MP Esmael leads consultation on Bangsamoro Cooperative Code

 Members of Parliament Abduladzis M. Esmael, Al-Haj and Atty. Lanang T. Ali, Jr., principal authors of the Bangsamoro Cooperative Code, gather experts, Islamic scholars, and academicians for a three-day consultation meeting conducted from June 15 to 17, 2021 at the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Extension Office in Cotabato City. (Photo courtesy of Muarif Kedtong)

COTABATO CITY – Member of Parliament (MP) Abduladzis M. Esmael, Al-Haj, one of the principal authors of the Bangsamoro Cooperative Code (BCC), convened stakeholders and concerned agencies to initially draft the Bangsamoro Cooperative Code in a three-day consultation meeting at the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Extension Office.

Representatives of various cooperatives, the Cooperative and Social Enterprise Authority, BARMM ministries, Islamic scholars, and some academicians attended the said activity from June 15 to 17.

5 men nabbed for guns, illegal drugs in Maguindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Army troopers arrested five men for illegal possession of high-powered firearms and illegal drugs in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Friday afternoon, June 25.

Combined elements of the 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) Battalion, 1st Mechanized Battalion, and local operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) carried out the joint operation, according to Lt. Col. Benjamin Cadiente Jr., commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, in a report Saturday, June 26.

He identified the suspects as Benjar Rajahpandalat, Datu Pong Mohammad, Pogi Abdullah, Theng Kiladan, and Sajid Nanding.

IP communities pledge full support to BTA extension until 2025

 Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) Minister Melanio Ulama presides the meeting with the IP tribal leaders and organizations on June 16, 2021 in Cotabato City. 

COTABATO CITY – Indigenous peoples’ (IP) tribal leaders and organizations from across the Bangsamoro region expressed their strong support to the extension of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) until 2025.

In a meeting initiated by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs (MIPA) on Wednesday, June 16, Minister Melanio Ulama said IP tribal leaders and organizations unite in their positions to support the BTA extension. 

Esther T. Gunsi, IP tribal leader from South Upi, Maguindanao said community members have to be adequately educated about the importance of extension even if the members of the community are supportive of the move.

“I need to go down to the ground to educate the IP community on why we need to extend the Bangsamoro Transition Authority…on behalf of my community, we are a hundred percent committed to supporting the BTA extension.”

Ulama resonated with the previous call by saying that an extension is needed in order to fully implement the ministry's programs and projects for the IP communities.

“Napakalaking oportunidad sa ating mga katutubo na mabigyan ng isang ministry sa Bangsamoro Government.  Ito’y palatandaan lamang na kinikilala tayo at hindi pinapabayaan ng regional government,” he said.

Ulama also mentioned that the Indigenous Peoples Code is one of the priority codes soon to be voted into law by the BTA within this term.

As stated in Article IX, Section 3 of Republic Act No.11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Bangsamoro Government recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples and shall adopt measures for the promotion and protection of their rights. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Bill to upgrade Buluan district hospital now on 2nd stage

COTABATO CITY – Some members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament sponsored a bill that seeks to upgrade the Buluan district hospital's facilities and professional health care services by increasing its bed capacity from 75 to 200.

Authors of the bill include Members of Parliament Khadafeh Mangudadatu, Speaker Atty. Ali Pangalian Balindong, Atty. Raissa Jajurie, Atty. Jose Lorena, Atty. Nabil Tan, Atty. Paisalin Tago, Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas, Atty. Omar Sema, Abraham Burahan, and Zia Alonto-Adiong.

 proposed Parliament Bill No. 92, the construction and upgrading of the hospital facilities would be under the direct supervision and control of the Ministry of Health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM).

The MOH-BARMM would incorporate the proposed bill’s initial implementation in the ministry's 2021 programs, as stated in the bill.

Buluan District Hospital is one of Maguindanao province's eight government-operated hospitals. It provides health care needs to residents of the municipalities of Buluan, Datu Paglas, Pandag, Mangudadatu, General Salipada Pendatun, Sultan sa Barongis, and the provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, as well as the provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

“We, as the parliament of the people, cannot turn a blind eye to the unconscionable sacrifice of our medical workers, who, with their desire to serve the needs of our people," Mangudadatu said, noting that medical workers are working longer hours to compensate for human resources and other service facilities shortages.

The proposed bill has been forwarded to the committees on Health and Finance, Budget, and Management. (PUBLICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION, BTA, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Bill establishing BARMM’s Sustainable Development Board enters first reading

COTABATO CITY – The proposed Parliament Bill No. 53 or “Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board Act of 2020”, filed by Member of Parliament Abdulraof Macacua, was introduced to the plenary on Tuesday afternoon, June 15.

The said legislative measure shall create a Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board which would ensure “the integration and harmonization of economic, social, and environmental considerations as vital dimensions of sustainable development policy and practice in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”

Responsibilities of the Board include the protection, promotion, and maximization of economic resources within the Bangsamoro region.

Also, the powers and functions of the Board, as stipulated on Bill No. 53, include measures of developing a framework for program implementation, determining regulations, and assessing and evaluating programs and policies that preserve that Bangsamoro environment and its resources.

The Board will be made up of representatives from the national government and the Bangsamoro Government headed by the Minister of the Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE).

Other members of the Board include the executive secretary, BARMM ministry officials, chairpersons of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission and Bangsamoro Women Commission, and the director-general of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Office. (PUBLICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION, BTA, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

BARMM to tap unserved irrigable areas thru new BTA bill

COTABATO CITY – Some members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament sponsored a bill that seeks to upgrade the Buluan district hospital's facilities and professional health care services by increasing its bed capacity from 75 to 200.

Authors of the bill include Members of Parliament Khadafeh Mangudadatu, Speaker Atty. Ali Pangalian Balindong, Atty. Raissa Jajurie, Atty. Jose Lorena, Atty. Nabil Tan, Atty. Paisalin Tago, Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas, Atty. Omar Sema, Abraham Burahan, and Zia Alonto-Adiong.

Under the proposed Parliament Bill No. 92, the construction and upgrading of the hospital facilities would be under the direct supervision and control of the Ministry of Health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM).

The MOH-BARMM would incorporate the proposed bill’s initial implementation in the ministry's 2021 programs, as stated in the bill.

Buluan District Hospital is one of Maguindanao province's eight government-operated hospitals. It provides health care needs to residents of the municipalities of Buluan, Datu Paglas, Pandag, Mangudadatu, General Salipada Pendatun, Sultan sa Barongis, and the provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, as well as the provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat 

“We, as the parliament of the people, cannot turn a blind eye to the unconscionable sacrifice of our medical workers, who, with their desire to serve the needs of our people," Mangudadatu said, noting that medical workers are working longer hours to compensate for human resources and other service facilities shortages.

The proposed bill has been forwarded to the committees on Health and Finance, Budget, and Management. (PUBLICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION, BTA, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)