Solon says bill postponing BARMM elections now on final stage

Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri (File photo)

COTABATO CITY – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri announced during the Bangsamoro Governance Summit on Friday, July 23, that the passage of the bill postponing the elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is now on its final stage.

  The postponement, according to him, will allow the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to fulfill its mandated duties in achieving elusive peace and prosperity in the Bangsamoro region. 

“In shaa Allah, within a month, we will get it done,” Zubiri said.

 Senate Bill No. 2214, a bill that would move the BARMM’s first regular elections from 2022 to 2025, was discussed on the second reading in June.

This August, Congress will resume deliberations on the proposed bill.

Once passed into law, the transition period will be extended for another three years. The bill aims to provide enough time for the interim government to accomplish the transition requirements cited in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), including the passage of the six priority legislations.

Currently, three of the six codes – administrative, civil service, and education code – were already approved in the Parliament.

Other key measures such as the local government, electoral, and revenue code, are currently in the appropriate committees and are ready to be presented in the plenary.

BARMM steps-up monitoring, evaluation system efforts

 BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali (in pink polo shirt), UNDP-Pintig Lab Project Coordinator Jeffrey Pilapil (in blue polo shirt), BPDA Deputy Director General Engr. Amil Abubacar (leftmost), and Camelia N. de Vera-Dacanay (rightmost) unveil the Bangsamoro Development Tracker (BDT) during its official launch on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at BPDA Conference Hall, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City. (Photo courtesy of Lovella L. Lastimosa)

COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is improving the region’s monitoring and evaluation system as it officially launched on Thursday, July 22, the Bangsamoro Development Tracker (BDT).

Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, director general of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), said BDT is an interactive dashboard of the 1st Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) 2020-2022 in a virtual and engaging manner.

“It was technically developed with set of tools to make the data submission easier for ministries, offices, and agencies and integrate it as part of BARMM’s strategic operation,” he said.

BARMM holds 1st governance summit to link, strengthen LGUs

 Governors and local chief executives of the five provinces of BARMM with Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim (third from right) and Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM spokesperson and MILG minister, during the Bangsamoro Governance Summit held Friday, July 23, 2021, in Cotabato City.

COTABATO CITY – In pursuit of upholding moral governance and uplifting the lives of its people, the Bangsamoro Government held its first Bangsamoro Governance Summit 2021 here on Friday, July 23.

 The summit aims to fortify coordination among BARMM local chief executives (LCEs) and the regional government to ensure alignment of the consolidated and deliberated programs and projects laid out by each local government unit (LGU) for its inclusion in the region’s priority Projects Program Activities (PPAs) for the fiscal year 

BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim expressed his hope that the summit will help the region achieve a more responsive and grounded governance. 

“I am optimistic that we can bridge our programs, projects, and activities that are genuinely responsive to the needs of our people,” he said.

Ebrahim also said the transition period provides the Bangsamoro the opportunity to build the foundations that would address development challenges.

“I am proud to say that we have done significant strides in laying the groundwork needed for the attraction and infusion of capital – such as stable environment, infrastructure, and favorable regulatory schemes – but we still need to do a lot more and we need more time. It is along these lines in which strong partnership between the Bangsamoro Government and the local government units is of high importance”, he said.

“Over the past week, regional authorities went to your respective provinces and listened to your plans and priority programs and projects. We believe that being the government at the local level, you can shed more light on the situation on the ground,” he added.

LCEs and governors from the BARMM’s five provinces, contingents from the national government including Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sec. Salvador Panelo and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (via Zoom), BARMM key officials, and development partners attended Friday’s event.

In a message read by Panelo, Senator Bong Go said: “Our LGUs will play a vital role in this endeavor by ensuring that our government is seen, heard, and felt by the people.”

“Your success in this undertaking will definitely complement the national agenda to further empower our LGUs to become stronger, more capable, and more resilient,” Go added.

Go also reiterated his unwavering support to the Bangsamoro Government and lauded its efforts in serving the people amidst pandemic.

“I salute the BARMM for continuing the hard work despite the challenges caused by the present COVID-19 pandemic, and for being one with the government in finding ways to secure a peaceful, stable, and progressive future for Muslim Mindanao,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Zubiri commended the interim government of BARMM for holding the summit despite the challenges it faces amidst pandemic.

“I’m very happy to see that despite the challenges of this pandemic, the BTA and our LGUs were able to hold much-needed consultations to identify the needs of our people and what projects and programs that they require both short-term and the long-term,” he said.

Furthermore, BARMM Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua presented the Mandanas Ruling, which aims to significantly affect the service delivery of Bangsamoro LGUs constituencies.

“The impact of Mandanas Ruling is another issue that we need to look into and integrate into our local government code. While the Ruling provides you more financial resources, it would also mean that some of nationally funded projects will be devolved to you,” he said.

He added that through the summit, both local and regional governments can best coordinate, cooperate, and collaborate towards the same goal of making lives easier for the Bangsamoro people 

During the summit, Governors Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Jim Hataman Salliman of Basilan, Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi Provincial  Planning and Development Coordinator Wahab Bakil, Guindulungan, Maguindanao Municipal Mayor Datu Midpantao Midtimbang, Jr., and Special Geographic Area (SGA) Administrator Mohammad “Kellie” Antao, presented their respective Provincial Development Frameworks and PPAs.

To cap off the event, BARMM key officials, which include Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, spokesperson and concurrent interior and local government minister, and Engr. Mohajirin Ali, director-general of Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), presented the State of Local Governance Functionality and Performance and the Regional Development Directions and Priority Thrusts for 2022, respectively. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

BARMM all set for 2021 Bangsamoro Governance Summit

BARMM Public Works Minister Eduard Guerra (center), Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan (in blue shirt), and Trade, Investments, and Tourism Minister Abuamri Taddik (in stripes), along with some Sulu officials during the conduct of the Bangsamoro Governance Pre-Summit in the region’s five provinces on Saturday, July 17, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Interior and Local Government) 

COTABATO CITY – The Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) has successfully completed the conduct of the 2021 Bangsamoro Governance Pre-Summit in the five provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), including its special geographic areas (SGAs) in North Cotabato.

On Saturday, July 17, local government units (LGUs) in the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, as well as the provincial heads of the different BARMM ministries, presented their proposed programs and projects for inclusion in the region’s priority Projects Program Activities for fiscal year 2022.

The pre-summit in Sulu held Saturday was led by Governor Abdusakur Tan, Public Works Minister Eduard Guerra, and Trade, Investments, and Tourism Minister Abuamri Taddik.

Army, MBHTE-BARMM produce first ALS graduates in Sulu

 BASIC EDUCATION. A soldier-teacher handling Basic Literacy Program teaches Alternative Learning System students basic education in this undated photo. A total of 103 learners complete on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, their respective ALS program jointly implemented by the 11th Infantry Division and the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education in Patikul, Sulu. (Photo courtesy of the 11ID Public Affairs Office) 

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A 56-year-old housewife of Patikul, Sulu expressed elation that she was able to acquire basic education despite her age through the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Manis Hasan, is one of the 103 learners who completed on Wednesday, July 21, their respective ALS program jointly implemented by the 11th Infantry Division (ID) and the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the province of Sulu.

Column

Scientific solutions

With the emergence of new viruses and diseases in the present times, it is high time for the country to establish its own virology institute to aid leading agencies such as the Department of Health and Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases in the prevention and management of viral diseases. The consequences brought about by viral pandemics to the country’s population and economies are insurmountable. In fact, according to the data from World Bank, the estimated economic loss is at least 80 billion US dollars from six major outbreaks of highly fatal infections between 1997 and 2009 around the globe. Given this, the importance of scientific research gives the country an advantage to develop mechanisms in tracking, investigating, and diagnosing emerging viral diseases.

On May 22 last year, the Department of Science and Technology publicly expressed its intention to establish the Virology Institute of the Philippines. Efforts to institutionalize the move have now reached the House of Representatives where current Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said on Friday, July 23, two measures seeking to establish the Philippine Virology Institute are being prioritized.

Editorial

Fill the gaps

Quality conversations about love, sexuality, and relationships are still difficult to achieve between parents and children in the country, which is one of the reasons why cases of teenage pregnancy are rising, according to the Department of Health (DOH), Commission on Population and Development (PopCom), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PopCom chief, in one DOH press releases, cited the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality study which showed that “only 10% of Filipino youth reported that sexuality was discussed in their homes and that young people are likely to consult their peers for questions about sexuality.” This reflects a gap between parents and children, making issues on the aforementioned topics unattended and unresolved in various households. 

As a response, DOH, PopCom, and USAID utilized Facebook as a main tool to formulate parenting strategies given the alarming rate of teenage pregnancies in the country. Through a Facebook page, Konektado Tayo PH, pertinent information about love, sexuality, and relationships are provided and discussions on such matters are comprehensively conducted by experts. To date, the said online campaign had already reached more than 13 million people. Also, engagements based on statistics are from 35 to 54 age groups, which are the intended audience for the campaign.

Aside from communication gap, there are structural and cultural problems that teenagers have to hurdle to overcome their circumstances.

Project TABANG provides assistance to barangays in North Cotabato

 Residents of the region’s special geographic area carry their relief assistance through the Project Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

NORTH COTABATO – A total of 400 residents in the Bangsamoro region’s special geographic area (SGA) received relief goods through the Project Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG) program on Wednesday, July 14 in Barangays Dunguan and Tapodok, in the town of Aleosan, North Cotabato.

Each beneficiary was given relief packs, which contain 25 kilos of rice, one kilo of sugar and salt, packs of coffee, cooking oil, and mung beans. 

Barangay health stations of the said areas also received medicines through Project TABANG.

Meanwhile, 600 families from Barangays Kitulaan, Nasapian, and Tupig in Carmen, North Cotabato were also provided with the same relief packs on Tuesday, July 13.

Jimmy Adil, SGA cluster III coordinator of Pikit, said services provided by the Bangsamoro Government is very vital to its constituents especially in these trying times.

“Malaking tulong ito sa Brgy. Dunguan kasi isa ang barangay na ito sa may napakaraming naranasan na pag-evacuate dulot ng giyera at kaguluhan,” he said.

Emran Taya, 46, a farmer and a health worker from Brgy. Tapodok, expressed his gratitude to the Project TABANG of the Bangsamoro Government.

“Kami ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa BARMM dahil malaki ang naitulong nila lalo na sa mga mahihirap na Bangsamoro,” he said.

Project TABANG is one of the special programs of the Office of the Chief Minister, which aims to bring welfare and social services of the Bangsamoro Government closer to its people. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

MP Esmael backs trainings to capacitate employees on leadership, financial mngt

 Participants of the two-day leadership and financial management training. The said activity was initiated by of Offices of MP Abduladzis Esmael, Majority Floor Leader MP Atty. Lanang T. Ali, MP Akmad I. Abas, and MP Suwaib L. Oranon, held on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at Crystal Hall, Em Manor Hotel, Cotabato City. 

COTABATO CITY – Member of Parliament (MP) Abduladzis M. Esmael sponsored a two-day leadership and financial management training, which was participated by his immediate employees and staff from the offices of Majority Floor Leader MP Atty. Lanang T. Ali, MP Akmad I. Abas, and MP Suwaib L. Oranon, on July 13 to 14 at Crystal Hall, Em Manor Hotel, here.

Program Manager Suharto S. Esmael said capacity building activities are integral part of developing competencies in the fields of leadership and financial management.

“Here, we envision to give everyone the means to learn effective skills in leadership and financial management. In this series of trainings, we have invited competent resource persons from various areas of specializations to strengthen your capacities in leadership and financial management,” he said.

Chief of Staff Khalid Esmael also hoped that the two-day training will be instrumental in ensuring the personal development and improvement of the leadership and financial management skills of employees in their respective offices.

During the first session, Bai Shaima Baraguir talked about strategic planning and conflict management in organizations.

Moreover, Allan Calido, legal officer under the Office of MP Esmael, also discussed about leadership and management. He referenced the book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” during his talk.

On the second day of training, Dr. Hasna Lidasan focused on the complexities of financial management specifically Islamic finance. She also emphasized the need for legislations on Islamic finance to institutionalize its importance to the economic activities of Islamic institutions.

Capping off the training was Hanadi G. Nul, administration and finance manager of Alnor Prime Properties Corporation, who discussed basic accounting and entrepreneurship skills.

The Office of MP Esmael seeks to capitalize on the significance of capacity building trainings to nurture the skills of employees in their pursuit of public service and professional development.

“Training courses frame the personal growth of the employees, which primes their increased performance and the development of the organization at large,” MP Esmael said. (MOHAMADAN ABDULKASAN / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

MOTC-BARMM holds 1st stakeholders’ conference for land transport cooperatives

 BLTFRB General Manager Kaizer Nasilin, MOTC Director General Atty. Roslaine Macao-Maniri, MOTC Deputy Minister Abunawas L. Maslamama, BLTFRB Director Datunor Abutazil, and BLTFRB Supervising Transportation Development Office Sittie Ashly B. Pascan (from left to right) during the first stakeholders’ conference for land transport cooperatives on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Cotabato City. (Photo courtesy of the Bangsamoro Information Office) Pls … 

COTABATO CITY – Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC), through its Bangsamoro Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (BLTFRB), held its first stakeholders’ conference for land transport (LT) cooperatives on Monday, July 12 here.

The said activity aims to discuss among attendees one of the ministry’s goals, which is to provide fast, safe, efficient, and reliable public land transportation to the commuting public of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Twenty cooperatives from the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Cotabato City attended the activity. Of which, three representatives were selected where one of them will sit as a member of the board and help craft the policies for the BLTFRB.

BLTFRB General Manager Kaizer Nasilin emphasized after the transfer of powers, functions, assets, and properties from LTFRB to BARMM, it can now issue franchises in the region.

“Nakasaad doon sa memorandum of agreement na pinirmihan with DOTR Secretary Arthur Tugade, na aside sa pag-transfer ng powers and functions of LTFRB to BARMM, pwede na rin kami maka-issue ng franchises sa region,” he said.

He also noted that during this pandemic, the BLTFRB has implemented rules and health protocols to different terminals in region.

Meanwhile, MOTC Deputy Minister Abunawas L. Maslamama said it is a reciprocal obligation of the transport services to collaborate with the office as it aims to regulate full powers and control in its area of jurisdiction.

He also urged the body to choose among the running qualified candidates, who will serve as the voice of the transport sector, to raise their issues and concerns. (BANGSAMORO INFORMATION OFFICE / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Datu Hoffer conducts joint meeting to resolve issues on security, illegal drugs

 Attendees of the joint municipal meeting in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall include 1LT Paquito S. Lustria of the Philippine Army, PLT Billy C. Fontanilla of the Philippine National Police, Municipal Administrator Nurodin M. Mamaluba, and Municipal Local Government Operation Officer Jennifer D. Ampatuan (right). (Anne B. Acosta) 

DATU HOFFER AMPATUAN, Maguindanao – Local officials here, under the leadership of Mayor Bai Johaira M. Ampatuan, gathered to discuss and resolve issues on COVID-19 response, peace and security, and use of illegal drugs in a joint meeting held on Thursday, June 24, at Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall.

Municipal Administrator Nurodin M. Mamaluba presided the said meeting.

On the issue of security, a mortal shelling incident was reported Tuesday morning, June 22 at Sitio Pamimbingan, Brgy. Tuayan, according to PLT Billy C. Fontanilla of the Philippine National Police (PNP), also the current OIC-chief of Datu Hoffer.

Victims of the blast were identified as Rosita Kinindi, 25, who died on the spot, while her son, John Mark Kinindi, 9, survived but wounded.

Investigations about the tragedy are ongoing, he said.

Responding to the issue, Jennifer D. Ampatuan, Municipal Local Government Operation Officer, said officials here have taken actions against the presence of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other lawless groups in the area by declaring them “persona non grata.”

A peace summit, initiated by the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) and chief local executives of 36 municipalities in Maguindanao, was also conducted on May 17, 2021 to resolve issues of armed conflict and lawlessness in the SPMS box.

The so-called SPMS box is a military term for the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan), Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona where the BIFF operates.

On May 24, a meeting proceeded the May 17 summit, where MILG and other concerned agencies convened to bolster solutions on the peace problem in conflict-prone areas such as Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, and Datu Hoffer.

On the other hand, updates on the drug-free status of this municipality were also discussed by representatives of the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC).

A progressive score of 63 was granted to Datu Hoffer when it comes to efficiency and functionality on anti-drug programs and advocacies based on the 2019 internal audit of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Meanwhile, Gemma P. Pinansilo, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said its current efforts to curb COVID-19 are in place, which include daily reporting of cases, upgrading of their system, and monitoring of the ongoing vaccination program.

Other updates were also provided by the Municipal Development Council (MDC), local tourism councils, women and children desks, and waste management departments.

Attendees of the said meeting include representatives from the Municipal Peace and Order Council, MADAC, MDRRMC, Inter-agency Task Force on COVID-19, Social Protection and Development Council clusters, MDC, Local Youth Development Council, among others.

Representatives from MILG, Ministry of Social Services and Development, and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Aquatic Resources also attended. (Anne B. Acosta)

BARMM lawmaker files bills upgrading hospitals in BARMM

COTABATO CITY – Separate bills seeking to “convert and upgrade hospital facilities” in Lanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi have been introduced to the plenary.

Parliament Bill No. 99 or “Conversion of Tamparan District Hospital (TDH) to Provincial Hospital Act of 2021”, Parliament Bill No. 100 or Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital (DHSMH) Upgrade Act of 2021”, and Parliament Bill No. 102 or “Balindong Hospital Upgrade Act of 2021” were authored by Dr. Saffrulah Dipatuan, to improve healthcare services in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

TDH will be converted into Lanao del Sur Provincial Hospital under Bill No. 99. It also aims to upgrade the hospital’s facilities and professional healthcare services by increasing its bed capacity to 150.

TDH has served about 4,000 patients each year from various towns in Lanao del Sur during the previous five years.

“With the increasing population of the province, and TDH being the most accessible hospital and strategically located to cater the needs of the people of the province, it is appropriate for it to be converted into a provincial hospital,” Dipatuan wrote in the explanatory note.

He added that by upgrading the said district hospital, the Bangsamoro government would meet the health needs of the region’s most marginalized sector.

On the other hand, under Bill No. 100, the bed capacity of Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital (DHSMH) will be upgraded to 100 beds.

Based on the Ministry of Health-BARMM annual hospital statistical report, the DHSMH bed occupancy reached 237 percent in 2019, way above its current 25-bed capacity load.

Dipatuan said the upgrade is necessary to accommodate Tawi-Tawi residents who need to take 16-hour boat ride and flight just to seek medical attention to the nearest Level 2 medical facility in Zamboanga City.

Moreover, under Bill No. 102, the capacity of the Balindong Municipal Hospital will be upgraded to 50 beds.

The bill also suggests that the Minister of Health, who is authorized to determine and approve the appropriate organizational structure for the management and operations of the hospital, shall oversee the hospital’s operations.

Dipatuan noted that there is a need to improve the quality of healthcare services by upgrading it from level 1 with a 10-bed capacity to level 2 with a 50-bed capacity to cater and sustain the needs of increasing patients in Balindong Municipal Hospital. (PUBLICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)