and universities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will not be increasing their tuition rate.

Amor Pendaliday, CHEd-ARMM chief, said private educational institutions operating in the region had agreed that implementing tuition increases would discourage more parents from sending their children to school.

The CHEd recently gave 313 universities and colleges permission to increase tuition by an average of 6.17 percent or about P29.86 per unit. For other school fees, CHEd declared an average increase of 6.55 percent or about P135.60.

“Academic institutions in the ARMM preferred not to increase their tuition because they want the parents in our region to send their children to college,” Pendaliday said.

ARMM is among the country’s poorest regions. The National Statistical Coordination Board has reported that 47 out of 100 families in the five-province region were poor or more than twice the national figure of 22.

ARMM has about 51 private schools catering to students that its 15 state universities and colleges could not take in.

Big relief

Second year college student Sittie Aisha Tawal from the Mindanao State University-Dalican Campus in Maguindanao said the CHEd’s announcement was a big relief for her parents.

Even if MSU is a government-operated institution, nonscholars still had to pay to get education.

“We are glad that we don’t have a tuition increase, it is good news for us, especially to our parents,” Tawal said.

Kabataan party-list has said the “new spate of fee hikes will result in additional burdens to students and their families.”

“CHEd chair Patricia Licuanan sounded apologetic in her pronouncement that 313 higher education institutions will again increase tuition and other school fees this academic year. Yet no amount of apology can dilute the fact that CHEd has once again betrayed its constitutional mandate to ensure the affordability and accessibility of education,” Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said in a statement.

Ridon said the manner of presenting the tuition hikes using averages and the equivalent increase per unit was misleading.

“The data presented by CHEd is highly misleading, as the commission only shows us the values as expressed in absolute averages. By presenting the data in this manner, schools with high tuition and other fee increases can hide among schools that charge less. The truth of the matter is that there are many private HEIs that charge well over P80,000 per semester in tuition and other school fees,” Ridon said.

“CHEd did not even include in its presentation of data how much private HEIs are earning. In so many ways, CHEd is trying to play with figures to justify the unjustifiable,” he added.

Ridon said despite CHEd’s pronouncements that it was taking a holistic approach in approving tuition hikes, it has allowed them to continue “raking in billions in profit.”

“Tuition and other school fee increases can never be justified, no matter how. This new wave of tuition and other school fee increases again proves that the Aquino administration does not really want to provide affordable and accessible education,” Ridon said.

Mock cultural villages showcasing ARMM’s major tribes to re-open in June

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521432211380/mock-cultural-villages-showcasing-armm-s-major-tribes-to-re-open-in-june
Friday, May 22, 2015

(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 22 (PIA) --- The mock cultural villages that showcased the seven major tribes of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be re-opened on June 10 at the regional government’s compound in Cotabato City.

These cultural villages first opened to the public in November last year as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of ARMM. It was viewed by at least 100,000 visitors from different provinces in Mindanao not just from the ARMM.

The seven major tribes covered in this event are Maguindanaon, Tausug, Sama, Maranao, Yakan, Iranon, and Teduray.

Each village will feature traditional living, culture and arts, and would depict the people and their products on a landscape consistent with those of tribal communities in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

The villages will be open to the general public for 100 days, specifically during the month of Ramadhan. There will also be a series of activities and entertainment in the regional government’s compound to be spearheaded by different regional agencies.

“Ang pagbubukas muli ng cultural villages ay para maipamahagi, maintindihan at lalong maunawaan ng ating mga mamamayan ang kultura, kasaysayan at pamumuhay ng mga tao sa iba’t ibang probinsya ng ARMM (The reopening of the cultutral villages will allow the people to understand better the culture, history, and way of living in various provinces in the region,” said Tourism Secretary Marites Maguindra.

“We added additional healthy living activities, which the people can join like zumba, ‘hataw’ and yoga,” she said.

Aside from these, there will also be a free tour, a children’s day, and an indigenous arts and handicraft exhibit, among others.

A competition among participating tribes and their villages is also part of the event wherein the winning village would be announced during the closing program, or after 100 days.

The Tausug village was recognized as the best in last year’s event.

The re-opening of the mock villages will bear the theme “100 Days of Journey in understanding the culture and history of the Bangsamoro towards peace and development.”

Palace hoping Congress will pass BBL version for peace, development of Mindanao

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=&rid=764202
Thursday, May 21, 2015

By Jelly F. Musico [(PNA), LGI/JFM]

MANILA, May 21 (PNA) -- Malacanang is hoping both the House of Representatives and the Senate will pass a Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) version that will bring lasting peace and development in Mindanao.

”We are convinced that their decision is for the lasting peace and development of Bangsamoro and Mindanao,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Thursday in a press briefing in Malacanang.

Coloma also believed that the BBL which was renamed as Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in the House, can withstand the scrutiny as to its constitutionality.

”Since the BBL was drafted, every provision has been scrutinized to make sure it will abide with the Constitution,” he said.

Although the Supreme Court is the final arbiter, Coloma said the BBL would still be decided by the people of Mindanao through a plebiscite.

”It will be presented to our countrymen and according to our Constitution , they have the final sovereign will. It is still up to them if they think this (BBL) can help in achieving peace,” he said.

The BBL or the Basic Law of the Bangamoro Autonomous Region hurdled the committee level of the House of Representatives last Wednesday.

On Thursday, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said changing the name of the BBL will not make it any less objectionable unless Congress also revamps the bill to address numerous “constitutional infirmities.”

Santiago is the chairperson of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes that conducted separate hearings to tackle the constitutionality of the proposed law.

Santiago said she finished already her committee report and was signed by seven senators.

Aside from Santiago, other senators who already signed the report are Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Jinggoy Estrada, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Vicente Sotto III, and Cynthia Villar.

The 27-page document is one of three committee reports that will form the Senate’s position on the BBL effort. The two others will come from the committee on local government, the primary committee, and the committee on peace, unification, and reconciliation.

Coloma defended the June 11 deadline for the passage of the BBL, saying both the House and the Senate have been given enough time to discuss the proposed law.

”We have already spent enough time for it,” he said, reacting to Marcos’ statement that BBL passage should not be rushed.

DOH-ARMM offers free cervical cancer screening

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521432028636/doh-armm-offers-free-cervical-cancer-screening
Wednesday, May 20, 2015

(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 20 (PIA) --- The Department of Health of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) is offering free cervical cancer screening to women in the region in line with the Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month this month.

The agency has created teams composed of doctors, nurses and midwives in identified hospitals and health centers in the core provinces of the region to conduct the screening process.

“The screening in ARMM is scheduled every Thursday but some of our facilities conduct the screening every day,” said Dr. Tato Usman, Regional Non-Communicable Disease Coordinator of DOH-ARMM.

The Dr. Serapio Montaner Memorial Hospital and Tamparan District Hospital are open to residents who want to undergo such process in the province of Lanao del Sur.

In Maguindanao, the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital, Buluan District Hospital, and Datu Blah Sinsuat District Hospital has been the identified medical facilities while the Sulu Provincial Hospital and Datu Halun Sakilen Provincial Hospital will cater to residents from the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

At least 700 women aged 21 and above in the region are expected to avail of the free screening.

“We do not limit our services to the targeted number; as long as there are women in the region who are willing to be screened, we will not hesitate to serve them,” said Usman.

Dr. Tato said his team is encouraging women to take the screening process emphasizing that early detection and prevention may help minimize the cases of death caused by cervical cancer.

DOH-ARMM Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding said cancer of the cervix is the leading killer among various cancer cases that afflict women. While it is deadly, he said it can be prevented through vaccination and direct cervical visualization with acetic acid.

In the ARMM, at least 718 women were afflicted with cervical cancer yearly.

The Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month is a campaign held in May to raise awareness in the prevention, early detection, and control of cervical cancer in the Philippines. It was promulgated by virtue of Proclamation No. 386, series of 2003.

ARMM eyes on topping municipal fishing boat registration

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521432000442/armm-eyes-on-topping-municipal-fishing-boat-registration
Tuesday, May 19, 2015

(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 19 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFAR-ARMM) is eyeing to top the national government’s boat registration program.

“There are at least 10,000 municipal fishing boats in the region that we would register,” said Janice Musali, BFAR-ARMM’s director, noting the registration would eventually result in improved performance of the region’s municipal fishery sector.

Compared with other regions, ARMM has a bigger municipal fishery area with the island provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan under its jurisdiction.

Musali said it is estimated that up to 70 percent of the region comprises municipal waters, or waters 15 kilometers from the coastline, that provide livelihood to small fisherfolk in coastal communities.

The registration program, dubbed ‘BoatR’, targets to document fishing boats with capacities up to three gross tons. The drive, BFAR national officials earlier told media, is aimed at capturing a more accurate picture on production volume and type of fish caught in municipal waters as well as the sector’s contribution to national and local economies.

The program also seeks to determine projects that would be launched by the government in order to help small fisherman and coastal communities. A government-issued card would make it easier for boat owners to access assistance from government agencies.

ARMM is currently coordinating BoatR’s implementation with local government units, from the provinces to towns and coastal communities.

The region’s municipal fishery output in 2009, the latest available, was roughly 104,000 metric tons, or about 12% of the 887,000 metric tons total reported during that year. Such estimate would be more accurate under the BoatR program.

Aside from the three island provinces mentioned above, ARMM also includes Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao in the main island of Mindanao.

DOST-ARMM disperses water filter system for region's remote communities

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=762910
Monday, May 18, 2015

(PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 18 (PNA) -- To ensure that residents of remote communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will have safe drinking water, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ARMM) has distributed ceramic water filter system that “can remove contaminants in drinking water.”

Myra Mangkabung, DOST-ARMM secretary, said on Monday the ceramic-based water filter can purify tap water, deep well water, and even raw water from ponds and spring.

“Through the filters, safe, potable drinking water is readily available and accessible even in remote areas,” Mangkabung said.

DOST-ARMM provided ceramic water filter systems to 78 households in four barangays in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan which have problems in accessing potable water.

It was the first tranche of ceramic water filters distributed in the region. Other provinces of ARMM will also receive the same assistance in the coming months.

Mangkabung said the DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) has developed several models of water filters that will address the region’s problems, specifically access to potable water.

“Three water filter models have already been developed. These ceramic-based water filters can remove contaminants in drinking water, making them perfect for home use,” Mangkabung said.

Data gathered last year showed the most common food and water borne-diseases in the region were diarrhea, with 52 deaths out of 14,252 cases; typhoid fever, with eight deaths out of 933 cases; and amoebiasis, with four deaths out of 237 cases.

Noor-Leila Wahab, water filter focal person, said the device was made from red clay added with nano-antimicrobial agents that can eliminate water-borne organisms.

“Researchers said the filtered water from the system passed the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water in tests or counts for coliform and Escherichia coli, the most common form of water-borne disease-causing microorganisms,” Wahab said.

“Silver ions in the filter deactivate and kill the pathogens in the water, including coliform bacteria and protozoa,” she added.

Another 200 water filters would be distributed to pre-identified barangays in Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur this year.

Turkey gov't, MILF dev't agency put up orphanage center

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=762669
Sunday, May 17, 2015

(PNA), CTB/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 17 (PNA) -- The development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Insano Yardim Vakfi of Turkey, today inaugurated an orphanage center that will cater to orphans from Moro communities, officials said.

The orphanage center was officially opened Sunday afternoon in Barangay Tamotaka 1, Cotabato City.

The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests from the international and local organizations, members of the parliament of the republic of Turkey, the Turkey ambassador to the Philippines, the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF, city government of Cotabato and the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

In his opening remarks, City Vice Mayor Abdullah Andang thanked Turkey government and expressed pride that the orphanage is established in the City.

Accordingly, the opening of the orphanage clearly showed the continuing progress of Cotabato, with the coming in of people from other countries all over the world.

Omer Kesmen, IHH representative to Cotabato City presented a brief history of the orphanage.

He explained the naming of the center after Ugur Suleyman Soylemez. The latter, accordingly, is among the martyrs in Turkey who fought for justice for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Palestine.

Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of MILF peace panel commended the government of Turkey for the deep commitment and support to the peace process, being a major member of the International Contact Group (ICG), the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT), and the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).

Iqbal thanked IHH for the help extended through this orphanage. He stressed the importance of education as long term resolution to the Bangsamoro problem.

Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chair of the GPH peace panel, having listened to the brief history of the orphanage, convinced that indeed, everyone in the event is united by a common humanity.

“We are united, not because of any ideology, not that we have the GPH-MILF peace agreement, not that we are friends with Turkey, but is because we share the common humanity. We have to care about the future of our children”, Ferrer said.

Major Gen. Dato Sheikh Mousin Bin Sheikh Hassan, Head of Mission of the IMT, called for an importance of peace towards better community. He stressed the importance of family where children are molded.

“If we have to teach peace in this world, we shall begin with our children. This orphanage is the foundation of the well-being of the children, abandoned by their parents, so let us give them peace,” Maj. Hassan stated.

H.E. Esra Cankorur, Turkey ambassador to the Philippines, stressed also the importance of taking care pf the children especially the orphans.

“Caring the children, investing them thru proper education, guidance and support is in fact the best investment for a society. This becomes more important and scared if orphans are involved, since they are the most vulnerable member in any society,” Cankorur said.

“This project is a work of helping hand, a hand of affection and compassion,” she added.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA executive director thanked the government of Turkey for entrusting to BDA the orphanage management thru IHH.

“BDA promises to give the best we can in providing the children a safe and secure home,”Yacob said.

He likewise thanked development partners, international and local non-government organizations, the government, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and its line agencies and called for support and possible convergence for future assistance to the children.

The orphanage formally opens this year 2015. The management is currently accepting applicants from Bangsamoro communities.

At least 1,000 orphans are targeted per year for the program. In-house orphan service provides full accommodation for children at the orphanage, with support for education and food.

Distant orphan service provides monthly allowance for the accepted children, not necessarily housed in the center.

BDA and IHH partnership began in 2014 thru several humanitarian programs already such as the Qurbani program, relief assistance to displaced families and this orphanage.

ARMM to distribute 100K hectares of land to farmers

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/armm-to-distribute-100k-hectares-of-land-to-farmers/
Saturday, May 16, 2015

By Nonoy E. Lacson

The Department of Agrarian Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAR-ARMM) is working on the distribution of 112,290 hectares of landholdings covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms in the region to qualified farmers.

DAR-ARMM Secretary Amihilda Sangcopan said the landholdings, make up around 30 percent of the total lands comprising the ARMM provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, remain undistributed to this day.

Sangcopan said her office is currently “cleansing” the records of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the region, which includes the reconciliation of the records in the regional office with those found in their provincial offices.

Army, PNP, Maguindanao province sign MOA for joint action during disaster

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=2&rid=761986
Friday, May 15, 2015

(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, May 15 (PNA) -- The 6th Infantry 'Kampilan' Division (6th ID), the Philippine National Police Regional Office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) signed with the Provincial Government of Maguindanao a Memorandum of Agreement that is intended to synchronize all future efforts of the three government organizations during disasters, an official said today.

The memorandum specifically intends to maintain an open line of communication and to serve as complimenting and supporting body in the conduct of disaster response to both human induced and natural calamities within the 6th ID and PNP-ARMM in Maguindanao.

Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said the memorandum also speaks the coordination efforts of the three parties in supporting the Local Chief Executives and the Local Government Units and Agencies in the rehabilitation of the conflict and disaster-affected areas and in the implementation of peace and development projects in the locality.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu, in his opening statement, said that he believed that the initiative to sign memorandum of agreement will be positively agreed by the other two parties.

"It will help the military and the PNP get closer to the people without being questioned why they are in the area where they are not seen before," he said.

He also thanked the military and the PNP for the continued support both organizations had provided especially during difficult times and he is optimistic that they will eventually be successful in the future endeavors for peace if they do it in one synchronized effort.

Major General Edmundo R. Pangilinan, 6th ID commanding officer, also expressed his gratitude to the Province of Maguindanao for initiating the signing MOA.

He said that the meeting is very significant considering the issues and concerns confronting the security sectors tht need local chief executives and LGUs backing and support.

The newly installed PRO-ARMM regional director, Police Chief Superintendent Ronald R Estilles, also welcomed the opportunity to serve the people together with the other two parties in the MOA.

He was accompanied by his competent staff and all the Chief of Police in the different towns of Maguindanao.

Pangilinan said the 6th ID remains committed in undertaking major steps in pursuit of peace and sustainable development especially if it is together with other organizations which are working for peace within its area of operations.

The Army has shifted to aggressive all out offensive to aggressive all out peace and development with the government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as its partner in bringing peace in troubled Maguindanao.

'Syensiya-bilidad’ helps 68 ARMM students qualify for DOST scholarships

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521431564768/-syensiya-bilidad-helps-68-armm-students-qualify-for-dost-scholarships
Thursday, May 14, 2015

(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 14 (PIA) --- The conduct of ‘Syensiya-bilidad’ has helped 68 students from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) passed the undergraduate scholarship programs of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), this year.

Mon-em Abangad, DOST-ARMM scholarship co-coordinator, said the number of qualifiers almost doubled compared to last year with only 35 students.

It is also the highest number of qualifiers for the region so far.

He said of the 68 scholars, 65 are under Republic Act 7687 also known as the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994, while the three are under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program.

The ‘Syensiya-bilidad is an enrichment program that involved a two-day comprehensive review that was composed of two parts – the Intellective Speed and Intellective Power Test.

It was aimed at developing the skills of the students in taking tests. It was designed to help them remember and master the skills and concepts needed to pass the DOST-SEI scholarship examination.

The ARMM, according to Abangad, is among the regions that have implemented the program.

DOST-ARMM also administered an online review and pre-test in the five provinces of the region for free.

In addition, DOST-ARMM conducted an intensive information drive dubbed “Push 4 Science” to raise awareness on DOST-SEI scholarship programs.

“We focused our campaign on places that has no takers for the past three years (2012-2014). We believe it (‘Push 4 Science’) also affected the result,” said Abangad.

A total of 5,303 high school students all over the country clinched a slot in the scholarship program. This year’s number of qualifiers, which is up by 33 percent, surpassed the 3,982 mark in 2014.

Starting school year 2015-2016, DOST-SEI scholars will receive bigger stipends and allowances to support their studies. They will receive P6, 000 monthly stipend under the Physics/Applied Physics, Geology, Mining Engineering, Agriculture, and Fisheries courses, while the other DOST-SEI priority courses will receive P5,000 monthly stipend; book allowance of P10,000 per academic year; tuition fee subsidy of P10,000; and clothing allowance of P1,000.

The scholarship qualifiers can enroll in state universities and colleges and other higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence. They can take up priority science and technology courses such as Agriculture, Applied Physics, Engineering, and Mathematics, among others.

PhilRice, DAF-ARMM to introduce rice management app in Mamasapano

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2301431485258/philrice-daf-armm-to-introduce-rice-management-app-in-mamasapano
Wednesday, May 13, 2015

(SJDuerme-PIA12/AMMatucan-PhilRice-Midsayap)

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, May 13 (PIA)--- As part of its continued commitment to support the farmers through various research and development programs, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM) is set to introduce an internet-based software Rice Crop Manager (RCM) in Barangay Manongkaling, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The project is an integral component of the Technical Cooperation Project 5 (TCP 5), a technology extension support for ARMM funded by the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA).

Aimed at helping the farmers manage their crops and get a better yield, the project has a fund allocation of P331,600 which will be divided for to cropping seasons.

Teodora L. Briones, head of the Corporate Services Division of PhilRice and at the same time the TCP 5 secretariat explained that the said endeavor was originally proposed by DAF-ARMM Sec. Atty. Makmod D. Mending, Jr. during the 2nd Joint Coordination Committee meeting of the TCP 5 in March this year which gladly approved by JICA, the funding agency.

“Originally, we only have the regular farmer field school or FFS that we conduct in various areas in ARMM but since the idea is good, we acknowledge the inclusion of RCM and JICA promptly approved it,” said Briones.

According to her, 20 farmers will be selected in the community who will serve as cooperators in a demonstration farm.

“These farmers will become our primary clientele who will then help us in technology promotion through farmer-to-farmer approach,” Briones added.

Meanwhile, Ommal H. Abdulkadil, assistant project director of TCP 5 shared that prior to the establishment of a demonstration farm, they will conduct an on-site technical briefing.

“On May 21, our team is scheduled to conduct an on-site briefing to ensure that farmers in the community will fully understand the concept of the project,” he stated adding that pool of experts from their central office will personally attend and facilitate the briefing as well as to share information on the context of the project.

The Rice Crop Manager allows extension officers to provide farmers with specific recommendations particularly on nutrient, pest, weed, or water management, depending on the specific variety they used, their yield from the previous season, and the site-specific conditions of their field.

The application could be accessed via a smartphone or a computer with internet connection and it can be downloaded for free as an app named ‘RCM PH’ via the Google play store or at www.webapps.irri.org/ph/rcm.

ARMM investment board convenes meeting of investment promo organization

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=761091
Tuesday, May 12, 2015

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 12 (PNA) -- The Regional Board of Investments of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM) together with the private sector in the ARMM convened Monday the organizational meeting of the regional Promotion of Investment Sustainability Organization or PISO composed of the registered firms under the RBOI.

The ARMM has been enjoying record multi-billion peso investments in the region since 2013 at the start of the administration of Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman.

For 2013, the RBOI registered Php 1.46 billion investments. It more than doubled in 2014 when RBOI recorded Php 3.86 billion investments.

In the first quarter of 2015, the RBOI was able to register Php 863 million and it is on track to possibly match or exceed last year’s investments.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI-ARMM chair, said the infusion of private sector investments in the ARMM has been largely attributed to two factors.

First is the conducive business climate and stability brought about by the peace process culminating in the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014 between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Second is the continuing ARMM governance reform that has made the region more business friendly.

It is on this premise that the PISO was organized in order to advocate for investment policy stability in the autonomous region including its improvement.

PISO is timely now that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is being debated in Congress and eventually passed into law. ARMM investors currently enjoy the convenience of getting their permits, licenses, approvals, administrative consents and their regulatory framework from the ARMM regional government without need to go to national agencies in Manila or their regional administrative offices.

"If there will be changes to BBL it should not lessen the ARMM autonomy but should seek to improve the investment friendly environment of the region by giving more local autonomy to the region," Mastura said.

Considered the poorest region in the country, investment “rules of the game” in the autonomous region must be maintained, improved and not lessened.

"Congress should not lose sight of the ease of doing business in the region to encourage more private sector development and not to unduly burden them. So the only way to have stability of investment policy for private sector development in the region is to make sure that the level of autonomy currently being experienced in the ARMM is not lessened or reduced by the proposed changes to the BBL," Mastura said.

Mastura presided over the initial PISO meeting. Aside from being one of the PISO conveners, the RBOI will also act as its secretariat.

Presiding duties during meetings will be rotated among the conveners. All registered firms of RBOI are considered members of the PISO.

Present as PISO conveners at the organizational meeting today were the officials from Unifrutti Group, Lamsan Corp., La Frutera, Inc., Power Up Ventures Inc., ARDEXCOR, Matling Corp., Philippine Trade Center Inc., ABSCOR, AMARDI, Maguindanao Halal Food Center, Al-Nor Group of Companies and ARMM Special Economic Zone and Free Port of Polloc.

ARMM officials laud ARMM athletes' performance in Palarong Pambansa

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=5&rid=760762
Monday, May 11, 2015

(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 11 (PNA) -- Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday lauded the efforts of athletes from the region's five provinces in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

ARMM Athletic Association finished 14th in the recently concluded games, two notches higher from its rank in the annual event last year.

The ARMM delegates bagged a total of 10 medals in the regular sports and three medals in the demonstration games.

The region’s taekwondo team grabbed two gold medals, two silvers and five bronzes while the athletics team bagged another gold medal. For the demonstration game, the wushu team grabbed one silver and one bronze medal while the region’s beach volleyball took home the gold medal.

Al-Trekee Dayan, director of ARMM’s Regional Sports Coordinating Office (RSCO), attributes the improvement in the region’s ranking with the strong collaboration of his office with the Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM.He said intensive preparations were conducted for the athletes.

Dayan said they conducted home-based trainings for the athletes after the ARMM’s regional athletics meet on 26 February to 01 March 2015 and in-house trainings were held in Tagum City, 15 days before the actual Palaro.

The RSCO also secured the athlete’s basic amenities like food, transportation, vitamins and uniforms among others. The DepEd, on the other hand, provided P3,000 allowance for each athlete.

The ARMM contingent was composed of approximately 500 athletes.

The head supervisors of ARMM’s five component provinces together with the RSCO and the DepEd-ARMM are currently evaluating and assessing the overall performance of the region in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.

Dayan said results of the evaluation can help improve the performance of the region in next year’s games and in other sporting events.

He said ARMM aims to be in the top 10 in the next Palarong Pambansa. He also emphasized the need to inculcate to the youth the value of sports and its role in fostering peace.

ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said the regional government fully supports the programs on sports development in the region.

“Sa susunod na Palaro, mas malaki ang suporta na ibibigay natin sa mga atleta. We will emphasize on the sports na may edge tayo,” she said.

The 2015 Palarong Pambansa was held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte from May 3 to 9 with the theme “Breaking Boarders, Building Peace”.

The ARMM athletes showed to Palaro participants that they welcome and support the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law and GPH-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace process by putting the word "Bangsamoro" at the back of their jersey uniforms.

Grand welcome for Ampatuan son out on bail

Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/92740-sajid-ampatuan-bail-homecoming-feast
Sunday, May 10, 2015 5:25 pm

By Jeoffrey Maitem (Rappler.com)

The youngest son of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. is greeted with a hero's welcome after returning home from 5 years in prison

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – After 5 years in an overcrowded prison facility in Manila, Sajid Islam Ampatuan, one of the suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, returned home to a hero's welcome organized by his supporters.

Family members, supporters, and local officials greeted Sajid, the youngest son of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., when he arrived at the gathering, after staying at a local Muslim politician's home.

Sajid was granted bail on January this year by Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. The court allowed the temporary release of Sajid after he posted a surety bond of P11.6 million for the 58 cases against him.

Sajid is the first of the major suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre to be granted temporary release. The November 23, 2009 event saw 58 people – including 32 media practitioners – killed in Ampatuan town. Sajid has maintained that his conscience is clean.

The bail petitions of his father Andal Sr, primary suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr., and Zaldy Ampatuan, former governor of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), remain pending in court.

Food like fried chicken, chicken curry, mixed vegetables, fruit salad, noodles, and beef steak were prepared for Sajid.

Visitors and local officials from the towns of Datu Unsay, Datu Hoffer, Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Mamasapano, Rajah Buayan, Datu Anggal and Talayan also greeted the younger Ampatuan.

“It’s mixed emotions. I’m happy now, but I’m sad because my dad and siblings are still in prison. But because of the love and support of the people who welcomed me, I feel loved,” he told reporters.

“Life inside the jail was so difficult. It’s hot in there, and crowded inside. But because of the help of Allah, I managed to survive,” Ampatuan said.

His wife, children, mother and relatives were his source of strength while locked up in prison, he said.

The youngest among Andal Sr's children said the door is open for reconciliation with the Mangudadatu clan – the prime target of the deadly massacre.

“I am saddened because you know it’s not easy to have your loved ones gone forever. However, it’s also disappointing to pay for something and you will be jail for a crime you have not committed. It’s painful for me to see my wife and kids growing while I’m not with them,” he said.

Ampatuan recalled that before he left jail, his father and his eldest brother both advised him to take care of himself and look after their clan and constituents.

“If the people and my relatives wanted to me run for office next year, I will give in to their call,” he said.

When asked for his message for his dad and siblings, Ampatuan said he wanted them to be strong and courageous. “There is a saying, if you can bear with the difficulties in life, Allah is with you,” he said.

He thanked President Benigno Aquino III for being fair, and said Aquino did not use his power to influence the case.

For the general public that is still angry to them, he is hoping that they will respect the law.

“It’s not only me who was allowed to post bail. There were 42 police who were also allowed by the court [to post bail] before,” he said.

In total, around 60 suspects, including members of the Ampatuan clan, have asked the court to allow them to post bail.

Australian group to promote good governance in ARMM

Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/05/09/1452914/australian-group-promote-good-governance-armm
Saturday, May 9, 2015 12:48 pm

By John Unson (philstar.com)

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - An Australian-assisted peace advocacy outfit will formally launch on Sunday a political intervention program promoting “good governance culture” among sectors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), which is involved in various peace-building activities in Mindanao, started organizing the “Promoting Political Climate and Stability for Peace (Pro PolitiCS for Peace) program as early as January this year.

Lawyer Benidicto Bacani, director of IAG, said Sunday’s launching of the Pro PolitiCS for Peace will be attended by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and representatives from the Australian embassy.

The government’s chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Miriam Coronel Ferrer, officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, provincial governors and mayors from ARMM are also to grace the symbolic kickoff rite for Pro PolitiCS for Peace.

The program is being bankrolled by the Australian Agency for International Development, now a partner of the IAG, which is also being assisted by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung of Germany.

“This program aims to promote a good political climate and stability and cooperation among Muslims, Christians and lumad sectors in the Bangsamoro area,” Bacani said.

He said Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, presiding chair of the 75-member House committee handling the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, will also participate in Sunday’s event.

The non-stock, non-profit IAG has been implementing for more than a decade now various projects helping propagate good governance and political harmony among Mindanao’s tri-people - the indigenous non-Muslim hinterland groups, Moro people and Christian communities.

Bacani said prominent analysts will also speak on Mindanao political issues during Sunday’s activity, to be held in Davao City.

Stronger ARMM, not BBL, key to peace in South

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/stronger-armm-not-bbl-key-to-peace-in-south/181955/
Friday, May 8, 2015 11:25 pm

(ORVRivera-PIA12)

THE non-government Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman), through its director and spokesman, Bernard Karganilla, has asked if discussion of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is not an “exercise in futility” given that a protagonist, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) “does not renounce terrorism and other acts of violence, surrender its armaments, pledge allegiance to the Philippine Constitution, shed off its belligerency and refrain from seeking intervention from foreign powers.”

In a recent meeting, members of the Philcoman board of directors unanimously agreed that the solution to the problem in the South is not passage of the BBL but strengthening of the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and strict enforcement of the gun ban and prosecution of violators of the ban.

“Unless the government removes the guns from terrorists and criminal elements, there is no way you can achieve peace in Mindanao,” Dr. Cecilio Arillo, Philcoman president, said in a statement.

In doubting the sincerity of the MILF in helping the government in achieving lasting peace in southern Philippines, Philcoman, “dedicated to the development of management and improvement of its practices in all aspects of the Philippine society,” challenged the separatist front to dismantle the “mantiqi” (operating cells and networks) of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist organizations in Mindanao.

BIFF is a breakway group of the MILF.

Meanwhile, Philcoman said, “Right now, the government is negotiating with the MILF at the point of [the separatist organization’s] guns and is often threatened with war and terrorism if the BBL is not approved in its entirety.”

For many years now, according to the non-profit federation, “the MILF has been expanding its territories in Mindanao because the government failed to realize early on that a negotiating table to the MILF is just an extension of its battlefield as events have shown.”

Philcoman, founded in 1954 by 10 associations, is a non-profit federation of technological societies, academic institutions, business enterprises and professional managers.

Maguindanao OFWs embark on hair, make-up course

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2411430966574/maguindanao-ofws-embark-on-hair-make-up-course
Thursday, May 7, 2015

(ORVRivera-PIA12)

COTABATO CITY, May 7 (PIA) – Overseas Filipino Workers and dependents in Maguindanao are currently training on basic cosmetology as a livelihood courtsy of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-ARMM.

According to OWWA-ARMM officer-in-charge Uga Sulaiman, some 35 members of OFW Family Circles and OWWA IT scholars are undergoing intensive course in hairstyling and make-up from May 6-8, 2015 at Al Nor Hotel Convention Center.

Sulaiman said the training aims to arm the participants with new skills in order to enhance their capabilities so they may start their small businesses and generate additional income.

During the three-day course, the participants are taught on use of beauty tools, basic techniques on hair cutting styles for men and women, hair coloring, make-up, hot oil treatment, manicure/pedicure, hair perming and foot spa.

Free beauty and cosmetology kits will be given to the participants after their graduation so that they can use their newly acquired skills to immediatelt start their small business.

We will also conduct free trainings for OFWs in other provinces of the autonomous region within the year, Sulaiman added.

The training dubbed as “Ganda mo, kinabukasan ko,” is an initiative of OWWA regional welfare office ARMM which started last year.

This is carried out under OWWA’s reintegration program which aims to reintegrate the members to the mainstream Philippine society and to provide them access to the agency’s programs and services which includes community organizing, capability building trainings and livelihood loans.

Cebu, Tawi-Tawi to cooperate in fight against illegal fishing

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/05/06/cebu-tawi-tawi-cooperate-fight-against-illegal-fishing-406133
Wednesday, May 6, 2015

By Oscar C. Pineda

“CEBU remains to be the prime destination for raw corals and shells because it continues to be the center of curio and shell trade.”

This was what the briefing prepared by a team from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Bureau of Fisheries stated.

Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday met with his counterpart from Tawi-Tawi, Gov. Nurbert Sahali, and Nur Harun, ARMM Bureau of Fisheries consultant, to discuss cooperation between the two provinces in addressing the illicit trafficking of corals and shells.

Helping each other

Their meeting had three objectives: to discuss enforcement initiatives for both provinces against coral and shell trade, to develop an information-sharing scheme and to agree on a common course of action.

“Magtinabangay kita (Let’s help each other). We collaborate with them para ma-arrest ning problema karong mga violations sa (so we can put a stop to the violations against the) Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550),” Davide said.

The governor admitted that many endangered shells from Tawi-Tawi are shipped here to be sold.

He cited an anti-illegal fishing task force operation last June, which intercepted a truckload of triton and helmet shells worth millions from Zamboanga.

“Cebu and Zamboanga are the transshipment points whether corals and rare shells are bound for local or foreign destination,” the briefing stated.

Sahali, who said their main source of livelihood comes from the sea, thanked Davide and Cebuanos for sharing with them best practices pertaining to marine law enforcement.

“I hope collaborative efforts and trainings will be realized,” he said.

Davide said Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Chief Chad Estella and Harun will try to come up with a solution to stop the illegal transport of corals and shells.

Traced to Talisay

Meanwhile, Harun also revealed that fishermen from Cebu have been arrested in Tawi-Tawi for using a compressor.

Although the practice is not illegal nationwide, it is in Tawi-Tawi. Harun said they have local ordinances that ban the use of compressors and cyanide.

He said the fishermen were released after they paid a fine.

Harun also said they discovered that the blasting caps they confiscated in the province came from Talisay City.

Blasting caps are used as detonating devices in explosives used in dynamite fishing.

In 2005, it was reported that Talisay City was the hub of an underground explosives trade that supplies not only to illegal fishermen, but also to terror cells.

According to a report of Tess B. Bacalla of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, at least 50 households in Talisay were believed to be churning out cheap, deadly devices.

The same report said that authorities were able to trace to Talisay the bombs used during the Rizal Day blasts in 2000.

To stop these illegal activities, Davide said his administration need the support of the community, local government unit and law enforcement agencies.

Coast Guard: Minor, 2 adults nabbed in Tawi-Tawi for illegal fishing

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/481558/news/regions/coast-guard-minor-2-adults-nabbed-in-tawi-tawi-for-illegal-fishing
Tuesday, May 5, 2015 7:39 am

By Joel Locsin / KG (GMA News)

A minor and two adults were arrested off Tawi-Tawi last weekend for illegal fishing, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.

The Coast Guard said its personnel caught the three—one of whom was a 12-year-old boy—using dynamite at Sitangkai Pier, 600 yards from the Coast Guard detachment.

It said the explosions prompted the Coast Guard at the detachment to deploy a team aboard an aluminum boat to the area.

The Coast Guard apprehended the motor banca and towed it to Sitangkai Pier.

It identified the arrested adults as Hussin Alih, 50; and Julie Dungog, 29. The three are residents of Barangay Poblacion in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.

Peace more attainable in Central Mindanao with Usman's death, says Catapang

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=1&rid=758520
Monday, May 4, 2015

By Priam F. Nepomuceno [(PNA), RMA/PFN]

MANILA, May 4 (PNA) -- With the neutralization of Basit Usman and five of his followers in Guindulungan town, Maguindanao Sunday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said that peace will be more attainable in Central Mindanao.

Usman and his followers were reportedly gunned down by his fellow terrorists due to differences.

He also said that more work needs to be done to make this a reality.

"(To win the peace), we will have to win progress and prosperity for the people of Mindanao, so now we are bringing in peace and developments, put up roads for peace, put up bridges for peace, hospital and school buildings for peace," Catapang said.

This is on top of neutralizing the peace spoilers and terrorists known to be operating in the area.

Catapang also downplays fear of possible retaliatory attacks from Usman's remaining followers, as the late terrorist has now run of followers and bodyguards.

He also said that the military will remain in the area to ensure the peace.

"We will stay in the area, as this the second phase of our Internal Peace and Security Peace 'Bayanihan' campaign, right after we win the peace, we will move forward for peace and development projects, we will stay there, in time for (the) projects to come in," he said.

Marawi mentors hit ‘discriminatory’ ARMM autonomy

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/marawi-mentors-hit-discriminatory-armm-autonomy/
Sunday, May 3, 2015

By Ali G. Macabalang

Marawi City – Officials and teachers in the Marawi City Schools Division here yesterday renewed their call for justice in their raging tug-of-war with Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officials and their local cohorts, asking higher authorities to save them from their superiors’ alleged “discriminatory” practice of autonomy.

Incumbent Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Mona Macatanong said the alleged abuse of autonomous power by the ARMM leadership is “sending a bad signal” in the current government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that seeks more autonomy for a proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) via a draft law now being deliberated upon in Congress.

According to Macatanong and her supporters, their sad plight is giving more reasons for opposing quarters to question and stunt the congressional passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which seeks to create the BJE in lieu of the 25-year-old ARMM.

They lamented that while harnessing autonomy for other schools divisions in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao and Lamitan City, the ARMM’s Department of Education (DepED) has deprived Marawi City SDS office of its monthly Maintenance and Other Operating Expense (MOOE) funds because of Macatanong’s defiance of a regional order in May, 2014 compelling her to “retire retroactively” and designating officers-in-charge in her stead.

Macatanong said the Lanao del Sur Cooperative has already warned of cutting electricity supplies to the Marawi City SDS office for its failure to pay accumulated power bills since the stoppage of the MOOE in June 2014.

MILF, AFP in Maguindanao to have separate free viewings of Pacquiao-Mayweather bout

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/480510/news/regions/milf-afp-in-maguindanao-to-have-separate-free-viewings-of-pacquiao-mayweather-bout
Saturday, May 2, 2015

(Agence France-Presse)

COTABATO - In a rare common cause, both rebels and soldiers in the war-torn southern Philippines will watch local boxing icon Manny Pacquiao take on Floyd Mayweather, with hopes that Sunday's mega-bout will bring a brief respite from violence.

The Muslim rebels and government forces will have separate free viewings of the Las Vegas clash, as the nation waits to see whether Pacquiao will triumph during the epic fight.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim armed group, will watch the fight on a widescreen TV at a compound in Maguindanao on Sunday, said MILF vice-chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.

"They asked me if they could show it outside my office. I told them okay, I see no problem with that," Jaafar told AFP.

He said both MILF members and non-members were free to attend the showing in the tightly guarded compound barely a kilometer from the MILF's heavily armed main camp.

When asked whether he expects that there will be no trouble during the fight, he said: "We pray for that. That is our hope."

Army 6th Infantry Division spokeswoman Captain Joan Petinglay confirmed that the military forces in Maguindanao will also have their own showing of the fight in a gymnasium on Sunday.

The Philippines has been known to come to a standstill during its boxing hero's fights, with criminals and guerrillas of various stripes eagerly following his matches.

Pacquiao's long-awaited battle with Mayweather has gained even more attention, as it will finally settle which of the two is the best pound-for-pound fighter of their generation.

Maguindanao has been one of the hotspots of the four-decade separatist struggle that has claimed an estimated 120,000 lives.

The MILF's Jaafar denied that the group, which is negotiating peace with the government to end decades of a Muslim separatist war, was holding the screening as a sign of support for Pacquiao, who is regarded by many Filipinos as a national icon.

"We are supporting the sport [of boxing]. Whoever is involved in the sport, we will want to support both of them. We are not siding with anyone, as far as I am concerned," he said.

"There may be individual MILF who are siding with Pacquiao," he conceded.

PDEA-ARMM continues campaign vs illegal drugs despite filing of charges against its agents

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=757921
Friday, April 1, 2015

(PNA), FFC/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, May 1 (PNA) -- Despite the filing of charges against agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency here by suspected "high value drug" trafficker, PDEA agents in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) continued its anti-narcotics operation and arrested a suspected pusher Thursday, PDEA-ARMM said Friday.

"The charges against us will not hamper the PDEA-ARMM campaign against persons engaged in illegal drug trade," Special Agent Marvin Mendoza told reporters.

Acting on a tip from concerned citizens about rampant illegal drug pushing near the Cotabato City's old slaughterhouse, PDEA-ARMM agents immediately conducted a drug buy bust operation using a poseur buyer.

Mendoza said the operation led to the arrest of suspected drug peddler Salidatu Salik Abas, 43 who was caught in the act of selling suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu" to a PDEA agent Thursday morning along Catalina St., Pansacala, Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City.

Abas did not resist arrest as he was caught by surprise.

Seized from the suspect’s possession were small transparent sachets of suspected shabu worth PHP7,000, marked money worth PHP200, shabu paraphernalia and an unlicensed improvised 12-gauge pistol.

Mendoza said Abas has been charged for violation of Art. II, Sec. 5 and 11, of RA 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs of 2002 and RA 10591 for illegal possession of firearm.

He admitted selling and pushing of prohibited substance have become bolder and rampant in the city because of the presence of "high value targets" operating here.

Early this week, Mendoza and about 12 of his men were charged with evidence fabrication and robbery before the office of the Ombudsman by suspected drug trader Samera Canapia.

Canapia of Cotabato City and among the "high value target" in the list of PDEA-ARMM said the evidences of the charges hurled against her, her family and employees were "fabricated" and "planted."

Mendoza claimed his office has been expecting the charges to come after PDEA busted a suspected big time drug trafficker.

According to Canapia, she lost more than PHP2 million worth of valuables and properties when the PDEA agents raided her home on January 23 this year. Among the missing items were PHP500,000 cash.

Undetermined number of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride chloride, assorted firearms, electronic gadgets and shabu paraphernalia were taken from Canapia's house during the raid covered by a search warrant.

Canapia and several members of her family were detained but later released after posting bail.

Saying anti-narcotics agents have been in this situation before, Mendoza said PDEA-ARMM is ready and prepared to face the charges.

"We are ready, we expect this thing to happen, normally high value targets of PDEA get back at us by filing charges," Mendoza told reporters.

"This is not new to us anymore, we know the capability of Canapia that is why she was classified as high value target. Canapia has all the resources aside from the backing of syndicate, this is a normal move of the syndicates to discredit the agency," Mendoza said.

He also denied the charges hurled by Canapia, including the alleged use of expensive wrist watches and sun glasses by PDEA agents they posted on FB accounts.

"Are these items only exclusive to them? Are our agents can't afford to buy one? Are these limited edition that nobody can buy except them?" Mendoza asked.

Mendoza stressed that the raid was above board and conducted in the presence of village officials and local media.

"All the seized items were properly documented and the certificate of inventory was signed by Canapia and the village officials," Mendoza said.

The PDEA official said the filing of charges will not stop them from performing its duties and make the ARMM drug free.

He considered the filing of charges as "defense mechanism" on the part of the suspects and a harassment to the anti-narcotics agency.

Difference between revisions of "Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao News May 2015"

Latest revision as of 11:18, 15 June 2015

Contents

GPH, MILF peace panels urged to return to nego table, agree on new timetable

Murad seeks OIC aid for Bangsamoro

P77M in projects showered on Mamasapano

Treason, inciting to sedition raps filed vs PH peace panel, MILF over BBL

All set for class opening in ARMM, education officials say

CDA-ARMM hosts Successful Cooperatives Congress

PNP-ARMM deploys cops for Balik Eskwela 2015

MNLF, ARMM legislators will be in Bangsamoro Transition Authority

ARMM private schools won’t raise tuition, says CHEd

Mock cultural villages showcasing ARMM’s major tribes to re-open in June

Palace hoping Congress will pass BBL version for peace, development of Mindanao

DOH-ARMM offers free cervical cancer screening

ARMM eyes on topping municipal fishing boat registration

DOST-ARMM disperses water filter system for region's remote communities

Turkey gov't, MILF dev't agency put up orphanage center

ARMM to distribute 100K hectares of land to farmers

Army, PNP, Maguindanao province sign MOA for joint action during disaster

'Syensiya-bilidad’ helps 68 ARMM students qualify for DOST scholarships

PhilRice, DAF-ARMM to introduce rice management app in Mamasapano

ARMM investment board convenes meeting of investment promo organization

ARMM officials laud ARMM athletes' performance in Palarong Pambansa

Grand welcome for Ampatuan son out on bail

Australian group to promote good governance in ARMM

Stronger ARMM, not BBL, key to peace in South

Maguindanao OFWs embark on hair, make-up course

Cebu, Tawi-Tawi to cooperate in fight against illegal fishing

Coast Guard: Minor, 2 adults nabbed in Tawi-Tawi for illegal fishing

Peace more attainable in Central Mindanao with Usman's death, says Catapang

Marawi mentors hit ‘discriminatory’ ARMM autonomy

MILF, AFP in Maguindanao to have separate free viewings of Pacquiao-Mayweather bout

PDEA-ARMM continues campaign vs illegal drugs despite filing of charges against its agents

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+==GPH, MILF peace panels urged to return to nego table, agree on new timetable==
+*Source: http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2015/05/31/gph-milf-peace-panels-urged-to-return-to-nego-table-agree-on-new-timetable/
+*Sunday, May 31, 2015 5:40 pm
+:By Carolyn O. Arguillas  (MindaNews)
+DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/31 May) — A former member of the government (GPH) peace panel in the negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is proposing that the peace panels return to the negotiating table to agree on a new timetable given that the continued delay and difficulties in the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will leave no more time for a transition period.
+Dean Tony La Viña of the Ateneo School of Government, who served as member of the GPH peace panel in the last days of the Arroyo administration, proposed at the Experts’ Forum of the Cotabato City-based Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City  on Friday that the new timetable should ensure there is at least one year transition from the ratification of the law and not peg the establishment of the Bangsamoro government to the May 2016 polls since “no real transition can happen.”
+La Viña said passing on to the next administration the passage of a BBL may also be considered instead of rushing under the Aquino administration the passage of law that may create a “Bangsamoro Autonomous Region” with “lesser autonomy and powers than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).”
+In the same forum, Gerry Salapuddin, former House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and principal author of RA 9054, the law passed to incorporate the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) warned that “if Congress will give another failed experiment, do not expect the Bangsamoro to produce miracles. The same failed experiment will also be the result of the kind of law that Congress will enact for the Bangamoro.”
+The peace panels are in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the “Normalization” activities on decommissioning of weapons and combatants, among others.
+MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal in a text message to MindaNews on Saturday afternoon said “no comment” on the La Vina proposals while GPH peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer sent no reply.
+:“Less than ARMM”
+The House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (AHCBBL) approved on May 20 its substitute bill that, benchmarked against the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that the GPH and MILF signed on March 27, 2014 and the ARMM that it seeks to replace, is “less than ARMM,” a section-by-section presentation of the Bangsamoro Study Group pointed out (see other story).
+Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Committee chair, will deliver his sponsorship speech on the BBL at the plenary on Monday, June 1, the same day the plenary debates will begin. Rodriguez told MindaNews he remains optimistic the bill would pass before they adjourn sine die on June 11.
+At the Senate, however, Senator Franklin Drilon announced Saturday that they are now looking at a new timetable – October – within which to pass the law.
+Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., chair of the Committee on Local Governments, has yet to wrap up his public hearings on June 2 and 3.
+A dozen senators, including himself and Mindanawon senators Teofisto Guingona III and Aquilino Pimentel III have signed the report of Sen. Miriam Santiago, chair of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment and Revision of Codes, that says the BBL should be “substantially revised” to withstand legal scrutiny.
+:Moving forward
+La Viña noted that the Senate vote is a signal to the President “because by voting that way, they are putting themselves in a situation where it would be very difficult for them to reverse themselves.”
+“I think it is a very clear signal. What we don’t know is how they’re going to move forward but if they move forward, we can expect a much more conservative version (of the BBL). So in other words, from an autonomy point of view, from a CAB point of view, this is the best that you can get – the Ad Hoc (Committee) version. Are we actually even willing to lower the bar for that?” he asked.
+The peace process, he said, is “strong enough” and there are “political processes in the peace process that they can actually go back and say ‘let’s change the timetable.’ You don’t have to change any substantial agreement. You can change the timetable and negotiate a transition agreement.”
+Under the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed on October 15, 2012, the government and MILF agreed that the peace panels “shall continue the negotiations until all issues are resolved and all agreements implemented.” They also agreed that “an exit document officially terminating the peace negotiation may be crafted and signed by both parties if and only when all agreements have been fully implemented.”
+:For next President
+“With apologies to my colleagues in OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process), who’d really want this closed, I actually think a BBL that is owned by the next President is much better than a BBL owned by this President,” La Viña said.
+He explained that it is necessary for the next President to own the process, to “champion this” because transitions that do not have the support of the President, will not work.
+“Under the circumstances now, it’s gonna work with President Aquino totally committed but President Aquino will no longer be there” next year, he added.
+President Aquino steps down from his six-year term on June 30, 2016.
+Under the roadmap that the GPH and MILF agreed upon since FAB in late 2012 was to ensure at least one year transition period for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to perform its tasks and prepare for the May 2016 election of the first set of officials of the Bangsamoro.
+Passing the BBL in October, as Drilon said, means the plebiscite would be in January 2016 . “No real transition can happen” La Viña told MindaNews, as it is too close to the May 9 elections and by March, it would already be campaign period for the synchronized national, local and regional elections.
+:From seven years
+The MILF originally negotiated for a seven-year transition period, one year of that as pre-interim.
+The transition was shortened to three years following the August 4, 2011 meeting of President Aquino and MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim in Japan where they agreed to fast-track the peace process by signing a peace agreement within the first three years of Aquino’s term (2010 to 2013) so implementation can be done in the second half (2013 to 2016).
+But it took until January 25, 2014 to finish all four annexes to the FAB that should have been completed before yearend 2012. And the CAB was signed only on March 27 last year.
+“Very, very rationally, we’re actually better off assuming that the peace process is strong enough to withstand a one year extension of the deadlines– and assuming that it is – as we’ve seen in Mamasapano, the military forces on both sides are very committed to the peace process already, we’re probably better off taking time and really getting this right than have to push a law that ‘s not only imperfect but worse than what we have here.”
+He said he knows that legislators who support the BBL are trying their best. “History will judge you but we should also think, if it doesn’t work, then the alternative is actually not so bad and will actually be even better from an implementation point of view.”
+La Vina also said the Supreme Court is another arena to watch out for as quite a number have vowed to question the BBL there.
+:Three years
+Salapuddin recalled that before the January 25, 2015 tragedy in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, he submitted in writing a proposal to Ad Hoc Committee chair Rodriguez, requesting for an extension of the period for the BTA “so they can fully perform their functions.”
+“If the BTA will still be created and ARMM abolished, truth of the matter is they will not be able to do their duties very effectively,” he said.
+He cited as example the ARMM under Governor Mujiv Hataman who was appointed as OIC Governor on December 22, 2011 when the ARMM election scheduled in August that year was synchronized with the May 2013 polls, and when he was elected in May 2013.
+Salapuddin said that as OIC Governor for nearly two years, Hataman “did not even finish the reorganization and reforms.”
+He said Hataman has been serving as ARMM Governor for nearly four years now “but he has not yet fully filled up the necessary plantilla in the ARMM.”
+“Yet he was not (heading) a new political entity,” Salapuddin, a former Governor of Basilan, and a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said.
+Unlike the ARMM, the Bangsamoro will have a parliamentary form of government.
+The ARMM was set up in 1990 following a Constitutional provision creating autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Cordilleras. It was expected to ensure autonomy for the Moro peoples, following the non-implementation of the autonmy set-up in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement.
+The agreement provided for an autonomous region in 13 provinces and nine cities in Mindanao and Palawan but then President Ferdinand Marcos, using his legislative powers under martial law, created two instead of one autonomous region. Following the collapse of the 1976 agreement, then MNLF vice chair Salamat Hashim left to set up the MILF.
+:Disastrous
+Salapuddin said it would be “disastrous” to pass a law that is not acceptable to both the MILF and the MNLF.
+He said he wonders what the BTA can do given the time constraints “and if they will fail, we will again blame them, that they are a failure, that they are not competent, that they are not this and that.”
+“That is why I told the Senate… during the hearing last week that if you do the same thing over and over again, do not expect another result. Therefore if Congress will give another failed experiment, do not expect the Bangsamoro to produce miracles. The same failed experiment will also be the result of the kind of law that Congress will enact for the Bangamoro,” Salapuddin said.
+If the BBL is “not successfully passed, as much as possible as a true expression and reflection of whatever is in the CAB… I don’t think the Moro mujahideen will accept their fate to be cheated twice — from the MNLF to the MILF. If in case this one will still fail, then it’s not only going to be a recipe for disaster but it might be the glue that will reunite all the different factions … to continue the struggle not anymore for autonomy but even if I don’t have to tell you this, but I know you will be guessing the same as I do, but for independence,” he said.
+==Murad seeks OIC aid for Bangsamoro==
+*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/05/30/murad-seeks-oic-aid-bangsamoro-410446
+*Saturday, May 30, 2015
+:By Ryan D. Rosauro
+MORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim has invited the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to “journey with us” and help the Moro people meet the challenge of development in a post-war Mindanao.
+“The Muslims in Mindanao have long craved for development, physically and mentally. And it is hoped that it will be delivered in the form of peace dividends as the fruits of the current peace process,” Murad told the OIC-Council of Foreign Ministers during their 42nd conference in Kuwait from May 27 to 28.
+“... I would like to take this opportunity to humbly request the OIC member states and affiliated institutions to help us. We would welcome any kind of financial assistance and investments. And on our part, we will give our level best to live up to your expectations,” Murad said.
+Murad’s speech was posted in the MILF’s official website on Friday, May 29.
+Murad said that he spoke “not only as Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) but mainly on behalf of the Bangsamoro Coordinating Forum (BCF), a forum designed by the OIC for coordination of the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and for the purpose of achieving unity in our struggle.”
+MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal disclosed that it was Murad’s first time to address the OIC-CFM “as a representative of the Bangsamoro people through the BCF.”
+Apart from Murad, other Moro leaders attended the conference including former Cotabato City Mayor Muslimen Sema, chair of the largest MNLF faction called Council of 15, and his vice-chair Hatimil Hassan; and Randolph Parcasio, who represented MNLF chair Nur Misuari.
+The 57-member pan-Islamic body has played a key role in the search for peace in southern Philippines since the mid-1970s. Under its auspices, negotiation between the government and the MNLF was pursued in 1975 that led to the landmark Tripoli Agreement on Peace in 1976. A Final Peace Agreement with the MNLF was forged in 1996 through the mediation of OIC-member state Indonesia.
+In the negotiations between government and the MILF, the OIC served as an observer. Another OIC member, Malaysia, facilitated the forging of a pact between government and the MILF.
+The OIC also brokered the creation of the BCF to serve as platform for cooperation between the MILF and the now factionalized MNLF.
+During his speech, Murad said the Bangsamoro “are on the verge of opening a new chapter in our history” made possible by the peace pact the MILF inked with the government in March 2014.
+“However, the peace agreement would be meaningless if there is no peace dividend delivered,” he added.
+He explained that the failure to “truthfully implement” the 1976 pact and to bring “immediate benefits for the conflict-affected communities” led to the rise of radical groups “and spur extremism in Mindanao.”
+“That has made us realize that without thorough development, conflicts will continue to prevail and the Bangsamoro will forever be at the losing end,” Murad stressed.
+We... have always recognized the importance of economic development and political stability as the pillars to a sustainable development. In order to achieve that, we will have to make sure that situation is conducive for future investments and businesses,” he said.
+Murad narrated that the work for development in the region requires massive resources, worrying that “the Bangsamoro will remain as just another dream if it is not supported with equal financial commitments.”
+“Although the government has pledged to provide the necessary funding but we fully understand the financial constraints that they face since we are talking about an amount that could reach hundreds of billions of dollars,” Murad explained.
+When enacted and ratified, the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law currently pending in Congress provides for a special development fund for the region within a period of five years.
+Murad, a former iron-willed combatant who rose from the MILF’s military ranks, spoke frankly about the fate of the peace pacts forged by the MNLF with government for which the OIC were also involved.
+“(The) Bangsamoro’s destiny has not changed since 1976 until now. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) established in 1989 and later strengthened in 1996 has failed to address the root causes of our grievances,” Murad narrated.
+“The Bangsamoro remain neglected since the ARMM does not enjoy genuine autonomy as opposed to what its name suggested. Major decision making powers continue to be at the central government’s disposal,” he added.
+Murad assured the OIC these “these weaknesses have been addressed” in the agreements the MILF entered into with government. He added that the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro recognizes and builds on the gains of the peace process involving the MNLF.
+Even then, Murad asked the OIC “to continue to urge the Philippine Government to faithfully implement the CAB and pave the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Government.”
+“If, by the grace of Allah, the Bangsamoro Government is established, we strongly appeal to you to help us rebuild our communities that have been ravaged by decades of war. We ask you to welcome us in the community of Muslims, establishing relations and building cultural links to our cities and your countries,” he implored.
+“A rare moment in history unfolds, as we step out of the past and embrace the promise of dawn, when we bid farewell to war and strife, and when the struggle of our people finally finds a measure of success in the building of an institution that allows them to shape their future and partake of the resources that Allah endowed them,” Murad said.
+==P77M in projects showered on Mamasapano==
+*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/694771/p77m-in-projects-showered-on-mamasapano
+*Friday, May 29, 2015 11:22 pm
+:By Edwin Fernandez (Inquirer Mindanao, Philippine Daily Inquirer)
+COTABATO CITY—The town of Mamasapano in Maguindanao province, made infamous by the deaths of 44 elite police commandos in an operation to get international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” is being showered with P77 million in infrastructure projects that would be finished next month, according to officials.
+Jame Mlok, head engineer of Maguindanao’s second district engineering office, said among the projects is a 120-meter-long steel bridge that would take the place of a wooden footbridge in the village of Tukanalipao, which played a key role in the debacle that defined the operation to get Marwan.
+The operation to get Marwan was delayed as members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police had to cross the wooden footbridge to get to Marwan’s hideout in Mamasapano.
+It was on that footbridge where some of the SAF members were killed. Bloodstains could still be found on parts of the bridge.
+According to Mlok, also being built is an 880-meter-long access road worth P17.5 million, nine school buildings worth a total P44 million, water sanitation facilities, a farm to market road and a mosque.
+Mlok said the steel bridge, which would be called “Bridge of Peace,” would be completed next month.
+Another ongoing project is the renovation of the Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School, in the village of Tukanalipao, worth P3.5 million.
+The infrastructure projects were started in March this year with Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov.
+Mujiv Hataman, the region’s Public Works Secretary Emil Sadain and officials from the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division leading groundbreaking ceremonies.
+Hataman said the military has shown that it was supportive of the Mindanao peace process through its active involvement in the implementation of the projects.
+The Army’s engineering battalion is involved in the construction of a mosque in the area.
+Mlok said most of the infrastructure projects are to be finished on schedule.
+The province of Maguindanao is also the recipient of projects from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) worth at least 100 million yen.
+The projects are part of Jica’s commitment to support Bangsamoro communities following the signing of the peace pact Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro last year, according to Akihiko Tanaka, Jica president.
+In other parts of the ARMM, Jica is funding the construction of multipurpose halls, warehouses with solar dryers and school buildings.
+==Treason, inciting to sedition raps filed vs PH peace panel, MILF over BBL==
+*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/694365/treason-inciting-to-sedition-raps-filed-vs-ph-peace-panel-milf-over-bbl
+* Thursday, May 28, 2015 3:38 pm
+:By Tetch Torres-Tupas (AC)
+A COMPLAINT for treason and inciting to sedition has been filed before the Manila Prosecutors Office against officials and members of the government peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for pushing for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
+Named in the complaint are Government of the Philippines (GPH) negotiating panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former GPH chairman Marvic Leonen who is currently an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, GPH negotiating panel members Senen C. Bacani, Yasmin Busran-Lao, Mehol K. Sadain, former GPH panel consultant Zenonida Brosas. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles is also included in the complaint.
+Also included as respondent in the complaint are MILF negotiating panel chair and the Transition Commission Mohagher Iqbal and members Datu Michael Mastura, Maulana Alonto, Abdulla Camilian, alternate negotiating panel member Datu Antonio Kino, Transition Commission members Ibrahim Ali, Talib Abdulhamid Benito, Pedrito Eisma, Raissa Jajurie, Froilyn Mendoza, Hussein Muñoz, Akmad Sakkam, Said Shiek, Asani Tammang, Timuay Melanio Ulama and Johaira Wahab.
+Complainants include Buhay Rep. Jose Atienza, Abakada Representative Jonathan dela Cruz and Atty. Jeremy Gatdula.
+The House Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has already approved the measure that will formalize the creation of a new political entity to replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The new measure is now known as the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
+The complainants said BBL has usurped the power of Congress to enact laws as it attributes to the Bangsamoro instead of Congress as the author, promoter of the BBL. In effect, complainants said it gives the Bangsamoro people not only the autonomy as a local unit but its independence.
+“The proposed BBL, in its entirety, promotes the eventual self-determination of the Bangsamoro political entity, which violates the sovereign of the Republic of the Philippines,” complainant lawmakers said.
+Citing a Supreme Court ruling, the complainants pointed out that “no sub-group within the Philippines is entitled to self-determination. Despite this ruling, the respondents still chose to include the sovereign concept of “self-determination” in the BBL. Such persistence is a clear sign of intent to incite others to secede.”
+Complainant lawmakers added that the asymmetric relation between the Bangsamoro Government and the National Government has caused the curtailment of the power of the executive branch of the government.
+Some of the powers given to the Bangsamoro government that were supposed to be for the national government only include:
+• Power to appoint
+• Creation of a Bangsamoro Commission on Audit and Shari’ah Supreme Court. The Constitution only allows one Supreme Court and one Commission on Audit.
+• Allows the Bangsamoro Parliament to create provinces and cities
+• Taxing powers despite absence of guidelines and limitations from Congress.
+“The respondents’ strategy for inciting sedition or treason is comprehensive…The respondents also incite people to strip away the superiority of the National Government and to prevent the executive department to freely exercise its power as provided by the Constitution,” the complaint stated.
+“The acts of the Respondents, in executing the Framework Agreement and in proposing the BBL also effectively aided the MILF armed forces to successfully assert their existence as a separate and independence state. Therefore, the respondents must be held liable for the crime of treason as punished under the Revised Penal Code,” the complaint added.
+==All set for class opening in ARMM, education officials say==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=766224
+*Wednesday, May 27, 2015
+: (PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF
+COTABATO CITY, May 27 (PNA) -- All is set for the opening of classes on June 1 in all public schools in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the ARMM education secretary today said.
+"We are 100 percent ready for the incoming school year, 2015-2016," Dr. John Magno, Department of Education (DepED-ARMM) secretary told reporters.
+He said school heads and teachers in the region have already been reminded on what they must do to ensure orderly opening of classes next week.
+There are around 27,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel in the region who have started preparing two weeks back.
+‘Oplan Balik Eskwela’ an annual drive to prepare for the school opening was earlier conducted in the region. It aims at ensuring that students are properly enrolled and are able to attend school when their classes start.
+As stated in DepEd Order, the school year will consist of 201 school days, inclusive of the five-day in-service training break. The school year for 2015-2016 begins on June 1 and will end on April 1, 2016.
+Zainudin Dalgan, school head of Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, said despite the January 25 bloody encounter in Mamasapano, teachers in his area are all prepared for the incoming school year.
+“In fact, on Thursday, May 28, I will meet with six teachers in preparation for the opening of classes,” Dalgan said.
+He added that DepEd wants the children of Mamasapano to learn a lot to achieve their dreams and help their community because this is the only way to bring them out of poverty and ignorance.
+The Mamasapano incident, a bloody clash between Philippine police commandos and Moro armed men that left 67 people dead, 44 policemen, 17 Moro rebels and civilians, has left a scarce in the community but it also uncovered how poor the village was.
+In Basilan, teachers exert extra efforts to bring back children to school.
+“As the head of the school, I and the teachers of Upper Taberlongan, had house-to-house approach in encouraging the students to go to school,” said Kamrie Tadjah, teacher-in-charge of Upper Taberlongan Elementary School in Maluso, Basilan.
+To date, about 300 students have enrolled in Upper Taberlongan and more enrolees are expected in the coming days.
+“Attendance is an important factor in school success, so we planned more extra-curricular activities to prevent absenteeism,” Tadjah added.
+The ARMM's Education department will also work in addressing the problem of flooded schools in the region especially in the province of Maguindanao.
+Bai Tina D. Husin, Grade 2 teacher of Balong Elementary School in Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, said that in case of natural calamities, the plan is to have make-up classes to compensate for the school days lost.
+Magno appealed to community leaders to help, as stakeholders, in ensuring the class opening on Monday will come smoothly.
+The Maguindanao police office has also started deploying peacekeepers and traffic enforcers in front of elementary ad high schools to ensure the safety of students.
+==CDA-ARMM hosts Successful Cooperatives Congress==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=765435
+*Tuesday, May 26, 2015
+:(PNA), JBP/NYP/EOF
+COTABATO CITY, May 26 (PNA) -- To further improve and promote the viability and growth of cooperatives in the region, the Cooperative Development Authority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CDA-ARMM) launched on Monday in Cotabato City the 1st ARMM Successful Cooperatives Congress, officials said.
+Dimnatang Radia, CDA-ARMM administrator, said successful cooperatives will present their best practices -- specifically new management techniques, good governance and entrepreneurial activities -- to newly established cooperatives.
+“The 1st ARMM Successful Cooperatives Congress will form part of the benchmarking program of the CDA-ARMM and will enable small and micro cooperatives to be inspired by the best practices of the successful ones,” Radia said, adding that many cooperatives in the region have struggled to uplift their members’ economic status.
+“With their unyielding conviction, hard work, and determination, some of these cooperatives surpassed their goals and have become millionaires,” he said.
+The CDA-ARMM has registered around 4,600 cooperatives from 2010-2014, the highest number among regions in the country.
+Orlando Ravanera, CDA national chairman, said the cooperatives are one of the ways to end poverty.
+“With the promotion of cooperatives as instruments for equity, social justice, and economic development, we can hopefully end poverty that besets the region,” Ravanera said.
+Data show more than 12,000 cooperatives are registered in Mindanao with PHP150 billion worth of assets.
+Partners of the cooperative movement at the local, national and international levels will also share during the event their respective programs, projects and services that the region’s cooperatives may avail of.
+Those scheduled to make presentations during the event include international agencies such as the World Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as well as national partners led by the Land Bank of the Philippines and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).
+The congress also serves as a venue to showcase the services and goods of ARMM’s successful cooperatives.
+About 200 participants from the five provinces of the region -- Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi -- are participating in the two-day activity.
+==PNP-ARMM deploys cops for Balik Eskwela 2015==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=765188
+*Monday, May 25, 2015
+:By Noel Y. Punzalan [(PNA), CTB/NYP]
+CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao, May 25 (PNA) -- Chief Supt. Ronaldo R. Estilles, acting police regional director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) has deployed police officers in the region to assist the "Balik Eskwela 2015."
+"PNP-ARMM is working closely with the regional DepEd office and other national and local government agencies to ensure the peaceful and orderly school opening on June 1, 2015," Estilles said.
+Police personnel have been deployed region-wide to conduct foot patrol near schools, aside from establishing Police Assistance Desk (PADs) where students and other individuals can report cases of bullying and other crimes, he said.
+Likewise, mobile and foot patrols will also be conducted along major routes leading to all learning institutions and within the immediate vicinity of school premises.
+Moreover, the PNP-ARMM further cautions the students to be wary of strangers and to refrain from talking to them, to avoid wearing expensive jewelry and to avoid bringing large amounts of money or from using expensive phones while on the streets.
+The PNP will also continue extending its help to the DepEd’s “Brigada Eskwela” program in preparing the public school classrooms for the opening of school classes.
+PNP-ARMM encourages the public especially the students to report any incident of bullying or other street crimes to the nearest police station or through social media (Twitter - @PNPHotline / @ pnppio or Facebook Page – Philippine National Police) or through the following: Dial 117 or text 2920; and Isumbong Mo Kay TSIP 09178475757; while for PRO ARMM Social Media Accounts-@proarmm (twitter); pnp proarmm bulletin (Facebook Account).
+==MNLF, ARMM legislators will be in Bangsamoro Transition Authority==
+*Source: http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2015/05/24/mnlf-armm-legislators-will-be-in-bangsamoro-transition-authority/
+*Sunday, May 24, 2015 9:14 pm
+:By Carolyn O. Arguillas (MindaNews)
+QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 24 May) — If the provision in the House Committee-approved Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on the composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is adopted by the plenary, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front -led governing body in the Bangsamoro during the transition period will now be composed of 60 instead of 50 and will now include representatives from the Moro National Liberation Front and all 24 incumbent members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
+The 15-member joint government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that drafted the BBL (now proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee to be renamed “Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region”), provided for 50 members in the BTA, including representatives from “non-Moro indigenous communities, women, settler communities and other sectors” who will be appointed by the President.
+The GPH and MILF roadmap to peace targets June 30,2016 as the establishment of the Bangsamoro government.
+As the principal party to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that the parties signed on March 27 last year, the parties agreed that the MILF “shall lead the BTA, in its leadership and membership.”
+The Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (AHCBBL), however, amended the provision by adding “with the participation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in its leadership and membership.”
+It also included “all the incumbent members” of the ARMM’s Regional Legislative Assembly, who shall serve in the BTA “until the expiration of their term.”
+The ARMM’s legislative body has 24 members elected in 2010 for a three-year term.
+The AHCBBL also amended the list of sectors to read “non-Moro indigenous peoples, women, Christian residents, youth and other sectors.” It also provided that “at least two members thereof shall come from non-Moro indigenous peoples” and that women “will be adequately represented in all decision-making mechanisms.”
+:Who introduced what?
+The color-coded Committee’s consolidated working draft shows who introduced what amendments.
+Davao del Norte Rep. Anthony del Rosario, Batanes Rep. Dinah Abad, Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor and Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal, one of eight vice chairs of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (AHCBBL), did not touch the first paragraph of the section and maintained the MILF leadership in the BTA.
+They proposed to add “nominees of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) shall likewise be appointed to the BTA.”
+But Representatives Tupay Loong of Sulu, vice chair; vice chair Bai Sandra Sema of Maguindanao, Maryam Arbison of Sulu, Mariano Piamonte of A Teacher party-list, vice chair Democrito Mendoza of TUCP party-list, Rep. Dhjalia Turabin-Hataman of Anak Mindanaw party-list, Jorge Almonte of Misamis Occidental, vice chair Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato, Lilia Macrohon-Nuno of Zamboanga City, Imelda Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Ferdinand Hernandez of South Cotabato and Ansaruddin Adiong of Lanao del Sur proposed to add in the first paragraph the participation of the MNLF in the BTA’s “leadership and membership.”
+The proposal to increase the BTA membership from 50 to 60 came from Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, AHCBBL chair.
+Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat proposed “50 plus 36 members.” MindaNews sought Lobregat for a clarification on the figure but he has not replied as of 6 p.m. Sunday.
+Representatives Rodriguez. Loong, vice chair Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman, Sema, Surigao del Sur Rep. Philip Pichay, Sacdalan, Amatong (not indicated if Isidro or Rommel), Turabin-Hataman, Macrohon-Nuno proposed to include in the BTA “all the incumbent members of the Regional Assembly of the ARMM which shall serve in the BTA until the expiration of their term” and the rest of the BTA members, as proposed by Loong, will be appointed by the “incumbent” President.
+:Only RLA members
+The Chairman’s Working Draft as well as the Chairman’s and Vice Chairpersons’ Working Draft carried the proposal of the group but amended it to read “all incumbent members of the ARMM.” Loong’s proposal was not carried in both drafts.
+At the section by section deliberation last May 19, the ARMM membership in the BTA was specified to mean only RLA members.
+The RLA has 24 assemblymen from the ARMM provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.
+Lanao del Sur Rep. Ansaruddin Adiong asked, “what about the Vice Governor?” but Rodriguez replied the BTA membership is only for the RLA.
+Rodriguez said ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman had signified his intention to resign once the BTA is set up. Hataman’s wife, Rep. Dhjalia Turabin-Hataman, confirmed her husband’s intention. Hataman himself told MindaNews he would resign once the BTA is set up.
+The inclusion of the RLA members into the BTA was reportedly due to a lobby by governors in the ARMM provinces and the ARMM’s RLA members.
+Rep. Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato proposed to add that “at least two members shall come from non-Moro Indigenous Peoples” while Representatives Turabin-Hataman and Mendoza proposed to add “women will be adequately represented in all decision-making mechanisms.”
+Both proposals were carried.
+:Transition Period
+The draft BBL proposed that the transition or interim period for the establishment of the Bangsamoro “shall commence upon ratification of this Basic Law.”
+The Committee amended the sentence by adding “Autonomous Region” after Bangsamoro. The AHCBBL had aproposed to rename the new political entity from “Bangsamoro” to “Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”
+The consolidated Committee draft shows there were proposals for the transition period to end in 2019, but these were not carried into the Chairman’s or the Chairmans’ and Vice Chairpersons’ Working Draft.
+For the record, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano proposed, according to the Committee draft, a transition for the establishment of the Bangsamoro “of three years starting from 2016 to 2019.”
+Representatives Loong, Sema, Hattaman-Salaliman, Piamonte, Sacdalan, Almonte, Amatong, Dimaporo , Pichay Mendoza, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon and Catamco proposed that the transition for the establishment of the Bangsamoro shall commence upon ratification of this Basic Law “up to 2019.”
+The Alejano and the group’s proposals were not carried into Rodriguez’ 107-page Chairman’s Working Draft and the 109-page Chairman’s and Vice Chairpersons’ Working Draft (CVCD). By a vote of 37-16, the AHCBBL approved to make the 109-page draft the basis for the voting.
+As this section on transition is in the latter part of the draft BBL, it was taken up in the late hours of the 13-hour session on May 19. Neither Alejano nor the group proponents pushed for the amendment they earlier introduced.
+:Chaotic transition
+MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal does not see the new composition of the BTA as a problem.
+“Basta MILF ang mag-lead at mas marami kami,” (For as long as the MILF will lead and we’re majority), Iqbal told MindaNews Sunday.
+The intent of the legislators to add MNLF representatives and RLA members in the BTA may appear laudable but fears have been expressed that the BTA “will not be able to bring a common agenda at the most crucial period of transition” if the membership is unwieldy.
+“This is a chaotic transition or a transition to chaos,” a MindaNews source privy to the current discussions in the GPH-MILF peace process, said.
+Omar Sema, legal counsel of the MNLF faction under his father, Muslimin Sema, told MindaNews that including the MNLF in the BTA “while laudable, means nothing as there is no assurance it will not be a deleted in the plenary, considering particularizing the MILF and MNLF amounts to a class legislation which put the entire provision in danger of deletion because of its apparent unconstitutionality.”
+The MNLF under Nur Misuari signed a peace agreement with the government in 1976 and a Final Peace Agreement in 1996. Misuari’s vice chair, Salamat Hashim, broke away from the MNLF after the collapse of the 1976 peace agreement and set up the MILF.
+:BTA’s tasks
+During the transition, the BTA exercises legislative and executive powers, with the executive authority exercised by the interim Chief Minister, who shall be appointed by the President, while the BTA shall exercise legislative authority.
+Within the transition, the BTA is tasked, among others, to enact priority legislations such as the Bangsamoro Administrative Code and the Bangsamoro Revenue Code.
+The enactment of a Bangsamoro Electoral Code and a Bangsamoro Civil Service Code was scrapped from the original provision since the AHCBBL amended the draft and made the elections and civil service offices mere regional offices.
+The BTA is also tasked to organize the bureaucracy of the Bangsamoro Government including the approval and implementation of a transition plan, and the institution of a placement process for hiring of personnel during transition, the setting up of offices and other institutions necessary for the continued functioning of government and delivery of social services in the region, “as well as those necessary for the smooth operations of the first elected Bangsamoro Government in 2016.”
+:“Fast-track”
+The MILF had earlier demanded for a seven year transition period, one year of that as pre-transition. It later agreed to a three-year transition after President Aquino and MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim met on August 4, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan.
+Aquino and Murad agreed to fast-track the peace process by signing a peace agreement within the first half of the Aquino administration (2010 to 2013) so that the second half (2013 to 2016) , as suggested by Aquino, would be for the implementation of the peace agreement.
+The peace negotiations, however, suffered delays even as the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) was signed on October 15, 2012, within the first half of Aquino’s term.
+It took over a year to finish the four Annexes to the FAB that was supposed to have been finished by December 31, 2012. The last annex was signed on January 25, 2014 and the Comprehensive Agreement (CAB) was signed on March 27, 2014.
+The election of officials nationwide is on May 9, 2016.
+:Council of Elders
+Also to be organized during the transition is the Bangsamoro Council of Leaders, which, according to the BTC-drafted BBL is composed of the Chief Minister, provincial governors, mayors of chartered cities, and representatives from the non-Moro indigenous communities, women, settler communities, and other sectors.
+The role of the Council is to advise the Chief Minister on matters of governance in the Bangsamoro The representation of the non-Moro indigenous communities is “pursuant to their customary laws and indigenous processes.”
+==ARMM private schools won’t raise tuition, says CHEd==
+*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/693141/armm-private-schools-wont-raise-tuition-says-ched
+*Saturday, May 23, 2015 6:42 pm
+:By Karlos Manlupig (RC, Inquirer Mindanao)
+DAVAO CITY—Despite having been granted permission by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to raise tuition fees, private colleges and universities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will not be increasing their tuition rate.
+Amor Pendaliday, CHEd-ARMM chief, said private educational institutions operating in the region had agreed that implementing tuition increases would discourage more parents from sending their children to school.
+The CHEd recently gave 313 universities and colleges permission to increase tuition by an average of 6.17 percent or about P29.86 per unit. For other school fees, CHEd declared an average increase of 6.55 percent or about P135.60.
+“Academic institutions in the ARMM preferred not to increase their tuition because they want the parents in our region to send their children to college,” Pendaliday said.
+ARMM is among the country’s poorest regions. The National Statistical Coordination Board has reported that 47 out of 100 families in the five-province region were poor or more than twice the national figure of 22.
+ARMM has about 51 private schools catering to students that its 15 state universities and colleges could not take in.
+:Big relief
+Second year college student Sittie Aisha Tawal from the Mindanao State University-Dalican Campus in Maguindanao said the CHEd’s announcement was a big relief for her parents.
+Even if MSU is a government-operated institution, nonscholars still had to pay to get education.
+“We are glad that we don’t have a tuition increase, it is good news for us, especially to our parents,” Tawal said.
+Kabataan party-list has said the “new spate of fee hikes will result in additional burdens to students and their families.”
+“CHEd chair Patricia Licuanan sounded apologetic in her pronouncement that 313 higher education institutions will again increase tuition and other school fees this academic year. Yet no amount of apology can dilute the fact that CHEd has once again betrayed its constitutional mandate to ensure the affordability and accessibility of education,” Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said in a statement.
+Ridon said the manner of presenting the tuition hikes using averages and the equivalent increase per unit was misleading.
+“The data presented by CHEd is highly misleading, as the commission only shows us the values as expressed in absolute averages. By presenting the data in this manner, schools with high tuition and other fee increases can hide among schools that charge less. The truth of the matter is that there are many private HEIs that charge well over P80,000 per semester in tuition and other school fees,” Ridon said.
+“CHEd did not even include in its presentation of data how much private HEIs are earning. In so many ways, CHEd is trying to play with figures to justify the unjustifiable,” he added.
+Ridon said despite CHEd’s pronouncements that it was taking a holistic approach in approving tuition hikes, it has allowed them to continue “raking in billions in profit.”
+“Tuition and other school fee increases can never be justified, no matter how. This new wave of tuition and other school fee increases again proves that the Aquino administration does not really want to provide affordable and accessible education,” Ridon said.
+==Mock cultural villages showcasing ARMM’s major tribes to re-open in June==
+*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521432211380/mock-cultural-villages-showcasing-armm-s-major-tribes-to-re-open-in-june
+*Friday, May 22, 2015
+:(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)
+MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 22 (PIA) --- The mock cultural villages that showcased the seven major tribes of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be re-opened on June 10 at the regional government’s compound in Cotabato City.
+These cultural villages first opened to the public in November last year as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of ARMM. It was viewed by at least 100,000 visitors from different provinces in Mindanao not just from the ARMM.
+The seven major tribes covered in this event are Maguindanaon, Tausug, Sama, Maranao, Yakan, Iranon, and Teduray.
+Each village will feature traditional living, culture and arts, and would depict the people and their products on a landscape consistent with those of tribal communities in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
+The villages will be open to the general public for 100 days, specifically during the month of Ramadhan. There will also be a series of activities and entertainment in the regional government’s compound to be spearheaded by different regional agencies.
+“Ang pagbubukas muli ng cultural villages ay para maipamahagi, maintindihan at lalong maunawaan ng ating mga mamamayan ang kultura, kasaysayan at pamumuhay ng mga tao sa iba’t ibang probinsya ng ARMM (The reopening of the cultutral villages will allow the people to understand better the culture, history, and way of living in various provinces in the region,” said Tourism Secretary Marites Maguindra.
+“We added additional healthy living activities, which the people can join like zumba, ‘hataw’ and yoga,” she said.
+Aside from these, there will also be a free tour, a children’s day, and an indigenous arts and handicraft exhibit, among others.
+A competition among participating tribes and their villages is also part of the event wherein the winning village would be announced during the closing program, or after 100 days.
+The Tausug village was recognized as the best in last year’s event.
+The re-opening of the mock villages will bear the theme “100 Days of Journey in understanding the culture and history of the Bangsamoro towards peace and development.”
+==Palace hoping Congress will pass BBL version for peace, development of Mindanao==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=&rid=764202
+*Thursday, May 21, 2015
+:By Jelly F. Musico [(PNA), LGI/JFM]
+MANILA, May 21 (PNA) -- Malacanang is hoping both the House of Representatives and the Senate will pass a Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) version that will bring lasting peace and development in Mindanao.
+”We are convinced that their decision is for the lasting peace and development of Bangsamoro and Mindanao,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Thursday in a press briefing in Malacanang.
+Coloma also believed that the BBL which was renamed as Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in the House, can withstand the scrutiny as to its constitutionality.
+”Since the BBL was drafted, every provision has been scrutinized to make sure it will abide with the Constitution,” he said.
+Although the Supreme Court is the final arbiter, Coloma said the BBL would still be decided by the people of Mindanao through a plebiscite.
+”It will be presented to our countrymen and according to our Constitution , they have the final sovereign will. It is still up to them if they think this (BBL) can help in achieving peace,” he said.
+The BBL or the Basic Law of the Bangamoro Autonomous Region hurdled the committee level of the House of Representatives last Wednesday.
+On Thursday, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said changing the name of the BBL will not make it any less objectionable unless Congress also revamps the bill to address numerous “constitutional infirmities.”
+Santiago is the chairperson of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes that conducted separate hearings to tackle the constitutionality of the proposed law.
+Santiago said she finished already her committee report and was signed by seven senators.
+Aside from Santiago, other senators who already signed the report are Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Jinggoy Estrada, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Vicente Sotto III, and Cynthia Villar.
+The 27-page document is one of three committee reports that will form the Senate’s position on the BBL effort. The two others will come from the committee on local government, the primary committee, and the committee on peace, unification, and reconciliation.
+Coloma defended the June 11 deadline for the passage of the BBL, saying both the House and the Senate have been given enough time to discuss the proposed law.
+”We have already spent enough time for it,” he said, reacting to Marcos’ statement that BBL passage should not be rushed.
+==DOH-ARMM offers free cervical cancer screening==
+*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521432028636/doh-armm-offers-free-cervical-cancer-screening
+*Wednesday, May 20, 2015
+: (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)
+MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 20 (PIA) --- The Department of Health of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) is offering free cervical cancer screening to women in the region in line with the Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month this month.
+The agency has created teams composed of doctors, nurses and midwives in identified hospitals and health centers in the core provinces of the region to conduct the screening process.
+“The screening in ARMM is scheduled every Thursday but some of our facilities conduct the screening every day,” said Dr. Tato Usman, Regional Non-Communicable Disease Coordinator of DOH-ARMM.
+The Dr. Serapio Montaner Memorial Hospital and Tamparan District Hospital are open to residents who want to undergo such process in the province of Lanao del Sur.
+In Maguindanao, the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital, Buluan District Hospital, and Datu Blah Sinsuat District Hospital has been the identified medical facilities while the Sulu Provincial Hospital and Datu Halun Sakilen Provincial Hospital will cater to residents from the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
+At least 700 women aged 21 and above in the region are expected to avail of the free screening.
+“We do not limit our services to the targeted number; as long as there are women in the region who are willing to be screened, we will not hesitate to serve them,” said Usman.
+Dr. Tato said his team is encouraging women to take the screening process emphasizing that early detection and prevention may help minimize the cases of death caused by cervical cancer.
+DOH-ARMM Secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding said cancer of the cervix is the leading killer among various cancer cases that afflict women. While it is deadly, he said it can be prevented through vaccination and direct cervical visualization with acetic acid.
+In the ARMM, at least 718 women were afflicted with cervical cancer yearly.
+The Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month is a campaign held in May to raise awareness in the prevention, early detection, and control of cervical cancer in the Philippines. It was promulgated by virtue of Proclamation No. 386, series of 2003.
+==ARMM eyes on topping municipal fishing boat registration==
+*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521432000442/armm-eyes-on-topping-municipal-fishing-boat-registration
+*Tuesday, May 19, 2015
+: (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)
+MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 19 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFAR-ARMM) is eyeing to top the national government’s boat registration program.
+“There are at least 10,000 municipal fishing boats in the region that we would register,” said Janice Musali, BFAR-ARMM’s director, noting the registration would eventually result in improved performance of the region’s municipal fishery sector.
+Compared with other regions, ARMM has a bigger municipal fishery area with the island provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan under its jurisdiction.
+Musali said it is estimated that up to 70 percent of the region comprises municipal waters, or waters 15 kilometers from the coastline, that provide livelihood to small fisherfolk in coastal communities.
+The registration program, dubbed ‘BoatR’, targets to document fishing boats with capacities up to three gross tons. The drive, BFAR national officials earlier told media, is aimed at capturing a more accurate picture on production volume and type of fish caught in municipal waters as well as the sector’s contribution to national and local economies.
+The program also seeks to determine projects that would be launched by the government in order to help small fisherman and coastal communities. A government-issued card would make it easier for boat owners to access assistance from government agencies.
+ARMM is currently coordinating BoatR’s implementation with local government units, from the provinces to towns and coastal communities.
+The region’s municipal fishery output in 2009, the latest available, was roughly 104,000 metric tons, or about 12% of the 887,000 metric tons total reported during that year. Such estimate would be more accurate under the BoatR program.
+Aside from the three island provinces mentioned above, ARMM also includes Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao in the main island of Mindanao.
+==DOST-ARMM disperses water filter system for region's remote communities==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=762910
+*Monday, May 18, 2015
+: (PNA), SCS/NYP/EOF
+COTABATO CITY, May 18 (PNA) -- To ensure that residents of remote communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will have safe drinking water, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ARMM) has distributed ceramic water filter system that “can remove contaminants in drinking water.”
+Myra Mangkabung, DOST-ARMM secretary, said on Monday the ceramic-based water filter can purify tap water, deep well water, and even raw water from ponds and spring.
+“Through the filters, safe, potable drinking water is readily available and accessible even in remote areas,” Mangkabung said.
+DOST-ARMM provided ceramic water filter systems to 78 households in four barangays in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan which have problems in accessing potable water.
+It was the first tranche of ceramic water filters distributed in the region. Other provinces of ARMM will also receive the same assistance in the coming months.
+Mangkabung said the DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) has developed several models of water filters that will address the region’s problems, specifically access to potable water.
+“Three water filter models have already been developed. These ceramic-based water filters can remove contaminants in drinking water, making them perfect for home use,” Mangkabung said.
+Data gathered last year showed the most common food and water borne-diseases in the region were diarrhea, with 52 deaths out of 14,252 cases; typhoid fever, with eight deaths out of 933 cases; and amoebiasis, with four deaths out of 237 cases.
+Noor-Leila Wahab, water filter focal person, said the device was made from red clay added with nano-antimicrobial agents that can eliminate water-borne organisms.
+“Researchers said the filtered water from the system passed the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water in tests or counts for coliform and Escherichia coli, the most common form of water-borne disease-causing microorganisms,” Wahab said.
+“Silver ions in the filter deactivate and kill the pathogens in the water, including coliform bacteria and protozoa,” she added.
+Another 200 water filters would be distributed to pre-identified barangays in Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur this year.
+==Turkey gov't, MILF dev't agency put up orphanage center==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=762669
+*Sunday, May 17, 2015
+: (PNA), CTB/NYP/EOF
+COTABATO CITY, May 17 (PNA) -- The development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Insano Yardim Vakfi of Turkey, today inaugurated an orphanage center that will cater to orphans from Moro communities, officials said.
+The orphanage center was officially opened Sunday afternoon in Barangay Tamotaka 1, Cotabato City.
+The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests from the international and local organizations, members of the parliament of the republic of Turkey, the Turkey ambassador to the Philippines, the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF, city government of Cotabato and the International Monitoring Team (IMT).
+In his opening remarks, City Vice Mayor Abdullah Andang thanked Turkey government and expressed pride that the orphanage is established in the City.
+Accordingly, the opening of the orphanage clearly showed the continuing progress of Cotabato, with the coming in of people from other countries all over the world.
+Omer Kesmen, IHH representative to Cotabato City presented a brief history of the orphanage.
+He explained the naming of the center after Ugur Suleyman Soylemez. The latter, accordingly, is among the martyrs in Turkey who fought for justice for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Palestine.
+Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of MILF peace panel commended the government of Turkey for the deep commitment and support to the peace process, being a major member of the International Contact Group (ICG), the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT), and the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).
+Iqbal thanked IHH for the help extended through this orphanage. He stressed the importance of education as long term resolution to the Bangsamoro problem.
+Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chair of the GPH peace panel, having listened to the brief history of the orphanage, convinced that indeed, everyone in the event is united by a common humanity.
+“We are united, not because of any ideology, not that we have the GPH-MILF peace agreement, not that we are friends with Turkey, but is because we share the common humanity. We have to care about the future of our children”, Ferrer said.
+Major Gen. Dato Sheikh Mousin Bin Sheikh Hassan, Head of Mission of the IMT, called for an importance of peace towards better community. He stressed the importance of family where children are molded.
+“If we have to teach peace in this world, we shall begin with our children. This orphanage is the foundation of the well-being of the children, abandoned by their parents, so let us give them peace,” Maj. Hassan stated.
+H.E. Esra Cankorur, Turkey ambassador to the Philippines, stressed also the importance of taking care pf the children especially the orphans.
+“Caring the children, investing them thru proper education, guidance and support is in fact the best investment for a society. This becomes more important and scared if orphans are involved, since they are the most vulnerable member in any society,” Cankorur said.
+“This project is a work of helping hand, a hand of affection and compassion,” she added.
+In his closing remarks, Dr. Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA executive director thanked the government of Turkey for entrusting to BDA the orphanage management thru IHH.
+“BDA promises to give the best we can in providing the children a safe and secure home,”Yacob said.
+He likewise thanked development partners, international and local non-government organizations, the government, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and its line agencies and called for support and possible convergence for future assistance to the children.
+The orphanage formally opens this year 2015. The management is currently accepting applicants from Bangsamoro communities.
+At least 1,000 orphans are targeted per year for the program. In-house orphan service provides full accommodation for children at the orphanage, with support for education and food.
+Distant orphan service provides monthly allowance for the accepted children, not necessarily housed in the center.
+BDA and IHH partnership began in 2014 thru several humanitarian programs already such as the Qurbani program, relief assistance to displaced families and this orphanage.
+==ARMM to distribute 100K hectares of land to farmers==
+*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/armm-to-distribute-100k-hectares-of-land-to-farmers/
+*Saturday, May 16, 2015
+:By Nonoy E. Lacson
+The Department of Agrarian Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAR-ARMM) is working on the distribution of 112,290 hectares of landholdings covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms in the region to qualified farmers.
+DAR-ARMM Secretary Amihilda Sangcopan said the landholdings, make up around 30 percent of the total lands comprising the ARMM provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu,  and Tawi-Tawi, remain undistributed to this day.
+Sangcopan said her office  is currently “cleansing” the records of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the region, which includes the reconciliation of the records in the regional office with those found in their provincial offices.
+==Army, PNP, Maguindanao province sign MOA for joint action during disaster==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=2&rid=761986
+*Friday, May 15, 2015
+:(PNA), LAM/NYP/EOF
+CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, May 15 (PNA) -- The 6th Infantry 'Kampilan' Division (6th ID), the Philippine National Police Regional Office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) signed with the Provincial Government of Maguindanao a Memorandum of Agreement that is intended to synchronize all future efforts of the three government organizations during disasters, an official said today.
+The memorandum specifically intends to maintain an open line of communication and to serve as complimenting and supporting body in the conduct of disaster response to both human induced and natural calamities within the 6th ID and PNP-ARMM in Maguindanao.
+Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said the memorandum also speaks the coordination efforts of the three parties in supporting the Local Chief Executives and the Local Government Units and Agencies in the rehabilitation of the conflict and disaster-affected areas and in the implementation of peace and development projects in the locality.
+Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu, in his opening statement, said that he believed that the initiative to sign memorandum of agreement will be positively agreed by the other two parties.
+"It will help the military and the PNP get closer to the people without being questioned why they are in the area where they are not seen before," he said.
+He also thanked the military and the PNP for the continued support both organizations had provided especially during difficult times and he is optimistic that they will eventually be successful in the future endeavors for peace if they do it in one synchronized effort.
+Major General Edmundo R. Pangilinan, 6th ID commanding officer, also expressed his gratitude to the Province of Maguindanao for initiating the signing MOA.
+He said that the meeting is very significant considering the issues and concerns confronting the security sectors tht need local chief executives and LGUs backing and support.
+The newly installed PRO-ARMM regional director, Police Chief Superintendent Ronald R Estilles, also welcomed the opportunity to serve the people together with the other two parties in the MOA.
+He was accompanied by his competent staff and all the Chief of Police in the different towns of Maguindanao.
+Pangilinan said the 6th ID remains committed in undertaking major steps in pursuit of peace and sustainable development especially if it is together with other organizations which are working for peace within its area of operations.
+The Army has shifted to aggressive all out offensive to aggressive all out peace and development with the government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as its partner in bringing peace in troubled Maguindanao.
+=='Syensiya-bilidad’ helps 68 ARMM students qualify for DOST scholarships==
+*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521431564768/-syensiya-bilidad-helps-68-armm-students-qualify-for-dost-scholarships
+*Thursday, May 14, 2015
+: (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/APB/PIA-10)
+MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, May 14 (PIA) --- The conduct of ‘Syensiya-bilidad’ has helped 68 students from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) passed the undergraduate scholarship programs of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), this year.
+Mon-em Abangad, DOST-ARMM scholarship co-coordinator, said the number of qualifiers almost doubled compared to last year with only 35 students.
+It is also the highest number of qualifiers for the region so far.
+He said of the 68 scholars, 65 are under Republic Act 7687 also known as the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994, while the three are under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program.
+The ‘Syensiya-bilidad is an enrichment program that involved a two-day comprehensive review that was composed of two parts – the Intellective Speed and Intellective Power Test.
+It was aimed at developing the skills of the students in taking tests. It was designed to help them remember and master the skills and concepts needed to pass the DOST-SEI scholarship examination.
+The ARMM, according to Abangad, is among the regions that have implemented the program.
+DOST-ARMM also administered an online review and pre-test in the five provinces of the region for free.
+In addition, DOST-ARMM conducted an intensive information drive dubbed “Push 4 Science” to raise awareness on DOST-SEI scholarship programs.
+“We focused our campaign on places that has no takers for the past three years (2012-2014). We believe it (‘Push 4 Science’) also affected the result,” said Abangad.
+A total of 5,303 high school students all over the country clinched a slot in the scholarship program.  This year’s number of qualifiers, which is up by 33 percent, surpassed the 3,982 mark in 2014.
+Starting school year 2015-2016, DOST-SEI scholars will receive bigger stipends and allowances to support their studies. They will receive P6, 000 monthly stipend under the Physics/Applied Physics, Geology, Mining Engineering, Agriculture, and Fisheries courses, while the other DOST-SEI priority courses will receive P5,000 monthly stipend;  book allowance of P10,000 per academic year; tuition fee subsidy of P10,000; and clothing allowance of P1,000.
+The scholarship qualifiers can enroll in state universities and colleges and other higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence. They can take up priority science and technology courses such as Agriculture, Applied Physics, Engineering, and Mathematics, among others.
+==PhilRice, DAF-ARMM to introduce rice management app in Mamasapano==
+*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2301431485258/philrice-daf-armm-to-introduce-rice-management-app-in-mamasapano
+*Wednesday, May 13, 2015
+: (SJDuerme-PIA12/AMMatucan-PhilRice-Midsayap)
+MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, May 13 (PIA)--- As part of its continued commitment to support the farmers through various research and development programs, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM) is set to introduce an internet-based software Rice Crop Manager (RCM) in Barangay Manongkaling, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
+The project is an integral component of the Technical Cooperation Project 5 (TCP 5), a technology extension support for ARMM funded by the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA).
+Aimed at helping the farmers manage their crops and get a better yield, the project has a fund allocation of P331,600 which will be divided for to cropping seasons.
+Teodora L. Briones, head of the Corporate Services Division of PhilRice and at the same time the TCP 5 secretariat explained that the said endeavor was originally proposed by DAF-ARMM Sec. Atty. Makmod D. Mending, Jr. during the 2nd Joint Coordination Committee meeting of the TCP 5 in March this year which gladly approved by JICA, the funding agency.
+“Originally, we only have the regular farmer field school or FFS that we conduct in various areas in ARMM but since the idea is good, we acknowledge the inclusion of RCM and JICA promptly approved it,” said Briones.
+According to her, 20 farmers will be selected in the community who will serve as cooperators in a demonstration farm.
+“These farmers will become our primary clientele who will then help us in technology promotion through farmer-to-farmer approach,” Briones added.
+Meanwhile, Ommal H. Abdulkadil, assistant project director of TCP 5 shared that prior to the establishment of a demonstration farm, they will conduct an on-site technical briefing.
+“On May 21, our team is scheduled to conduct an on-site briefing to ensure that farmers in the community will fully understand the concept of the project,” he stated adding that pool of experts from their central office will personally attend and facilitate the briefing as well as to share information on the context of the project.
+The Rice Crop Manager allows extension officers to provide farmers with specific recommendations particularly on nutrient, pest, weed, or water management, depending on the specific variety they used, their yield from the previous season, and the site-specific conditions of their field.
+The application could be accessed via a smartphone or a computer with internet connection and it can be downloaded for free as an app named ‘RCM PH’ via the Google play store or at www.webapps.irri.org/ph/rcm.
+==ARMM investment board convenes meeting of investment promo organization==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=761091
+*Tuesday, May 12, 2015
+:(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF
+COTABATO CITY, May 12 (PNA) -- The Regional Board of Investments of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM) together with the private sector in the ARMM convened Monday the organizational meeting of the regional Promotion of Investment Sustainability Organization or PISO composed of the registered firms under the RBOI.
+The ARMM has been enjoying record multi-billion peso investments in the region since 2013 at the start of the administration of Regional Governor Mujiv S. Hataman.
+For 2013, the RBOI registered Php 1.46 billion investments. It more than doubled in 2014 when RBOI recorded Php 3.86 billion investments.
+In the first quarter of 2015, the RBOI was able to register Php 863 million and it is on track to possibly match or exceed last year’s investments.
+Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI-ARMM chair, said the infusion of private sector investments in the ARMM has been largely attributed to two factors.
+First is the conducive business climate and stability brought about by the peace process culminating in the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014 between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
+Second is the continuing ARMM governance reform that has made the region more business friendly.
+It is on this premise that the PISO was organized in order to advocate for investment policy stability in the autonomous region including its improvement.
+PISO is timely now that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is being debated in Congress and eventually passed into law. ARMM investors currently enjoy the convenience of getting their permits, licenses, approvals, administrative consents and their regulatory framework from the ARMM regional government without need to go to national agencies in Manila or their regional administrative offices.
+"If there will be changes to BBL it should not lessen the ARMM autonomy but should seek to improve the investment friendly environment of the region by giving more local autonomy to the region," Mastura said.
+Considered the poorest region in the country, investment “rules of the game” in the autonomous region must be maintained, improved and not lessened.
+"Congress should not lose sight of the ease of doing business in the region to encourage more private sector development and not to unduly burden them. So the only way to have stability of investment policy for private sector development in the region is to make sure that the level of autonomy currently being experienced in the ARMM is not lessened or reduced by the proposed changes to the BBL," Mastura said.
+Mastura presided over the initial PISO meeting. Aside from being one of the PISO conveners, the RBOI will also act as its secretariat.
+Presiding duties during meetings will be rotated among the conveners. All registered firms of RBOI are considered members of the PISO.
+Present as PISO conveners at the organizational meeting today were the officials from Unifrutti Group, Lamsan Corp., La Frutera, Inc., Power Up Ventures Inc., ARDEXCOR, Matling Corp., Philippine Trade Center Inc., ABSCOR, AMARDI, Maguindanao Halal Food Center, Al-Nor Group of Companies and ARMM Special Economic Zone and Free Port of Polloc.
+==ARMM officials laud ARMM athletes' performance in Palarong Pambansa==
+*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=5&rid=760762
+*Monday, May 11, 2015
+:(PNA), LAP/NYP/EOF
+COTABATO CITY, May 11 (PNA) -- Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday lauded the efforts of athletes from the region's five provinces in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
+ARMM Athletic Association finished 14th in the recently concluded games, two notches higher from its rank in the annual event last year.
+The ARMM delegates bagged a total of 10 medals in the regular sports and three medals in the demonstration games.
+The region’s taekwondo team grabbed two gold medals, two silvers and five bronzes while the athletics team bagged another gold medal. For the demonstration game, the wushu team grabbed one silver and one bronze medal while the region’s beach volleyball took home the gold medal.
+Al-Trekee Dayan, director of ARMM’s Regional Sports Coordinating Office (RSCO), attributes the improvement in the region’s ranking with the strong collaboration of his office with the Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM.He said intensive preparations were conducted for the athletes.
+Dayan said they conducted home-based trainings for the athletes after the ARMM’s regional athletics meet on 26 February to 01 March 2015 and in-house trainings were held in Tagum City, 15 days before the actual Palaro.
+The RSCO also secured the athlete’s basic amenities like food, transportation, vitamins and uniforms among others. The DepEd, on the other hand, provided P3,000 allowance for each athlete.
+The ARMM contingent was composed of approximately 500 athletes.
+The head supervisors of ARMM’s five component provinces together with the RSCO and the DepEd-ARMM are currently evaluating and assessing the overall performance of the region in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.
+Dayan said results of the evaluation can help improve the performance of the region in next year’s games and in other sporting events.
+He said ARMM aims to be in the top 10 in the next Palarong Pambansa. He also emphasized the need to inculcate to the youth the value of sports and its role in fostering peace.
+ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said the regional government fully supports the programs on sports development in the region.
+“Sa susunod na Palaro, mas malaki ang suporta na ibibigay natin sa mga atleta. We will emphasize on the sports na may edge tayo,” she said.
+The 2015 Palarong Pambansa was held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte from May 3 to 9 with the theme “Breaking Boarders, Building Peace”.
+The ARMM athletes showed to Palaro participants that they welcome and support the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law and GPH-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace process by putting the word "Bangsamoro" at the back of their jersey uniforms.
 ==Grand welcome for Ampatuan son out on bail==
 *Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/92740-sajid-ampatuan-bail-homecoming-feast