As New Zealanders who have supported the Filipino people’s struggle against the Marcos dictatorship, we find it greatly disturbing that the 1985 Ilagan doctrine, an outdated martial law doctrine, has been used as basis to junk the Morong 43 lawyers’ petition for the writ of habeas corpus. We support the dissenting opinions of Associate Justice Normandie Pizarro and Associate Justice Francisco Acosta who asserted that the search, seizure and arrest made by police and military officials are illegal and irregular, and charges arising from them cannot be considered valid.

We are further dismayed over the news that members of the Ampatuan clan involved in the November 23 Maguindanao massacre will be released after a local court ruled that there was no probable cause in the rebellion case against them. We lament that the government’s filing of rebellion charge instead of multiple murder charges against the Ampatuan clan made it so easy for the perpetrators to evade accountability over the worst pre-election violence in the Philippines. It is the height of injustice that those involved in the massacre of 57 people including lawyers, women and journalists will go scot-free after being declared ‘innocent’ of rebellion charges. Meanwhile, the 43 community health workers who were dedicated to healing and saving lives were illegally arrested, tortured and slapped with criminal charges.

More than 100 days on, justice for the massacre victims remain elusive. We sympathise with the victims’ families who lament that the government has not done enough to arrest all those responsible in the Ampatuan massacre. We join them in their continuing demand for the government to ensure justice.

On 6th April, it will be two months since the 43 health workers were unjustly arrested, tortured and detained using a defective warrant of arrest. We urge the Philippine Supreme Court to do what the Court of Appeals failed to do: Protect the citizens from human rights abuses. Stop legalizing the illegal arrests, dismiss the false charges and hold the police and military forces accountable for the subsequent torture and prolonged detention of the 43 innocent civilians.

HON. CATHERINE DELAHUNTY
Member of Parliament, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

HON. KEITH LOCKE
Member of Parliament, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

HON. LAILA HARRÉ
Former Member of Parliament

DR BARRY GRIBBEN
CEO, CBG Health Research

DR JANE KELSEY
School of Law , University of Auckland , New Zealand

MURRAY HORTON
Secretary, Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA)

GILLIAN SOUTHEY
Campaigns Coordinator, Christian World Service

REV. BRIAN TURNER
Methodist Church of New Zealand

LEIGH COOKSON
Action Research & Education Network of Aotearoa (ARENA)

HELEN TEHIRA
Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS)

PAUL WATSON
Secretary – Textile, Clothing, Laundry & Baking Sector, National
Distribution Union

DION MARTIN
Organiser, National Distribution Union – Palmerston North Branch

MICHAEL SCOTT
Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA)

DEAN HAPETA aka Te Kupu
Filmmaker / Musician, Kia Kaha Productions, Aotearoa

ABI KING-JONES
Filmmaker, CutCutCut , Aotearoa

MIKE TREEN
National Director, Unite Union

KAY WEIR
Editor, Pacific Ecologist, Pacific Institute of Resource Management

HELEN TULETT
Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ – Christchurch

ARIEL GUANLAO
President, Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand

____________________________________________________

Migrante Aotearoa | 34 Titirangi Rd, New Lynn , Auckland 1007

+64 9 8276059 |migrante@xtra.co.nz | http://migrante-aotearoa.org.nz/

MS CHARIE VILLA
Head of Newsgathering
ABS-CBN

Dear Ms Villa:

TV Patrol’s coverage of our protest action at the Israeli embassy today was a textbook example of crass sensationalism, of bad journalism.

According to your report, we supposedly threatened to bomb the Israeli embassy. (“Israeli embassy binantaang pasasabugin!”)

Not only does this put one speaker’s statements out of context, it totally mischaracterized the nature and intention of our actions.

We went to the Israeli embassy to protest against Israel’s disproportionate and unjustified attacks in Gaza which have killed over 600 people, most of them civilians and children. During the program, speaker after speaker explained the historical roots of the violence in the Middle East, refuted the myths and fallacies widely propagated in the media, implored the Philippine government to take action, and appealed to the US and Israeli governments to stop.

Instead of reporting on the substance of our actions, however, your report zeroed in on one particular statement of a speaker, distorted it, and sensationalized it.

One speaker, a Muslim religious leader, said in his speech that he has received a lot of calls suggesting that the Israeli embassy be bombed in response to its acts of violence. This speaker empathically stressed, however, that he did NOT agree with such a course of action and that he advocated peaceful means to address the situation, as your or any other video documentation of the speech will clearly show.

He did NOT threaten to bomb the embassy.

Thus, TV Patrol’s report is, at best, inaccurate: a cheap attempt to sensationalize the news in order to lure more viewers and raise one’s ratings,  an instance of lazy journalism practiced by reporters and writers unable or unwilling to focus on and explain the substance behind news events.

At worst, your reporting is dangerous: portraying us as just “angry Muslims” ["sumugod ang tatlong-daang mga galit na Muslim"] hell-bent on bombing Israel. This fuels the stereotype of Muslims as pathologically irrational terrorists who have no grounds whatsoever for demanding justice; it bolsters the misguided assumption that only terrorists (ie Muslims) could possibly be opposed to Israel’s war crimes.

(Another correction: though most of those who joined the protest are Muslims, a large number of us are non-Muslims concerned about the war: a quick scan of our colorful flags would show that many of us came from secular progressive civil society groups, NGOs, trade unions, social movements and political parties. Many of us are Christians.)

This, incidentally, is precisely the kind of spin that one side of this war favors for them to continue committing mass murder. Expect a congratulatory letter from the Israeli ambassador.

Your report is not only patently erroneous and imbalanced, it also fans the flames of hatred and moves the world farther and farther away from peace.

News reporting being a public trust, we demand an organizational investigation into how such glaring inaccuracy could have possibly been allowed in your show. Because your viewers deserve more accurate reporting, we demand that a correction be broadcast immediately. Having been cast negatively in your report, we deserve a public apology.

Respectfully yours,

Herbert Docena
Stop the War Coalition Philippines

A Muslim solon cried foul to the arguments put forward by national leaders on the contentious Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

In a statement released by the office of Anak Mindanao Representative Mujiv S. Hataman, the legislator reacted to the Privilege Speech of Administration Representative Teddy Boy Locsin, portions of which were reported in the August 6, 2008 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“We recognize the oppositions against the content of the Agreement, even the process by which it was carried out. But to put forward arguments based on misconceptions about Islam and derogatory statements about the Moro people is uncalled for, especially from a statesman such as the Honorable Representative,” Hataman said.

Hataman added, “ The Moro people is not what he called new-minted citizens. Sir, we have been a civilized people long before the Spaniards came. We were a sovereign nation 448 years before the Philippines even became one… We had a defined land territory and we are not solely seafarers as mentioned. Perhaps the good Congressman forgot, Manila started as a Muslim community ruled by Rajah Sulayman.”

In a separate interview, the Muslim solon also expressed his sentiments against friends in the opposition. One of the only two Muslims in the House Minority, Hataman said he respects the opinions of Opposition leaders like Sen. Mar Roxas and Sen. Chiz Escudero on the content, process, people and motives around the peace process. But accordingly, the latest statements issued by “his comrades” have swayed away from these contentions but have questioned the very legitimacy of the Moro struggle.

“As a Moro, I found solace against the injustices perpetrated by this administration against my people, in the cause of the opposition for rights and justice. But now, their statements appear to be inconsiderate of the Bangsamoro struggle. I am left with the realization that there is indeed no space for the Moro people in Philippine democracy, either with the administration or with the opposition. I only hope that they refrain from making comments about an issue that they have no adequate knowledge about,” Hataman said.

HON. MUJIV S. HATAMAN
Representative, Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party-List
Room 408 Southwing Building
House of Representatives, Batasan Hills, Quezon City
Telefax #: 9316364; Trunkline: 9315001 loc. 7249; Website: www.anakmindanao.org

Department of Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes bragged that Exxon Mobil, the world’s largest oil and gas company, is set to explore the rich-sea of Sulu – the home to one of the world heritage sites, Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, for crude oil deposits this year.

Sulu Sea connects the South China Sea and Celebes Sea which serves as route for tuna and other varieties of fishes going in and out the Pacific Ocean.

Bai Ali Indayla, Suara Bangsamoro’s national secretary-general, frets on the imminent aftermath of exploration to the people of Sulu which have had enough of never-ending wars, kidnaps, hamlets and killings since American occupation.

“The affirmation of Secretary Reyes that ‘Exxon Mobil will not go into any area unless the reserves are large scale or large amount of quality of oil’ is a proof that the United States of America has long been probing the vastness and productiveness of the Philippines soil in the guise of Balikatan exercises and humanitarian missions,” Indayla said.

Secretary Reyes also boasts that the oil in the Philippines such as the one produced in Galoc oil field in Palawan Basin owned by Australia-based, Otto Energy Ltd., will be sold to local refineries like Shell and Petron and would translate to a lower price of gasoline.

Moreover, ExxonMobil is into number of global operating divisions such as Upstream (oil exploration, extraction, shipping, and wholesale operations), Downstream (marketing, refining, and retail operations), Chemical division and many others. Thus, Exxon Mobil does explore, produce and sell crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products.

“The government’s claim is a big deceit to the Bangsamoro people and the Filipino people in general. Exxon Mobil is not only into exploration but wants total control to oil-rich nations like it did in several countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Angola, Sudan, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. In the Philippines, they had started in Galoc which is north of Sulu Sea and has extended in the nearby area, Calauit oil field, also in Palawan Basin,” Indayla explained.

“The Exxon Mobil’s exploration in Sulu sea, which would spend $110 million for exploration alone, is just a genesis to roster of large-scale explorations in other oil-rich areas of the country. Despite government’s concession to foreign oil companies to explore the Philippine Basin, the country continuously import oil and experience mounting increases of prices in petroleum as well as basic commodities,” Indayla stressed.

The Suara Bangsamoro strongly opposes the exploration of Exxon Mobil in Sulu Sea for it would not only affect and devastate the environment and people’s livelihood, which majority are fishermen, but also a testament to the long-list of documents that Filipino people vend their natural resources to foreign countries.

Indayla added, “Foreign countries especially the US have long been the ones benefiting the wealth of our natural resources. It’s not the Filipino people. We are putting our hands to a tiger’s mouth by allowing them utilize and exploit our own reserves,” Indayla said.

“We are calling the government to safeguard the welfare of the people first before the interest of foreign corporations. With their presence, is Philippine’s economy developing? Did it change the impoverished lives of the Filipino people especially the Moro? But, after all, the Philippine constitution guarantees several provisions and exempts taxes to all foreign corporations like oil companies,” Indayla said. #

Suara Bangsamoro
PRESS RELEASE
23 June 2008

Regional Tri-partite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) Chairman and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Muslimin Jakilan also informed the participants of the economic recovery ARMM has so far achieved particularly in the incumbency of the present administration of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan.

Said consultation is the 3rd of a series with the first and second conducted in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu last November 26 and 29 respectively. Participants came from mainland ARMM particularly Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan and Lanao del Sur.

During the workshop, majority agreed that there is a need to increase the minimum wage for ARMM, which by virtue of Wage Order No. 9 issued August 4, 2006, daily minimum wage is P190 plus P10 cost of living allowance (COLA).

“ARMM has one of the lowest standards of living accounting for the relatively low minimum wage,” explained Susan Anayatin who represented Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-ARMM) Secretary Ishak Mastura.

She said that prices of prime commodities particularly foodstuffs are relatively low in the area of autonomy in contrast with those in other areas like Manila.

While the management and labor sectors were on heated discussions, the whole proceedings were on the level as all agreed to submit output to the RTWPB-ARMM to decide.

Minimum wage for every region is being tackled annually to appropriately address economic realities confronting labor and management. (bpi-armm)

PRESS RELEASE
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
December 12, 2007

ARMM officials led by Attorney-General Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi and Department of Education (DepEd-ARMM) secretary Udtog Kawit speak to some 300 crowd here on Saturday, December 8.

Governor Ampatuan before he left for Jeddah last Friday instructed Sayadi, Kawit and his Chief of Staff, Ulama Acad to “once and for all resolve the problems of the teachers in the region.”

In the forum, Kawit said, “We have been solving your (teacher’s) problem since we assumed office in 2005; it is about time to clear up everything.”

The teachers from the three provinces and one city had aired appeal on their problems for reconsideration during the activity. The problems on unpaid and delayed salaries of teachers, appointments for provisionary teachers and the issue on the Special Permit to Teach (SPT) are among the issues raised.

Local government officials led by Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, Tawi-Tawi Acting Governor Ruby Sahali-Tan, mayors, school heads and teachers from the three-island municipalities, attended the forum.

Many of the provisional teachers have been teaching and holding classes but their salaries have not been released because they have no valid appointments.

Sayadi and Kawit reiterate the stand of the regional government that even if Governor Ampatuan truly wants to pay their salaries, the Governor cannot do so because the law does not allow payment of salary to anyone without valid appointment even if they (provisionary teachers) have rendered service.

Civil Service Commission Field Office in the ARMM Director II Dominador Gonzales Jr. confirmed the regional governments’ position on the issue.

According to Gonzales, “if the appointment is not valid, whoever appointed him or her will have to pay the appointee’s salary, not the government.”

Sayadi, the newly-named regional governor’s spokesperson said the teachers who attended the dialogue made a joint statement stating that “the issues and concerns of the DepEd-ARMM is a carry over of the previous ARMM administration and not the making of Regional Governor Ampatuan.”

The statement further states, “…that upon assumption of Ampatuan in 2005, he sourced out funds for the payment of the unpaid salaries of teachers in the month of September 2005 which was not paid by the previous administration.”

“It was only during the leadership of Governor Ampatuan that the GSIS remittances are religiously paid, due to the efforts made by Governor Ampatuan,” the statement said.

The signatories of the statement declared their united stand to cooperate and support the leadership of Governor Ampatuan in his “sincere intention to achieve the reforms he has initiated to the DepEd-ARMM.” (bpi-armm)

PRESS RELEASE
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
December 11, 2007

RSCO-ARMM Executive Director Vicente O. Ostique exclaimed, “We are so glad that all officials and employees of different agencies showed support for the success of the activity. Aside from providing haven for sports enthusiasts, the festival strengthens more the rapport between officials and employees of the autonomous region.”

The sports festival themed, “Human Discipline, Peace and Social Progress through Sports” was concluded with an awarding ceremony held in Shariff Kabunsuan Sports Complex recently.

The Department of Public Works and Highways was the over-all winner bagging 19 trophies from all game categories. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries occupied second place. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Regional Legislative Assembly grabbed the 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

Director Ostique is optimistic that under the administration of ARMM Regional Governor Zaldy Uy Ampatuan, more sports activities will be launched to further bolster the sports development program in the autonomous region.

The governor, on the other hand, hectic on Senate budget hearing for ARMM and teachers’ forum in Zamboanga, extends congratulations to RSCO for a job well done.

In his State of the Region Address (SORA), Governor Zaldy commends the sports office for successfully sending a participant to the 2007 Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia on May 2007. The sports office also donated various sports equipment to different schools around the region.

Meanwhile, Director Ostique shares plans to further sustain sports activities in the autonomous region. He envisioned a sports clinic that would be an effective venue for neophytes in learning badminton, bowling and other sports.

“We are confident that we can establish a sports clinic soon. This is very helpful not only in maintaining healthy fit but in achieving peace and social progress for the entire autonomous region. We hope that our provincial leaders would also launch sports festivals in their localities,” Director Ostique concluded. (bpi-arm)

PRESS RELEASE
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
December 10, 2007

Bai Ali Indayla, the group’s national secretary-general said, “Despite various agreements and declarations on human rights around the world, violations continue to persist and the Bangsamoro people were not spared to such abuses.”

“Under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration, the Bangsamoro people suffer almost all forms of human rights violations. Men, women and children are victims of terrorist tagging, bombing suspects, massive evacuations, strafing, abduction, torture and many other human rights violations,” Indayla enumerated.

According to KAWAGIB, a Moro human rights organization, 21cases of human rights violations committed by the Philippine military, police and intelligence agents against the Moro people from January to November 2007 alone. These include violation of civil and political rights, violation of right to life and violation against property. (See the Cases of Moro Human Rights Violations – 2007 Report prepared by the Kawagib Moro Human Rights Organization).

On the same period, more than 75,000 Moro civilians have been displaced in Basilan, Sulu and Midsayap, North Cotabato. Sulu was the hardest hit by a combination of ground troops commandos and indiscriminate aerial bombardment, with a total of 58,500 persons displaced due to three military operations conducted by Task Force Comet (a combined units from the Philippine Marines, Army, Airforce and CAFGUs) against the forces of MNLF Sulu State Chairman Khaid Ajibun and MNLF leader Ustadz Habier Malik on the pretext that they are colluding with Abu Sayyaf Group and JI militants or they are coddling them in their territories. The military operations have affected nine (9) municipalities in Sulu this year.

Basilan was hit on July because of a false report that kidnapped victim Fr. Giancarlo Bossi was seen in an MILF territory in Basilan. Elements of the Philippine Marines under the Task Force Thunder of Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, entered the camps of Basilan MILF chair Ustadz Hamsa Sapanton without informing the local committee on the cessation of hostilities, hence the MILF forces engaged the Marines in a firefight. The encounter ended in a controversial incident where 10 elements of the Marines were found decapitated in Albarka municipality, prompting reprisal by the military. That operation and the Marines reprisal have forced almost 15,000 individuals to evacuate from three municipalities in Basilan.

Karapatan, an alliance of human rights organizations around the country, also recorded 887 victims of extrajudicial killings and 185 victims of enforced disappearances since Arroyo’s seat on January 21, 2001. Figures exclude victims of abduction, illegal arrests, torture and arbitrary detention.

Meanwhile, Indayla slams President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for squandering millions of pesos in her travels around the world. The Commission on Audit (CoA) shows that Arroyo is an extravagant spender on her multiple travels abroad.

“It’s just so easy for Arroyo to spend some P482 million for her travel expenses alone while giving little budget for the poor people in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. She has the nerve to splurge such exaggerated amount together with his family or much loved lawmakers while neglecting the needs of the impoverished Bangsamoro people especially in the remote areas of the autonomous region,” Indayla exclaimed.

Suara Bangsamoro also criticizes President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s human rights award from Alcala de Henares University in Spain recently. The group deems the award as “disrespect” to Bangsamoro martyrs who shed blood in upholding their democratic rights and right to self-determination.

“That is a mockery to all human rights advocates, both Muslims and Christians, who persistently struggles for human rights and to all martyrs who died fighting for their rights,” Indayla stressed.

In commemoration to Human Rights day, Suara Bangsamoro pays tribute to all martyrs and human rights champion who relentlessly fights for the advancement of human rights.

Along with KAWAGIB and Liga ng Kabataang Moro, the group with a crowd of about a thousand, march from Cotabato City State Polytechnic College to Cotabato City Plaza. A short rally and cultural presentation follow showcasing the plights and experiences of the Bangsamoro people under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s bogus presidency. #

PRESS RELEASE
December 10, 2007
For reference: Bai Ali Indayla, National Secretary-General, Mobile # 0921.906.4699

Highlight of the talks is the creation of five (5) joint working groups that will reaffirm GRP-MNLF full commitment to the success of the peace process in Southern Philippines. Each joint working group will be composed of three (3) experts from GRP and MNLF while the OIC Peace Committee for Southern Philippines will serve as facilitators for the meetings.

The working groups will focus five (5) issues of concern, which are Shari’ah and Judiciary, Special Regional Security Force and the Unified Command for the Autonomous Region in Mindanao, Natural Resources and Economic Development, Political System and Representation and Education. The assigned officials are mandated to review implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement in their respective assigned topics.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Regional Treasury (ORT) Umal Kanggu stressed that his office could not able to certify the funding of all proposals thus suggested that the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) should put measures to prioritize funding support.

Members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of each cluster are as follows: Office of the Regional Governor (ORG-ARMM), Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA-ARMM) and Department of Justice (DOJ) will focus on Shari’ah and Judiciary; Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and RLA-ARMM on Special Regional Security Forces and the Unified Command for the Autonomous Region in Mindanao; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and ORG-ARMM chairs Natural Resources and Economic Development area; OPPAP, RLA and ORG on Political System and Representation and National offices of the Department of Education (DepED), Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) including ORG-ARMM on Education.

TWG chairman, Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan, express gratitude to OPAPP for giving the autonomous region opportunity to be involved in the GRP-MNLF peace pact. “We are hopeful that through the creation of TWGs, we can serve better for the aspiration of the Bangsamoro people in the autonomous region,” Governor Zaldy stressed. (bpi-armm)

PRESS RELEASE
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
December 5, 2007 

ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan, the REDPB chairman, presided the meeting and laid down seven (7) matters that require appropriate actions by the board.

The Board first approved methodology to program the P650M annual national assistance provided in the proposed ARMM 2008 budget

Under the Republic Act 9054 also known as the Organic Act for the Expanded ARMM, the national government is mandated to provide an annual assistance to the autonomous region for five (5) years. The government first extended assistance on 2003 and will end in 2008.

Executive Director of the Regional Planning and Development Office (RPDO) Diamadel Dumagay, the REDPB secretary said, “We had only one month to go and should start identifying programs and projects while the regional assembly should pass a public works law and submit to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for consideration.”

Regional Governor Ampatuan as the REDPB chairman was given confidence to program the P650M assistance with the close coordination of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA), provincial governors, and the city mayors.

Second is the adoption of the guidelines of ARMM Medium Term-Regional Development Plan (MTRDP) for 2005-2010 in accordance of the guidelines issued by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

The Board approved and authorized the RPDO as the technical secretariat to coordinate the updating of MTRDP from 2005 to 2010 and the formulation of the ARMM Regional Executive-Legislative Agenda from 2008-2010.

One of the highlights of the meeting is the adoption of the Mindanao Peace and Development Program (MPAD) in which the United States government funds $190 M to Mindanao including ARMM in the next five years until 2012.

On May 18, 2005, the United States and the Philippine governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Mindanao peace and development initiatives. Months earlier this year, the two (2) governments again signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to implement MPAD to cover the entire Mindanao island including the ARMM.

The program is for the economic infrastructure, governance and social services in conflict affected areas of ARMM and response to problem such as conflict management, period resolution, agrarian reform, ancestral domain and organic law modification.

The US-Philippine MoA mandates that ARMM will work closely with the Mindanao Economic and Development Council (MEDCO) as the coordinating oversight agency of the Philippine government for the program implementation in Mindanao.

In the policy guideline of the MPAD, the government will have a separate and distinct implementation mechanism in the area of ARMM. The six-province and two-city autonomous region will be covered by the social, economic and infrastructure program but conflict affected areas are the priority areas. The US government aims to fast track the rehabilitation and more sustained development in the conflicted areas of ARMM.

Meanwhile, some of the Board members questions eligibility of non-government organizations (NGOs) or the service providers contracted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or its partner organizations that undertake the social preparation to any programs implemented in ARMM

The MPAD is part of the parallel mechanism in support to the peace process. The Board tackled to establish a clear criteria and mechanism for the determination of the eligibility of NGOs before becoming service providers for the ARMM.

The REDPB further approved to draft a position paper in programming the implementations of the MPAD for ARMM.

The Board also agreed on the proposed Master Plan and Feasibility Studies for Agricultural Productivity Improvement through Groundwater Irrigation Development in ARMM. The implementing agency of the project is Department of Agriculture with the possible funding of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

REDPB secretary Dumagay stressed that the project is effective in boosting the economy of ARMM, which relies in agricultural economy.

Also agreed by the Board is the proposed plan to establish a regional office of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in ARMM. The autonomous region is a host to improve biggest irrigation systems in Mindanao – the Kabulnan irrigation system and the Malitubog-Maridagao irrigation system, which has a combined irrigated area of 23,000 hectares.

Presently, ARMM irrigation program is covered by three regions: Maguindanao province under Region 12 in which NIA has a provincial office in Midsayap; the Lanao area is covered by Region X and Cagayan de Oro City and the three provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan is under Region IX.

The body also reviewed and adopted the ARMM Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Progress Report

The Philippines is a signatory to the UN Commitment Millennium Summit in the pursuit of the MDG up to 2015. The REDPB have already prepared report years ago as part of the national government’s report to the United Nation.

The MDG’s eight (8) goals are eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, seeking universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, child mortality, improvement of maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and development of global partnership.

Finally, the Board adopted the ARMM Regional Executive Agenda (AREA) Assessment Report as what Governor Zaldy’s pronouncement in his recent State of the Region Address (SORA).

Other matters being approved in the meeting are the proposal that the National Statistics Office (NSO) in Basilan which is presently under Region IX, be under NSO-ARMM; and the adoption of Taw-Tawi vice governor Ruby Sahali-Tan’s project feasibility study of Tawi-Tawi water system.

The P300M water system, Tan said, will be serving the 414 households and industrial usage for the province of Tawi-Tawi, which has a possible funding from Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) and JICA.

Moreover, Sharif Kabunsuan acting provincial governor Ibrahim Ibay and Marawi City mayor Fahad Salik took oath as regular members of the Board.

The 4th REDPB meeting is scheduled on the first quarter of 2008 in Cagayan de Oro City. (bpi-armm)

PRESS RELEASE
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
December 04, 2007