Datu Saudi Ampatuan secures relief aid, ambulance for constituents

The newly acquired emergency vehicle through the initiative of Mayor Edris A. Sindatok and the recent distribution of rice assistance to flood victims (inset) conducted on Friday, June 18, 2021, by the Ministry of Social Services and Development headed by Minister Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie.  

DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN – This local government, under the leadership of Mayor Edris A. Sindatok, distributed relief aid to residents affected by recent flooding and secured a rescue vehicle to efficiently transport patients during medical emergencies.

The local government here coordinated with the Ministry of Social Services and Development headed by Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie for the distribution of rice assistance, which was carried out by Municipal Social Welfare Officer Naphy Pangandaman, Association of Barangay Chairperson Anwar “Tony” Kedtag, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Rohanna L. Salik.

Among the areas affected by flood, Sitio Gadung of Brgy. Madia was severely hit.

Meanwhile, Provincial Governor Bai Mariam S. Mangudadatu vouched to construct a waiting shed here to shelter commuters during rainy season.

Mayor Sindatok expressed his gratitude to all concerned agencies and officials who have supported this municipality especially amidst the current health crisis. (Anne B. Acosta)

Chief Minister Ebrahim lays down BARMM’s legislative agenda

 BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim (File photo)

COTABATO CITY – Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim highlighted in his report that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will prioritize the passage of the three remaining codes on local government, election, and revenue on its third regular session, which was formally opened on Tuesday, June 15.

“I earnestly ask the full cooperation of our colleagues in the Parliament as we pass very important legislations starting today,” he said via Zoom.

“We shall work hard in passing the local governance code that will further enhance the horizontal and vertical relationship of the local government units in the Bangsamoro region,” he added 

The local government code was already filed in the plenary on July 22 last year and is already on its committee level at the parliament. Meanwhile, the electoral and revenue codes are being finalized at the Cabinet level.

“The electoral code which is probably one of the most sensitive legislations that this Parliament will enact must be carefully crafted to ensure that we put premium to the betterment of the electorate. We must ensure that it will pave the way for a genuine political exercise that shall serve the core of the regular Bangsamoro Government. We shall transmit this to the parliament as soon possible,” Ebrahim said.

He also assured that the cabinet will also file the revenue code within this year, noting that it is being finalized by the Cabinet committee led by the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Management.

The above-mentioned codes are three of the six priority codes the BTA needs to pass during the transition period. The first three – administrative, civil service, and education codes – were already signed into law last October 28, 2020, February 24, and May 18 of this year, respectively.

 

Strengthening sectoral rights 

Ebrahim, in his report, also said the Parliament will prioritize legislations for certain sectors in the region. 

He said the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs was already tasked to work on a legislation that will protect and promote the rights of the Indigenous Peoples pursuant to the intent of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

According to him, the Government of the Day shall also file to the Parliament the Bangsamoro Children’s Code that will further safeguard children’s rights.

“After all, what we are doing here in the BTA is for our children and our children’s future. I trust that with the proven stewardship of the Minister of Social Services and Development who is also our assistant majority floor leader, this will be passed as soon as possible,” Ebrahim said.

“We shall also prioritize the enactment of a Bangsamoro Labor Code that will protect the workers in the region and ensure that both the employee and employers will not be subjected to abuse and unfair treatment. This is even more important considering that the BARMM is now service-oriented according to the Philippine Statistics Authority,” he added.

He also tasked the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform to craft a law that will enable agriculture and fisheries to prosper in the region. “We must continue to support our farmers and fisherfolks in providing them better opportunities and favorable conditions,” he said. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

 

BARMM to acquire P50-M worth oxygen tanks for COVID response thru bill

COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Parliament Deputy Speakers Ziaur-Rahman Adiong and Atty. Nabil Tan, and Parliament Member Atty. Ubaida Pacasem filed on Thursday, June 17, a bill that seeks to appropriate P50 million for the acquisition of additional oxygen tanks to be distributed in the different provinces of the region.

“The bill is being introduced as a preemptive measure to guarantee the sufficient supply of oxygen in our medical facilities in the region,” reads the authors’ explanatory note.

“If realized, the same will serve as a buffer stock to contend the possible scarcity of required oxygen so that BARMM constituents will not be deprived of oxygen tanks, should there be supply shortages in the future as the number of COVID-19 patients is rapidly increasing,” the authors further said.

The said budget will be appropriated under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) in the Bangsamoro Treasury Office not otherwise appropriated, as additional funding and budgetary requirements for fiscal year 2021.

Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Management shall release the appropriated amount to the Ministry of Health, subject to usual accounting and auditing laws, rules, and regulations. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

MOH-BARMM administers 55k vaccinations

 Dr. Bashary Latiph of the Ministry of Health states during a press conference on Tuesday, June 15, that 41,899 persons from the first priority group received their first inoculation, and 13,659 of them already completed their doses. 

COTABATO CITY – Officials of the Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that as of June 14, the region has already administered 55,558 vaccines against COVID-19 among its priority groups.

Health Minister Dr. Bashary Latiph said during a press conference on Tuesday, June 15, that 41,899 persons from the first priority group received their first inoculation, and 13,659 of them already completed their doses. 

Dr. Latiph reiterated that people in the priority group should get vaccinated to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and achieve herd immunity.

“Inaanyayahan po namin ang lahat ng ating mga kababayan dito sa BARMM lalo na ang A1, A2, A3 at A4 na magpabakuna kayo,” he said.

People in A1 group include frontline healthcare workers; A2 group include senior citizens or those 60 years old and above; A3 include individuals with comorbidities; and A4 include frontline workers in other essential sectors.

A total of 20,226 frontline healthcare workers received their first dose, or a high rate of 94.28 percent of its total target population of 21,451. Of these individuals, 9,961 of them completed their doses.

Meanwhile, the region logged 67 new cases as of June 15, which makes BARMM’s total cases at 7,796. It also recorded 98 new recoveries which adds up the region’s recovery rate of 85.26%, or at 6,647 recoveries.

Latiph added that the region’s supply of vaccines will suffice the demands for the priority group.

Since March, the BARMM received a total of 85,400 doses of vaccines.

This week, 16,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines are expected to arrive from the national government. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Bangsamoro Wali opens BTA Parliament’s 3rd regular session

 Bangsamoro Wali Sheik Khalifa Usman Nando (right) beats an agong to officially open the third regular session of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament on June 15, 2021. 

COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Wali Sheik Khalifa Usman Nando led the beating of an agong on Tuesday, June 15, to reconvene the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament for the third regular session.

In a speech, Nando said despite the ongoing pandemic and a short period of time since its inception, the Bangsamoro Government has already accomplished a lot in terms of providing aid to its people, enacting legislations, implementing projects in the fields of health and education, and many others. 

He also called on scholars, datus, and local politicians in the region to collaborate to fully achieve development in the Bangsamoro region.

“We must realize that our progress is in our unity. Each of us is in a loophole. We are all responsible before God,” he said in Arabic.

“Be with us in the revival of our people, for our glory is your glory, and if we fail, you will fail,” he added.

Meanwhile, BTA Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong said it is necessary to allow the Bangsamoro leadership, headed by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, to finish its mandate and prove its worth to its people within a reasonable period of time.

“Let us give these revolutionaries-turned-parliamentarians a complete chance to realize their vision for the Bangsamoro,” he said.

“Perhaps their perspective, which is forged in the battlefield, is better than most of us, whose idea may have only been fashioned thru the ballot,” he added.

During Tuesday’s ceremony, Ebrahim delivered his report to the Bangsamoro people, which covered updates in the region, as well as future plans and priorities of the Bangsamoro Government.

He also provided an update on the status of the call to extend the transition period.

“Before I end this speech, I would like to share with you that although there are bureaucratic challenges along the way – the call for the extension of the transition period has never been more resounding than now,” he said.

He also reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte and the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives are giving their nods to the extension.

“We reiterate, especially to the naysayers, that the extension of the transition period is never about power. It is about ensuring the successful implementation of the Bangsamoro peace process,” he said.

“This is not just the legacy of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or of the Duterte administration but the legacy of this generation and a gift to the next generations of the Bangsamoro,” he added.  (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Bangsamoro Parliament to pass pending priority codes on 3rd regular session

COTABATO CITY – The passage of remaining priority codes will be the Bangsamoro Transition Authority's top agenda once the Parliament resumes its legislative duties for the third regular session on Tuesday, June 15, said Speaker Atty. Ali Pangalian Balindong.

The three remaining key legislation cited in the Bangsamoro Organic Law are electoral, local government, and revenue code. Click above to read more…..

The electoral code drafted by the Government of the Day’s technical working group has already been submitted to the Commission on Elections. The Comelec has formed a committee to evaluate and analyze the said code to draft observations, comments, and recommendations.

The revenue code is yet to be filed while the local government code has been approved at the committee level and is now ready to be discussed in the Parliament.

“We will continue serving our people despite the ongoing health crisis. This pandemic will not hamper our efforts to achieve our desire for lasting peace and development. We have already faced a vicious cycle of conflict in this peace process, and we have high hopes that during the third regular session we will strengthen our commitment to making this transition successful,” Balindong said.

He assured that the Parliament is stepping up its efforts to realize the Bangsamoro region's aspirations and ideals and that measures to ensure the region's peace and welfare will continue to be prioritized

The Parliament has approved 18 measures, including three priority codes – the Administrative Code, Civil Service Code, and Bangsamoro Education Code.

To date, there are about 100 bills and 430 resolutions filed in the plenary. Out of the 430 proposed resolutions, 122 were approved by the Parliament. (PUBLICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION, BTA, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Bangsamoro Parliament condemns Israel's violence against Palestinians

COTABATO CITY – A resolution condemning the Israeli government’s attacks in Palestine has been adopted in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), through the proposed Resolution No. 431, expressed sympathy and support to the victims of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Since the armed crisis, Israeli forces have attacked Palestinians, destroyed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and struck government, commercial, media, and residential buildings. 

Israel also continued to impose restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement in the occupied Palestinian territories through checkpoints and roadblocks.

“As a Muslim and a leader bestowed with the platform to express my concern, it becomes imperative to me to call out such attacks and join the peace lovers around the world and the Muslim Ummah in speaking against these horrible acts,” stated in a resolution authored by Atty. Paisalin Tago.

“If the Israeli government continues to support the illegal occupation in areas where the UN resolution (set) as part of the Palestinian state, that is a clear violation of international human rights and this will never be resolved unless the Israeli stops their support to continuously advance the illegal settlement program by Israeli government," said Member of Parliament Amilbahar Mawallil during the period of interpellation.

The Parliament considers all Israeli government’s violent actions as blatant disregard of international humanitarian law and religious practice. (PUBLICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION, BTA, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

 

Column

Asian hate and microaggression

Apart from COVID-19, an alarming social issue fueled by hate, xenophobia, and racial injustice has been causing fear and comprising safety among the Asian American population in the U.S. Cases ranging from physical assault to verbal and emotional abuse have been recorded by the police (though most of the cases are underreported). Such incidents, according to a study, have skyrocketed in 2021, when the coronavirus disease was imprudently associated with Asians, leading to wrongful stereotypes and misinformation. 

The unjustified portrayal of non-white American communities when diseases and outbreaks emerge has been circulating since then. Haitian Americans were blamed for HIV; German Americans for the 1918 influenza pandemic; Mexican Americans for the swine flu in 2009; and Asian Americans for carrying diseases. 

But why should you get bothered by the aforementioned happenings when in fact the United States is far from us?

It is known that many Filipino immigrants live in the United States. And it is just right to empathize to our fellow Filipinos who are part of the growing Asian-American population. To mitigate the problem, there is a need for cross-racial solidarity between countries to send a collective message that Asian Americans have to be treated with dignity and respect. A collective message will also secure safe spaces for Asian-Americans who may have developed trauma and anxiety from reports of shootings, physical and verbal assaults, and acts of discrimination even in broad daylight. Living in fear makes the lives of Filipino immigrants and Asian Americans miserable – facing unfair treatments, restricting movement, and getting hurtful remarks even in public places.

On the other hand, microaggression is one thing to get bothered about. In 1970, Harvard University Professor Chester M. Pierce coined the term “microaggression” to describe the “insults and slights he had witnessed against black people.” But it is important to note that microaggressions are more than just insults, unsolicited comments, and superior behavior. It can hide in compliments and seemingly good remarks but the intention is to let others question their identity, demographic, skin color, or even lifestyle. According to a research, microaggressions, although appearing to be minor infractions, have been found to have a significant psychological impact on the recipients. This toll can cause anger and depression, as well as decreased productivity and problem-solving abilities at work.

Let us remember that microaggressions can manifest in our daily interactions such as commenting on someone’s physical appearance; treating the indigenous peoples as inferior; demoralizing farmers, fisherfolks, and the informal sector; dropping sexist and misogynistic comments; and expressing racist remarks. And oftentimes, microaggressions are covertly and unconsciously done. But let us keep in mind that showing kindness and respect is less taxing than thinking of negative remarks towards another person. We all deserve to be treated right.

Editor

Digitalizing suffrage

As a democratic country, securing the right of suffrage is vital to most Filipinos. In fact, during the May 2019 elections, a 75.9-percent voter turnout was logged by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Of the 61,843,771 registered voters and 1,822,173 Filipino voters overseas at that time, a total of 46,937,139 cast their ballot. Now that the country is preparing for the upcoming synchronized national and local elections on May 2022, the current health crisis (coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19) drives Comelec to innovate through the use of mobile applications and online platforms. Though many are still cynical about the success of the 2022 elections, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez continues to trust the institution and its existing systems as proven by the “generally successful” conduct of Palawan online plebiscite in March. 

How should the country adapt to the current situation to efficiently carry out the elections?

Just recently, a mobile registration application was launched Tuesday, June 15, in the city of Tagum, Davao del Norte. The app aims to streamline the registration process from the traditional pen and paper method to digital enlisting. So far, a total of over 100,000 individuals have downloaded the app just a day after its launch. Another good thing about the app apart from convenience and lessened exposure to COVID-19 is its offline feature. The Comelec said that the app remains to be usable offline and the user can still input the necessary information. An encrypted QR code will be generated, which shall be presented to the nearest local Comelec office for it to be scanned and the user’s biometrics be taken. However, the app is no longer available for online download to give priority to the 575 cities and municipalities identified as pilot areas by the Comelec.

Another element of suffrage which is as valuable as registration is voter’s education. Given the prevalent use of social media, concerned institutions such as Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) may maximize the influence and power of social media platforms in urging voters to make informed political decisions. This can be done by teaching voters on how to dissect political advertisements to determine if the messages and emotions conveyed are consistent with the track records of the candidates. Analyzing surveys can also be simplified through the use of online platforms to make sure that voters are not easily swayed by the numbers, but rather be educated about the implications of the survey results.

Above all, people’s participation must be secured. This doesn’t only mean the act of voting but also the conscious act of choosing the best candidate for the position. By actively campaigning for voter’s participation in social media platforms, it is possible that the votes will be diverse and well-represented.

In 2022, a new president, vice president, set of senators, and local officials will be chosen again to represent the collective aspirations of Filipinos. And if you desire for a better Philippines, register now, stay educated, and vote for the country’s future..