BARMM advances kid’s rights

ADVANCING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS --- Representatives from the BARMM led by Minister Naguib Sinarimbo (seated 2nd from left) of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government - BARMM, among others, show the memorandum of agreement (MOA) they signed with Fanny Divino (center seated), senior program manager of Save the Children Philippines for Mindanao, during a ceremony held inside the BARMM compound in Cotabato City last July 1. (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY ---  A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) advancing children’s rights was signed here between and among  the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government, Save the Children Philippines (SCP), and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) last July 1.

The Ministry on Social Services, Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Interior and Local Government,  and Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHT) are among the local partners of the these non-government organizations that support and promote the rights of children, particularly in Mindanao.

To fully understand the MOA, Fanny Divino, SCP senior program manager for Mindanao, underscored the different roles and responsibilities of each party.

She said the MOA pertains to the conduct of a contextualized Child Rights Situational Analysis (CRSA) in selected Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) areas.

“This is to ensure that every needs of every last child in the region are effectively and meaningfully provided by the duty-bearers, through evidence-based and participatory approach,” she added.

She said the result of the CRSA will be utilized in the development of programs and policies for children by all concerned institutions. An individual or group of individuals will also be assigned to participate during the conduct of actual research for collaboration and assessment.

The Save the Children Philippines is an independent organization that aims to create better lives for children in the Philippines and across the world. It has been operating in the Philippines for the last three decades and is dedicated in helping children.

It has been providing emergency and long-term support for Filipino children to have access to quality education, health services, child protection, child rights governance, disaster risk reduction or climate change adaptation, food security, livelihood, and other humanitarian response interventions.

The agreement took effect July 1 following the MOA signing and shall remain in full effect until December 31, 2019. Its duration may be extended for any duration upon mutual written agreement of all parties. (BPI-ARMM)

5 killed in shootout with gov’t troops

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao ---  Army and police troops killed five  armed men in a shootout at a military checkpoint in Barangay Inug-ug, Pikit, North Cotabato last July 5 in the evening.

At around 10:00 p.m., five men aboard a grey Nissan Patrol car were told to stop at a checkpoint.

The suspects, armed with high-powered firearms, however, refused to pull over and sped away from the first checkpoint.

Troops at the next checkpoint were immediately alerted and upon seeing the approaching vehicle signaled for it to stop to be inspected. The suspects instead of stopping at the checkpoint accelerated towards it and fired upon the government troops manning it. CLICK ABOVE TO READ MORE.....

The troops from 7th Infantry Battalion and Pikit Municipal Police who were manning the checkpoint managed to return fire and killed the armed men during the 10-minute exchange of fire.

One fatality was identified as Datu Hashim Matalam, a son of a former governor of Maguindanao, and the other was a certain Buton Bacocol, a resident of Matina Pangi in Davao City.

Three others are still to be identified by the investigating team.

The troops recovered one M16 rifle, 2 M653 rifles, one caliber .45 pistol, one hand grenade, and one rifle grenade. Also recovered were three grams of white crystalline powder substance suspected to be shabu and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

The 6th Infantry Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Diosdado C. Carreon said that the government troops in the area of the 6th ID will continue to enforce the security measures to prevent the armed lawless groups from doing criminalities and other illegal activities in its area of responsibility. (ODPA, 6th ID)

NAPC to help reduce poverty incidence in BARMM

COTABATO CITY --- National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Noel Felongco vowed to help the Bangsamoro Government reduce poverty incidence in the region.

He said the NAPC will gather local chief executives, planning officers, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ministers to orient them on the Commission’s poverty alleviation projects.

The NAPC will roll-out a five-year development plan (2019-2023) dubbed the Sambayanihan Serbisyong Sambayanan to deliver basic social services prioritizing the poorest communities. It aims to help attain the administration’s poverty reduction target and contribute to the realization of the AmBisyon Natin 2040.

Secretary Felongco said the national government  seeks “to accelerate the country’s economic engine and reduce over-all poverty incidence from 21 percent in 2015 to 14 percent by 2023.”

Communities in the Bangsamoro autonomous region are among the NAPC’s Sambayanihan priority areas.

“We will ensure that all basic needs are accessible in the BARMM,” he added.

Derived from the unifying themes of the calls of the basic sectors at the National Anti-Poverty Sectoral Summit in 2016, the 10 basic needs of Filipinos are food and land reform, water, shelter, work, health, education, social protection, healthy environment, peace, and participation.

The agency will also prioritize five key issues in the region such as peace and order, increasing inflation rate related to agriculture and fisheries, lack of inter-agency collaboration, inadequate community participation, and climate change.

“Majority of the population in the BARMM are farmers and fishermen. If we can improve agriculture and fisheries, we can reduce poverty incidence,” Abdullah Cusain, BARMM assistant executive secretary, said.

In 2018, the BARMM’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) posted 7.2 percent growth rate in which the sectors of agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing remained the largest share in the region’s total economic performance. (BPI-BARMM)

Editorial

Franchising the ‘habal-habals’

This  recent, the motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila, they call the “angkas,” had a dry-run set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board incidental to the proposed or call for the legalization of these motorcycles-for-hire. We call these motorcycles here as “habal-habal,” which has its roots in the countryside as public transport service. Its patronage, but minus franchise and welfare/security clause, has the advantage of traffic maneuverability, speed and time saving, and interior area penetration.

        In the metropolis dry-run, the rider and passenger, the back rider, have to put on safety helmets. The rider/driver has to wear a  designed, reflectorized suit with safety handles by which commuters/passengers can hold on other than the driver’s shoulders. The rider also has information tag on him. The safety factor is assured. CLICK ABOVE TO READ THE RELATED ARTICLE...

        In Cotabato City alone, we have several of these “habal-habals” but still with no legalization for public transport purposes, which is to the disadvantage of the commuters in case of accidents, abuse, or maltreatment. The fare is unregulated from the least P20 to near places and P40 to P50 for a bit distant travel… the fees/fares are akin to taxi charges upon motion. In the metro dry-run, the fare is specified on kilometerage so to protect the commuter or back riders from exorbitant fares.

        If the dry-run merits the operation of these motorcycle taxis, its legalization could well be adopted nation-wide under rules and regulations in their operation. This would mean riders or owners of these two-wheel taxis have to apply for franchise and comply with the regulations and safety/protective measures for the operation. This would be fine for both the rider and commuter, the latter needing the motor service for immediacy of travel, going peripheries, or private trips under two-wheel drive.

        Mind you, the law on motorcycle use have yet to be strictly implemented or enforced such as those involving safety nets on the riding children and/or commuters. It is a must that those using two-wheel vehicles be extra cautious on their driving… As they say: “In driving/riding a motorcycle, half of your life is six feet below the ground.” Truly, it’s safer to ride on four-wheeled vehicles and it’s better that motorcycles are driven by the rider alone. But there is still a need for other mode of transportation.

        A number of riders have resorted to “habal-habal” business for need to earn income as main livelihood or as extra sum, hence, this becomes a transportation investment needing legalization for the welfare and protection of the users and the patrons. It means, riders have to be keen on traffic rules and regulations and be sensitive to the safety of motorists/commuters/passengers.

        Its legalization and franchising would also mean added revenue for the government coffers, national and local governments. To do business is to secure permits and pay the necessary bills and taxes. So be it then if motorcycle taxis would be franchised. Safety first, of course.

        If these be legalized, do these units contribute further to traffic jams, not to mention the existence of the “payong-payong?” In big cities or major thoroughfares, lanes for the motorcycles become necessary.