New Zealand opens full scholarships to IP, Muslim applicants from Mindanao

Local groups voice concern on JICA’s integrity, accountability

Several local organizations wrote an open letter to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expressing their concerns over the agency’s integrity and lack of accountability concerning waste management in Davao City.

In the letter shared to Edge Davao, environmentalists and youth groups expressed deeply concerned about the integrity of the statements recently released by JICA regarding the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project and for its lack of accountability on past and present efforts in promoting and investing in false solutions to waste management and climate in Davao City.

“In the articles, it has disclaimed its support for the WTE incinerator project as it impedes the rights of affected communities to receive adequate information, to be heard, to seek redress and file complaints to accountable institutions,” it said.

The groups are referring to the statement issued recently by JICA reported by some local media outlets stating that it has not been supporting the WTE project in Davao City.

In 2019, a broadsheet reported that “the city government (Davao) has already signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Finance (DoF) for the implementation of the project. The report even quoted former vice mayor Bernie Al-ag that “it will be funded by the national government through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with a grant from the

Japanese government.”

The groups stated that since 2010, JICA has been instrumental in the entry of WTE incinerators in Davao City. The development assistance which began as a collaboration program with the private sector for disseminating Japanese technology commenced in March 2018 with the signing of the Japanese Government and the Republic of the Philippines a grant agreement worth P2.052 billion to fund the construction and operation of FLOCAL, P6

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The government of New Zealand is offering full scholarships to indigenous people and Muslim applicants in Mindanao.

Dyan Mabunga Rodriguez, New Zealand aid manager, told media on Friday that the scholarship is open to all applicants particularly those from indigenous people and Muslim communities to study courses that can contribute to the Mindanao agenda such as good governance specifically on peace and conflict studies, indigenous studies, climate change, agriculture, and renewable energy.

Rodriguez added that they have 16 allocations for masters and PhD scholarships that would be fully funded by the government of New Zealand.

“We are happy to announce that we have this scholarship program. This is not the first time New Zealand is offering scholarships to Filipinos. We have over a thousand scholars in the past years. However, there is a firm resolve to encourage applications from indigenous people and Bangsamoro Muslim practitioners and scholars,” she said during the Kapihan sa

PIA at NCCC-Victoria Plaza on Friday.

She said currently, three scholars from the Bangsamoro community have availed on the said scholarships.

“We hardly have any representation from the indigenous community. As a tri-people of Mindanao, we encourage representation. We are providing a platform for representation and to champion inclusion and diversity,” Rodriguez said.

New Zealand Ambassador Peter Kell said the scholarship will provide young Mindanaoans an opportunity to study and experience life in New Zealand.

“This is not just about studying in New Zealand but also learning how New Zealand and New Zealanders see the world. We are trying to open New Zealand to all Mindanaoans, particularly those who are from indigenous and Moro communities,” he said.

The application started on February 1, 2023 and will end on February 28 (New Zealand time). Interested applicants are encouraged to apply online. All the information can be found on the New Zealand Embassy Facebook Page.

In securing an additional budget of PHP150 million for the second phase of its new fish port complex and PHP2 billion for the 2.25-kilometer road access and coastal highway:

Mussolini Lidasan Bangsamoro Speaks

Challenges Faced By Former Rebels Turned Government Leaders

As we move forward in this time of transition in the Bangsamoro, let’s look at world leaders who are former rebels turned politicians and learn from the challenges that they encountered.. By looking at their life experiences in the revolution and in terms of governance, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority may learn some lessons and ways of uniting our people.

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist who served as the country’s first black president from 1994 to 1999. He was a key figure in the struggle against apartheid, a system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa, and was imprisoned for 27 years for his activism. Upon his release from prison in 1990, Mandela worked to peacefully negotiate an end to apartheid and was elected as president in South Africa’s first fully democratic elections in 1994. He is widely regarded as a symbol of reconciliation and is remembered for his commitment to forgiveness, human rights, and social justice. After leading the anti-apartheid movement, Mandela faced the challenge of unifying a divided nation and implementing policies to address racial inequalities.

Aung San Suu Kyi (born 1945) is a Burmese politician, diplomat, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who served as the State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) from 2016 to 2021. She is best known for her pro-democracy activism and her leadership of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Suu Kyi rose to international prominence during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar, where she became a symbol of resistance against the country’s military dictatorship. She was placed under house ar- rest for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, but was eventually released and went on to win the 2015 general election, becoming the country’s first female head of government. Despite her reputation as a champion of human rights, Suu Kyi has faced criticism for her handling of the Rohingya crisis, in which the Myanmar military has been accused of widespread human rights violations against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Thus, after leading the pro-democracy movement, Suu Kyi faced challenges in balancing her commitment to human rights and democracy with the need to maintain stability and improve relations with the military.

Fidel Castro (1926-2016) was a Cuban communist revolutionary and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and as the President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers from 1976 to 2008. He was a key figure in the Cuban Revolution, leading a guerrilla movement that overthrew the U.S.backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Castro established a communist state in Cuba, and the country became closely aligned with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Despite facing opposition and numerous attempts to overthrow him, including the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Castro remained in power until 2008, when he stepped down due to poor health. He was a controversial figure, revered by some as a charismatic leader and symbol of resistance against U.S. imperialism, while criticized by others as a repressive dictator who violated human rights and stifled political dissent.

Muammar Gaddafi (19422011) was a Libyan politician and revolutionary who served as the country’s head of state from 1969 until his overthrow and death in

2011. He seized power in a bloodless military coup in 1969 and ruled Libya as an authoritarian dictator for 42 years. Gaddafi pursued a mix of socialist and pan-Arab policies, and became known for his eccentric and controversial behavior. He was a major player on the international stage, and was both praised and criticized for his leadership and his role in supporting various revolutionary and militant groups around the world. During the Arab Spring of 2011, Gaddafi faced a popular uprising that quickly escalated into a full-scale civil war, and he was eventually overthrown and killed by opposition forces with the assistance of NATO-led airstrikes.

Yasser Arafat (1929-2004) was a Palestinian political leader who served as the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1969 until his death in 2004. He was a key figure in the struggle for Palestinian independence and the recognition of a Palestinian state. Arafat co-founded the Fatah political party in the late 1950s and played a major role in the Palestine resistance movement against Israeli occupation. He was instrumental in establishing the PLO as the main representative of the Palestinian people and in securing international recognition for the Palestinian cause. In 1994, Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres for their efforts to reach a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. Despite this, the peace process broke down and negotiations between the two sides were difficult throughout his life. Arafat’s leadership and commitment to the Palestinian cause made him a symbol of resistance for many Palestinians, but also led to criticism and accusations of corruption and terrorism.

These examples of political