Ensuring Bangsamoro peace process continuity duty of next Congress, says Ferrer By: OPAPP
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Government of the Philippines (GPH) chief negotiator Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer believes it is the responsibility of would-be members of the next Congress to ensure the continuity of the Bangsamoro peace process by refiling and passing the stalled Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) while it was the responsibility of peaceloving voters to elect candidates who would do so.
“Alam natin na yung ihahalal ngayon sa House of Representatives, sila ang kailangan nating manguna sa pagpapatuloy nitong BBL -- yung Bangsamoro Basic Law -- sa pag-aayos niyan at pagtitiyak na isang magandang batas ang mailabas natin (We know that those who will be elected to the House of Representatives, they are the ones who will lead the continuation of the BBL -- the Bangsamoro Basic Law -- its improvement, and ensuring that a meaningful law is passed), said Ferrer in a recent interview with a radio station in Cagayan de Oro city where she attended the Usapang Kapayapan: A Forum for Congressional Candidates. Ferrer highlighted that passing the BBL should be a priority of the 17th Congress considering the collective failure of the last Congress to pass it last February before it adjourned. “[D] apat ipaalala natin sa lahat ng mga tumatakbo na isa itong mahalagang tungkulin ng ating susunod na Kongreso para sa gayon ay magkaroon talaga tayo ng pangmatagalan na good governance at tsaka kapayapaan dito sa Muslim Mindanao (We should remind all those who are running in the election that this is an important responsibility of the next Congress to ensure lasting good governance and peace in Muslim Mindanao).” The GPH chief negotiator explained that the next election would be vital as it would direct the course
of the peace process going forward. “Itong problema na ito, matagal na ito. Hindi naman ito basta-basta mawawala. Kailangan talaga yung active support ng lahat at kung papapatagalin pa natin ito baka lalo talagang lumala ang sitwasyon (This problem, this has been going on for a long time. We need everyone’s active support because if this conflict continues, there is a chance that the situation will worsen).” “Nakita natin yung nangyayari sa ibat-ibang bansa, hindi ba? Iba'tibang mga bombings; mga kabataan na naaakit nitong mga marahas na mga kilusan sa iba't-ibang bahagi ng mundo at ayaw natin mangyari yan. So ganoon yung halaga na binibigay natin dito at sana makita rin yan ng susunod na presidente, bise presidente, ating mga senador at saka yung ating mga congressmen at congresswomen (We are seeing what is happening in other countries, aren’t we? Bombings here and there; youth who are attracted to joining violent movements in different parts of the world and we don’t want those happening here. That’s how important this is and I hope the next president, vice president, the senators, as well as the congressmen and congresswomen will also see that).” Former Secretary Senen Bacani, also a member of the GPH negotiating panel for talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), added that it
was imperative for the voting public to think about peace and development in choosing their next leaders and that was why it was important to engage all candidates as early as now. “Importante malaman ng taong bayan kung ano ang kanya-kanyang opinyon tungkol sa prosesong pangkapayapaan para matulungan sila para sa pag desisyon kung sino ang iboboto nila sa susunod na eleksyon (It is important for the general public to know the opinions of the candidates on the peace process to help the public decide who they will vote for in the upcoming election).” Addressing the candidates directly, Bacani said that the next leaders must prioritize the peace process in order to establish a just and lasting peace in the country. “Inaasahan namin na kung sino man ang mahalal sa iba-ibang posisiyon sa susunod na eleksiyon, sana ay ipagpatuloy nila itong peace process. Dahil ito rin naman ang nakikita nating solusiyon (We are expecting
that whoever will get elected to the the different political positions in the upcoming election will continue the peace process. Because this is the only viable solution we have right now).” “Kaya importante na ituloy natin yung proseso sa lalong madaling panahon para in the end, we will finally achieve a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. Sinasabi nga nila, without justice and reconciliation, there will be no true peace (It is imperative that we continue the process so that in the end, we will finally achieve a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. As they say, without justice and reconciliation, there will be no true peace),” he concluded. Usapang Kapayaapan was organized by the Philippine Information Agency in coordination with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). The forumseries aims to determine the stand of congressional hopefuls with regard the stalled bill and the Bangsamoro peace process.
DTI now registers BMBE free of charge By: Laurence D. Pradia
MALAYBALAY CITY — Fourteen years after enactment, registration for Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises (BMBE) can now be processed at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Negosyo Centers free of charge as contained in the Memorandum Order released recently.
DTI-Bukidnon Provincial Director Ermedio J. Abang confirmed receipt of the Memorandum Order early this March 2016 from the DTI Regional Operations Group authorizing all the DTI regional and provincial offices through the Negosyo Center – including that of Bukidnon, to process BMBE registration. As stated in the memorandum, the authority to issue the Certificate of Authority (CA) for BMBE is now transferred from the Office of the Treasurer in the cities/municipalities to DTI through the Negosyo Centers. The provision however clarified that the Office of the Treasurer in the cities/municipalities can still continue to issue the Certificate of Authority (CA) pending the issuance of the Joint Department Administrative Order (JDAO) to be signed by the Secretaries of the DTI, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department
of Finance (DOF), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Abang finds this as an opportunity to further expand the services of DTI encouraging the informal sector to join the mainstream society. “All of the requirements together with the processes remain similar, however to save time and effort, we encourage submission of complete requirements upon registration otherwise it won’t be accepted and processed,” Abang said. Republic Act 9178 or the BMBE Act of 2002 recognized the role of BMBEs as essential driving forces for the country’s economic development. It sees them as ‘seedbeds of Filipino entrepreneurial talents and strengthening them would increase job generation, provide livelihood and augment Filipinos’ quality of life.
RDC-X holds sector consultation on NorMin’s FY 2017 priority By: Peleta B. Abejo
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –The Regional Development Council in Northern Mindanao (RDC-X) held simultaneous sector committee consultations on the FY 2017 priority programs and projects of 26 agencies on April 7, 2016 in Cagayan de Oro city.
About 200 representatives of government agencies, local government units, state universities and colleges, and non-government organizations participated in the review of the FY 2017 budget proposals of the regional offices of DOLE, DILG, CHED, DOH, DepEd, TESDA, NHA, DTI, BFAR, DA, DENR, DAR, MGB, EMB, DPWH, LTO, MARINA, PPA-PMOs, NTC and NIA. The 2017 budgets of six State Universities/Colleges (CPSC, NMSC, MOSCAT, CMU, MSU-IIT and MOSCAT) were also presented. RDC-X Secretary and NEDA-X Assistant Regional Director Mae Ester T. Guiamadel presented the FY 2017 Regional Budget Priority Framework to ensure that the proposed agency budgets support priority infrastructure and socioeconomic projects identified in the Regional Development Plan, and consistent with the regional budget prioritization criteria in terms of relevance, effectiveness and propriety. The sectoral committee consultations were presided over by Dr. Erlinda Burton (RIMCU) for Macro and Development Administration; Director Alfonso P. Alamban (DOST-X) for Economic Development; Mayor Nelieta Q. Noval (Tubod, Lanao del Norte) for Social Development; and Mayor Philip T. Tan (Tangub City) for Infrastructure/Utilities Development.
Recommendations included the following: ensuring the inclusion of peacebuilding programs/ projects for conflict-affected areas; considering the needs of indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities (PWDs); and strict implementation of the mandatory provisions in the Joint DBM and concerned agencies budget circulars such as the 1 percent of the total budget for PWDs and senior citizens, 5 percent for Gender and Development, and at most 20 percent of the 2016 budgets for Bottom-up-Budgeting (BUB) projects. Mayor Tan also pushed for the inclusion of the proposed Complementary Strategic Investment Program (CSIP) for the Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) Project in the FY 2017 budgets of concerned agencies. The CSIP contains projects that would facilitate the implementation and operation of the PBB and the development of its direct impact areas. The final FY 2017 budget proposals of Region X agencies will be presented to the RDC-X during its 108th Full Council meeting on April 12, 2016 and to the RDC Advisory Committee on April 15, 2016.
Lanao del Sur PPOC condemns ambush of Marawi mayor by Apipa P. Bagumbaran
MARAWI CITY, – The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) condemned the attempted assassination of City Mayor Fahad “Pre” Salic early Saturday morning.
Mayor Salic and his driver, while onboard a red Ford Ranger, were ambushed at around 1:55 a.m. by unidentified gunmen in front of the Pryce Plaza Hotel along Masterson Avenue, Barangay Carmen in Cagayan de Oro City. The mayor sustained gunshot wounds at his buttock and leg while
his driver suffered injuries at his right face. The PPOC immediately convened a meeting and approved a resolution condemning the attack. In the resolution, the Council called on investigative agencies of the government to direct speedy and thorough investigation of the incident and bring perpetrators to justice. It also directed the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office and the Marawi City Police to conduct independent and parallel investigation. The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office has created a Special Investigation Task Group during a case conference Saturday afternoon. As of press time, Mayor Salic and his driver are recuperating in a hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.