ARMM governor extends aid to blast victims in Sulu

ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-ARMM extends relief assistance to victims of the recent bomb blast in Jolo and to the displaced families in the armed conflicts in Kalingalan Caluang both towns in the province of Sulu.

According to DSWD-ARMM Secretary Ruby Sahali, the Regional Governor will be handing over close to P500 thousand initial amount to finance food assistance and support other necessary aids to the victims.

The bomb explosion in the Sulu Consumers Cooperative store last March 27, 2006 has killed 5 people and injured 22 others. Regional Governor Ampatuan has already given orders to Philippine National Police-ARMM Director PS/Supt. Akmad Mamalinta to conduct a thorough and expedient investigation of the blast and possibly bring the culprit behind bars of justice.

Secretary Sahali said that she has immediately directed the provincial social welfare officer to provide necessary assistance to the victims upon receiving information on the blast from the latter.

“A few hours after the incident, the DSWD-ARMM through its provincial office in Sulu was able to give food assistance to injured victims and families of those who died in the explosion."

Meanwhile, around 1,000 families were displaced in the municipality of Kalingalan Caluaang when an armed conflict ensued between feuding local politicians.

Sporadic armed confrontations between the warring parties have been ongoing for the past two weeks. Among the heavily affected areas are the barangays of Karungdong, Kanlagay and Pitogo.

Regional Governor Ampatuan, however, is making all necessary ways to pacify and peacefully settle the conflict.

The Regional Reconciliation and Unification Commission (RRUC) and the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) were also mobilized to complement the pacification efforts on the ground.

“We want this problem be settled peacefully because it affects our innocent civilians. Besides, this run counter to our efforts to unify our leaders in the region," Governor Ampatuan said.

The DSWD proceeded to the area on Friday to carry out relief operation to affected families after receiving security clearance from authorities. No less than Secretary Sahali headed the relief operation.

“We are doubling our efforts to prove to our constituents that the regional government is sincere in its pursuit to help them overcome the negative impacts brought about by distressing incidents such as these two,"said Sahali.

The department is likewise closely working with non-government and civic organizations to enhance the delivery of basic and urgent social service. (BPI-ARMM)

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers her keynote speech during the 2006 Philippines Development Forum (PDF) at Taal Vista Lodge in Tagaytay City Thursday (March 30). The Chief Executive called on the investors in the forum to begin pouring their investments now in Mindanao "so that the final mile to lasting peace" in the region is made more smoothly. Also in photo are (from left) National Economic and Development Authority Secretary-General Romulo Neri, World Bank Representative Joachin Von Amberg and Finance Secretary Margarito Teves. (OPS-NIB)

PGMA to investors: Provide your aid for Mindanao

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appealed to investors who plan to put up businesses in Mindanao to begin pouring their investments now so that the "final mile to lasting peace in Mindanao is made more smoothly."

Keynoting the 2006 Philippines Development Forum (PDF) at the Taal Vista Lodge here, the President likened her vision of peace in Mindanao to a journey already at its last mile "when the destination is in sight but the winds of resistance are blowing most fiercely."

"Therefore, to help us through this last mile more smoothly, I want to make a personal appeal to all of you who plan to provide aid to Mindanao as peace dawns: Please consider providing your aid now even as we await the final signing of a final peace accord as several nations have already done under the Mindanao Trust Fund of the World Bank," she said.

The President pointed out that this "proactive gesture of generosity and confidence will put more air in our sails at a pivotal moment in our journey as we strive to reach the safe harbor of peace in Mindanao."

She stressed that with the help of the proponents of PDF, peace in Mindanao before the year ends is achievable.

The PDF is the primary mechanism of the Government for facilitating substantive policy dialogue among stakeholders on the country's development agenda.

It also serves as a process for developing consensus and generating commitments among different stakeholders toward critical actionable items of the Government's reform agenda.

The PDF evolved from the Consultative Group Meetings, held every 18 months or so among the Government and members of the international development partners community, which together comprise the Philippine Consultative Group (CG).

The CG is co-chaired by the Philippine Government, represented by the Secretary of the Department of Finance, and the World Bank. (PRESS RELEASE)

IMAGE OF THE DAYPearls and gem stones in the southern Philippines. Buy It Now

Product dev't fund earmarked for ZamboPen SMEs
text DARWIN T. WEE

The small-and-medium-scale- enterprises (SMEs) in Zamboanga peninsula will benefit from a half-million peso government-sponsored product development program this year, the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) regional office here said.

Trade Assistant Regional Director Sitti Amina Jain said the fund was approved in early February purposely to provide the existing and potential SME entrepreneurs in Zamboanga peninsula "with services in product and package design and development to create and sustain a competitive edge in the domestic and export markets."

The P500,000-program for local products is also part of the preparations for the trade and exposition to be held during 15th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon), in which the Western Mindanao region, specifically Zamboanga city, will host from August 31 to September 2.

"The funds will be used to showcase local products to lure foreign and domestic investors and buyers in the upcoming Minbizcon," she said.

The money is intended to fund all the product development activities such as research on materials, processes, and technologies to full-scale introduction of a product to the market.

"This includes product design and development, package design and development, product technology research and development, design and technical information, and design library," Ms. Jain said.

She said at least 48 local products under the DTI's "one-town, one project" in Zamboanga peninsula were identified to avail of the product development program.

Among the existing products are bottled sardines and dried fish and for the emerging products that include abaca, tiger grass for souvenir and gift items, and bamboo furniture to name a few.

The DTI regional office will also tap two experts from the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines and the private sectors to help provide product designs advice and improve the quality and marketability of the local products.

"The overall objective of this project is to raise the competitiveness of the existing and emerging products in the Zamboanga peninsula. This will also enable the SME sector in the region to move towards improved standards of quality, efficiency and environmental performance in both operations and product design," she said.

Ms. Jain said the program is also part of the National SME DevelopmentAgenda that aims to expand promotion and assist SMEs in productquality and market.

The SME sector is the backbone of the Philippine economy. It comprisesabout 99.6% of all registered firms nationwide employs, 69.9% of thelabor force, and contributes 32% of the national economic output. (ZS)

Zamcelco director fears consumers will pay Napocor’s $ 1.5 billion debt

Zamboanga Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) district director Noel Tarrazona has exposed to mediamen a document showing Napocor had borrowed $ 800 million last year and it has also announced that it will borrow another $ 700 million this year or a total debt of $ 1.5 billion or P 76.5 billion from its foreign creditors.

Tarrazona described Napocor’s move as alarming and expressed fears that consumers might again be the ones paying this foreign debt by passing these charges to them.

“We want to ask Napocor how will this money be spent and who will pay all these debts,” Tarrazona said.

The document also showed that foreign debts of Napocor now add to $ 9.1 billion. This does not include its obligations to local creditors, which also amount to billion of pesos, thus, Napocor’s foreign and domestic debts total about one third of our total debts.

“What we fear here is that the government might make electric cooperatives including Zamcelco a collector of people’s money to pay Napocor’s debt,” Tarrazona said.

Tarrazona said that he already brought this issue to Zamcelco board President Gilbert Alvarez for possible board action.

A few years ago, consumers had launched mounting complaints when Power Purchased Adjustment charges were imposed on consumers monthly electric bills.

“If this is the case, then we expect another round of power rate increase and this will burden ordinary consumers again,” a concerned consumer said. (PRESS RELEASE)

Regional forum on the comprehensive peace process in Zamboanga City. OPAPP Sec. Jesus Dureza (standing), Mayor Celso Lobregat and Bishop Efraim Tendero, Consultative Commision member.

Zamboanga rejects inclusion in ‘Bangsamoro State’
text & photo HADER GLANG

Zamboanguenos have strongly rejected the campaign of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for inclusion of Zamboanga City in the coverage of the proposed “Bangsamoro Homeland” and its juridical entity.

This was evident during the consultation Monday, dubbed as the Regional Forum on the Comprehensive Peace Process, conducted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) with various stakeholders in key cities in Mindanao.

Maintaining that Bangsamoro juridical entity should not have any jurisdiction over the city, Mayor Celso Lobregat said, “We are here to ask once more, leave Zamboanga City alone in peace. The ancestral domain issue is only being used to expand ARMM.”

“We are all Filipinos. We are all Zamboanguenos. We should be united. There should be no move to dismember any part of the city,” he said, and voiced out that the Bangsamoro Homeland will not solve the peace problem in Mindanao but divide further its people.

At the forum, members of the City Council of Zamboanga as well as some political leaders from Isabela City, Basilan and so with Pagadian City and Sibugay Province also voiced their opposition and presented their resolutions to OPAPP Secretary Jesus Dureza.

Vice Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco opened her salvo with a categorical question pointed at Dureza where she asked the peace process presidential adviser if Zamboanga City will be under the MILF.

The business sector of the city also submitted a strong opposition against the inclusion of the city in Bangsamoro juridical entity. The Association of Barangay chairmen of the city led by its president Councilor Abdurahman Nuño also presented a resolution signed by all its members expressing a similar objection.

Congressman Erbie Fabian said that not only Zamboanga City should not be included but also the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Pagadian, Dapitan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Isabela City.

Dureza accepted all the resolutions and promised that it will be considered when the panel meets again. “The government will consolidate all points from the forums and will be considered by the panel while negotiating peace with the MILF.”

He assured the locals that the government peace talks in Mindanao are open. He tried to ally fears that secret talks are going on between Manila and the MILF, saying: "The government is transparent in the peace talks with the MILF and there is nothing to hide to the people about the peace process.”

Responding to Zamboanga’s opposition, Jun Mantawil, chief of the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat, lambasted Lobregat for being too arrogant by deliberately paying no heed to what is already established by facts of history.

“One cannot undo what history has done already,” he said at the MILF's official website.“The world will not yield to the caprices of those who are ungrateful to the past.”

He said in creating the Moro Province in 1903, Zamboanga which included the present-day Zamboanga City, was not only made a component district but the latter was even made at one time or another its capital.The other districts were Cotabato, Lanao, Sulu, and Davao.

Security was tight at the Zamboanga City Coliseum where the three-hour forum was held.

Mantawil also clarified that the MILF Peace Panel has so far did not come out with any details of the recently-held 11th GRP-MILF Exploratory Talks, saying the two Parties have not finished discussing the finer points of the Ancestral Domain Aspect of the Tripoli Agreement of 2001.

“We only came out with general statement and no details, because the two Parties have ended their talks inconclusively and any statement to this effect is speculative.We have to meet very soon to conclude and come out with a joint statement.”

However, no fixed date for resumption is given, as this would depend largely on the Government of Malaysia being the facilitator of the talks, he clarified.

Over 2,000 participants including representatives from LGUs, civil society organizations, religious sector, IPs organizations and academe in Western Mindanao attended the forum. (ZS)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Bombing in Sulu. A Soldier from the U.S. Joint Special Operation Task Force (JSOTF) assists a Filipino victim of a bomb blast 27 March 2006 in Jolo. At least 9 people died and more than 20 were injured in the attack.

No U.S. personnel were injured. The explosive device was planted on the ground floor of a building along a busy street in downtown Jolo, which is located in the southern part of the country.

Colonel James Linder, Commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force in the Philippines reacted to the bombing, saying “We deplore the targeting and killing of innocent civilians. With the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we are committed to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of the Sulu region. We at JSOTF-P stand side by side with the people of the Philippines in the battle against lawlessness and terrorism in this region.”

U.S. forces, consistent with the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement, are in Jolo to advise and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

With their AFP counterparts and non-governmental agencies they also provide humanitarian and civic assistance in Sulu. In the recently completed Balikatan 2006 joint military exercise, Philippine and U.S. military forces worked together on a number of civic action projects on the island, including provision of medical, dental, veterinary services to thousands of residents, as well as construction and renovation of schools, wells, and other infrastructure. (PRESS RELEASE)

Abu Sayyaf extortion is seen behind Sulu bombing
text HADER GLANG

Extortion from suspected Abu Sayyaf group is seen as the possible motive behind the bomb explosion Monday that ripped through a cooperative store in Jolo, Sulu, where 9 people were killed and twenty-four others injured.

A government radio station reported that prior to the blast, which took place around 1:15 p.m., the office of cooperative store received an extortion letter that demands unspecified amount and threatens to bomb the establishment if it refuses to give in.

“We will give example to those who did not cooperate. Right now tell the owner of coop there is a bomb inside the store,” read some words in the extortion letter, signed by a certain Abu Abdul Gawi, expert bomber of Sulu, the report said.

Sources said the bomb was planted in front of the baggage counter of Consumer Cooperative Store at Sanchez St. in between the Cathedral and Notre Dame College, and it exploded while authorities were responding to an information of bomb plot in the area.

Nine people, mostly sales workers of the cooperative store, died on the spot while 24 others were injured. Six of the slain victims were identified as Nasser Hajirol, Maser Saipuddin, Jesus Cabrera, Marivic Manuel, Mokarsa Abdurahim, and Titing Nafisa. Three other slain victims whose faces were deformed by the blast were unidentified.

The wounded victims were Sitti Julma Hajiri, Marissa Sindayin, Marifer Sindayin, Rex Acosta, Lorena Ibrahim, Mudzna Hamid, Hadja Asma Baddiri, Sanita Waldapabo, Joseph Amo, Guialin Cayado, Oscar Sontelenosa, Carmina de Guzman, Mary Concepcion de Guzman, Gabriel Flores, Thelma Kasim, Rafayza Kasim, Maria Socorro Doronilla, Benhamin Timbayan, Nurhima Adin, Jaydani Adin, Asula Noriya, Carita Guarda, Balama Jubahani, and Nadzra Basiri.

Bomb probers said based on their initial findings, the bombing is similar to the bombing last month that ripped through a videoke bar near the a military headquarters, where a civilian died and injured more than a dozen people.

Sources said suspects in the bombing used more or less 5 kilos of ammonium nitrate as evident by the extent of damage on the store. Pieces of electronic device to include parts of cellular phone were recovered from the blast site.

Earlier reports said that a marine soldier suspected of being involved in the bombing was taken into custody, but was released after hours of grilling by police due to lack of evidence.

Colonel Juancho Saban, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade, denied involvement of his men in the blast, saying that one of his men was arrested for possession of firearm and not due to the bombing incident.

“We hope we remain calm. Let our authorities do their job and investigate this condemnable happening,” Saban said. “We hope the people understand the real situation in our town because there are forces wanted us to be divided. Let’s not allow this.”

According to police Sr. Supt. Ahirom Ajirin, provincial police commander, "The bomb was placed inside a bag, which was left at the baggage counter of the store. The explosion was so powerful, a concrete wall of the store collapsed.”

Ajirin said police and rescuers sifted through the debris of the collapsed wall because more victims were trapped under it.

No one claimed responsibility for the blast and it was not immediately known if the attack was connected to the ongoing military offensive against the Al Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

"We are still investigating who were behind the blast," Maj. Gamal Hayudini, spokesman of the Southern Command. "We don't know if the bombing was perpetrated by Abu Sayyaf. Our explosive ordnance team is still investigating this.”

The blast occured two weeks after government troops captured an Abu Sayyaf weapons courier Julkaram Hadjail on Jolo and security forces killed several militants in a separate clash on the island.

Security forces also recovered early this month a cache of Abu Sayyaf explosives and homemade bombs near a highway in Jolo's Indanan town where troops regularly pass.

Officials said the cache included plastic containers filled with ammonium nitrates and TNT and all rigged to electronic timers and cellular phones to trigger detonation when scavengers discovered them near a garbage dump on KM. 3 in the village of Tagbak.

The highway links the towns of Indanan, Maimbung and Talipao which the military regularly use to transport troops.The Abu Sayyaf is on a US list of terrorist organizations and Washington has offered as much as $10 million bounty for the capture of the group's known leaders.It is blamed largely for bombing, assassination, kidnapping and extortion activities. (ZS)

Mindanao solon favors shift to unicameral parliamentary form of Philippine government
text & photo HADER GLANG

House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Abdulgani “Gerry” Salapuddin is in favor for a shift to a parliamentary system and unicameral parliament from the present bicameral presidential system of government.

“There are more opportunities in front of us if we can shift to parliamentary than stay in the presidential that is not really working,” said Salapuddin, who is now in his last term as congressman of the Lone District of Basilan.

Salapuddin made this statement of support during his 54th birthday celebration last Sunday, March 25, that was held at his fish farm in Buwalan, Sumagdang, Isabela City attended by supporters, including religious leaders and local government officials.

Salapuddin, a former Basilan-based MNLF commander turned politician, said one thing good in the parliamentary system is that there is a fusion or integration of the executive and the legislative, where the prime minister runs the day-to-day governmental affairs of the republic.

The Basilan lawmaker explained that under the system of Malaysia, Thailand, India and all other European countries to include United Kingdom, the president reins and becomes symbol but it does not govern.

“It is quicker to pass legislative measure in a parliamentary system because we only have one house, thus the conversions of Lamitan into a city and the Basilan State College into a university are faster,” according to Salapuddin.

Salapuddin joined senior House leaders and other pro-Charter Change in calling the abolition of the two-chamber legislature, which he described as a built-in mechanism for obstruction in the passage of bill.

“For as long as the Senate does not act on our bills it can never become laws even if it is urgently needed in the countryside or in our district. That is one problem commonly met in a bicameral (presidential) legislature.”

“But in a parliamentary system because you only have one house of parliament, the moment it is approved it only go to the president for signature but even if the president will not sign it after 30 days it becomes law.”

Meanwhile, Salapuddin said that the President, by freely sacrificing her popularity for Cha-cha, has shown her seriousness and determination to fulfill her campaign promise to push needed constitutional amendments during her incumbency.

He recalled that in 2004, the President "sacrificed her popularity for the economic reforms needed to address our fiscal deficit problem. That sacrifice paid off as we were able to sustain our budget deficit at a manageable level through improved tax collection and more savings through prudent spending."

He said the President’s action will have a positive impact on ongoing initiatives to push Charter change. "This will embolden and encourage more of our lawmakers, their constituents, and local executives to pursue Cha-cha whatever the odds."

Local officials on Monday launched a nationwide campaign, called the People’s Initiative and Referendum, to find out whatever is the pleasure of people and to enlighten them on the proposed specific amendments to the Constitution.(ZS)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

From Left: 54th EBDE Commanding Officer Col. Jorge Nomos, DSWD-ARMM Administrative and Finance Division Chief Hja. Sambay Salik-Suwaib, Malabang Mayor Anwar Beruar Balindong and BPI-ARMM Executive Director Samson Gogo lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the turn over of the DSWD Pabahay Project in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

Malabang fire victims in Lanao del Sur get 85 core shelters

Malabang residents whose houses were among those damaged in a fire that hit some areas in the municipality more than a year ago breathe a sigh of relief as the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) turned over 85 core shelter units to selected beneficiaries.

The core shelter units provided by the department to the fire victims now totals to 139 with a budget of 3.475 Million. The department had previously turned over 54 core shelter units September of last year to some of the fire victims.

The funding for the project came from the national office of the DSWD and its construction were undertaken by the 54th Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army. Each core shelter unit has an area of 15.12 square-meters.

Malabang Mayor Anwar Berua Balindong said that he is very grateful to the assistance extended by the DSWD to his constituents.

“We are very thankful to the attention that has been given by the DSWD to the fire victims.The relief assistance that was carried out by the department right after the onslaught of the fire and the core shelters provided to some of the fire victims will go a long way in helping them re-establish their lives.”

The barangays of Banday and Chinatown, whose residents are among the poorest in the municipality, were two of the areas heavily ravaged by the fire.

“The ARMM Regional Government is quite pleased with the sincerity of the national government in its commitment to complement the various development agenda being undertaken in the region. The support that they have been giving coupled with those coming from donor communities embolden our vision of making a difference in the ARMM,” says Bureau of Public Information Executive Director Samson Gogo, who represented ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan.

An improved delivery of basic social services throughout the region most especially in depressed areas is among the priority area of concern of Governor Ampatuan.

Ampatuan’s commitment to this goal has been repeatedly manifested by the quick response of the regional government to recent man-made and natural calamities as well as the expeditious implementation of key projects intended to address basic social issues confronting constituents of the region.

According to Hja. Sambay Salik-Suwaib, Chief of the Administrative and Finance Division of DSWD-ARMM, the coming up of the pabahay project is a way of providing assistance to the victims who barely have the means to rebuild their homes.

“We fervently hope that the help that our agency is extending to them can give them renewed desire and strength to go on with their lives despite the tragedy,” she said.

ARMM Regional Vice-Governor Anzarudin Adiong said that the regional government is persistent in pursuing various socio-economic development plan that will have considerable impact to the pressing problems in ARMM in due time. (BPI-ARMM)

ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan (right) discusses the water sytem projects for ARMM with DPWH Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan, Cabinet Secretary Mustapha Sambolawan, DPWH-ARMM OIC Rasul Abpi and Legal Adviser Arnel Datukon. (BPI-ARMM)

ARMM conducts symposium on fight against women discrimination

A symposium was conducted Thursday on the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) led by the Regional Commission on the Bangsamoro Women (RCBW) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in partnership with the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCFRW) to discuss current vital issues and concerns that affect the status of the women.

ARMM Governo Zaldy Ampatuan in his message during the symposium delivered by ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Oscar Sampulna said that “this administration believes in women as partners in building a responsive and more developed region.

“We value oneness”, Sampulna said even as he stressed the importance of women’s participation and efforts in all the programs being undertaken by the regional government.

He said that the Regional Governor has women as members in his cabinet. “This is a concrete example and manifestation that women are given equal opportunities and this administration believes in the capabilities of our women as leaders and partners in development.”

Governo Ampatuan in his first State of the Region Address has committed to support initiatives that will promote and protect the rights and welfare of women including the children and the full implementation of RA 9262 known as “Anti-Violence Against Women and the Children Act of 2004.”

Women officials, heads of offices and focal persons on Gender and Development (GAD) of the regional government from its line agencies participated in the symposium and representatives from the non-government organizations and other stakeholders including the men sector.

NCRFW Commissioner Florencia T. Cabatingan in her message said that the government has obligations to protect women against all forms of abuses. “We have many laws to address issues of women and to protect them.”

Cabatingan stressed that the problem seen by her group on the implementation of this laws is that these laws are not articulated well to women and the advocacy campaign is less.

“We must express it fully. We have many laws for the protection of women and our GAD budget of 5% should be used on the promotion of this advocacy. Our women and our people should be aware of these laws,” Cabatingan said.

Solo Parent Law and the RA 9262 are concrete efforts of the government to protect women from any form of abuses.

This year’s Women’s Month celebration has a theme: CEDAW ng Bayan Karapatan ng Kababaihan!” The celebration commemorates the 25th Anniversary of CEDAW as ratified by the Philippine government.

RCBW-ARMM Chairperson Tharhata Ampatuan challenged all the women to make a difference in their respective fields. “Let us make this day a start of a positive difference and let us be united in all our efforts in advancing women empowerment.” (BPI-ARMM)

City Council rejects another anti-mining petition
text & photos HADER GLANG

The City Council on Thursday junked another motion that seeks to expunge the controversial resolution 202, which endorses the Environmental Clearance Certificate of Linktone International Mining Corporation.

The majority bloc rejected the move by 10 votes, citing the adoption of resolution earlier, which was already forwarded to the Environmental Management Bureau for study and recommendation.

Ten pro-mining councilors had on March 9 approved resolution 202, triggering a protest from residents of Vitali and religious leaders of Archdiocese of Zamboanga, who elevated the issue to Malacanang after an appeal to recall the resolution was rejected.

On Marcch 16, Councilor Cesar Jimenez, one of the leading anti-mining voices, filed a motion to rescind or expunge resolution 202, invoking Rule 17, Section 18, of the Rules of Procedure of the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council)

In an interview, Jimenez expressed disappointment that in spite of all the efforts to have resolution 202 withdrawn and later expunged or rescinded, there was no change of heart on the part of the majority members.

“It was our last attempt and remedy to have resolution 202 to be expunged from the records of the council, but as expected we did not get a favorable vote from the council, so the resolution stays,” he told reporters.

The pro-mining councilors said they upheld the resolution to show that the city is open for investment and for the EMB to come up a thorough study on the ecological effect of the mining and the Linktone’s operation.

“We want to show that there is due process,” said Councilor Juan “Kim Elago. “We have a separation of church and state and to question our wisdom is uncalled for.”

Councilor Asbi Edding said he is convinced of the benefits the large-scale mining investment would bring in to the city. “I am in favor because this will bring employment to our people. This will improve the quality of life of our people.

Earlier, the majority members of the City Council stood firm to their decision, saying that they will not succumb to the church's protest even if this threatens their political carrier in the 2007 elections. (ZS)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

The aftermath of fire in the urban village of Zamboanga City.

Fire in Zamboanga destroys over P50 million properties
text & photos HADER GLANG

Thousands of people face a grim situation after a fire razed their homes in the urban village of Zamboanga City, just few meters from a university, residents and regional fire officials said.

Three people were taken to hospital for slight injuries before the fire was extinguished after 2,000 houses in Barangay Camino Nuevo were destroyed Thursday night, leaving hundreds of families homeless just after 6:30 p.m., the officials said.

“The fire was too fast and it spread to many houses,” said Norma Miranda, 52, an apartment tenant who said that she still still looking for her husband since last night (Thursday) fire. “Nothing left for us except a bag.”

City Fire Marshall Senior Inspector Janice Espero said a fallen and unattended candle apparently caused the fire which swiftly spread through the congested area where most houses were made of wood and light materials.

“An elderly woman asked her grandchild to light candle in the altar when the fire occurred,” Espero said.

She clarified that the area that was affected by fire reached to 5 hectares and not more than 10, as earlier reported.

Authorities said damage to properties was placed at more than P50 million. “But the fire investigators are still in the area so the figure might increase.”

The first flame was noticed in the interior of Fermin Drive and rapidly spread to Boholano Drive, Carino Drive and areas near Ateneo de Zamboanga University. The six-hour blaze was put out at past 12 midnight, according to radio reports.

Many of those who lost their homes were temporarily sheltered in the elementary school rooms at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, postponed its graduation rites Friday to give way to fire victims.

Although the fire was the biggest so far to hit in Zamboanga since the late 50s, but it’s common in the city due to the proliferation of crowded areas with thousands of people, mostly squatters crammed into small spaces.

The city government declared the affected village under a state of calamity and called for relief and humanitarian assistance for the fire victims. (ZS)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Flash!!! Big fire hits Zambo City, leaving thousands of people homeless. The fire broke out at around 7 p.m. Thursday. No one was reported killed, but the fire gutted down at least 1,500 houses in a 7-hectare lot of Camino Nuevo and Canelar. No one knew how the fire began, but witnesses noticed the first flame at Camino Nuevo near Ateneo de Zamboanga University. The fire was placed under control after more than 5 hours by the responding firemen. Total damage was estimated at P50 million. (HADER GLANG)

Mindanao is new chair of BIMP-EAGA business council; Zamboanga to host top-level biz gab
text DARWIN WEE

Mindanao's economy with its dynamic investment hub areas that include the Zamboanga peninsula takes another step forward as the chairmanship of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine- East ASEAN Growth Area) Business Council (BEBC) was formally handed over by Malaysia to the Philippines last March 15.

Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., (ZCCIFI)Executive Director Severino M. Landingin said the Philippines through the Mindanao Business Council (MBC) as the new chairman of the BEBC has vowed to improve the free trade linkages between the BIMP-EAGA's sub-regions.

"With its chairmanship of the BEBC, the MBC is now challenged to exert efforts to pave the way for strategic policy recommendations to strengthen the economic ties between the BIMP-EAGA regions," he said.

EAGA is comprised of the entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; 10 provinces in the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku,and Irian Jaya; Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.

Its land area of roughly 1.54 million square kilometers is home to about 45.6 million people. It is a joint public-private sector mechanism designed to mobilize investment and trade opportunities for the business community through initiatives of the four member governments.

Countries that are members of the EAGA have forged an agreement to achieve certain objectives, which include facilitating the free movement of people, goods, and services; share common infrastructure and natural resources; and pursue economic complementation.

Landingin said Romeo Serra, who is currently the chairman of the MBC, also sits as the new BEBC chairman. Mr. Serra said he will give the MBC a year to support the BEBC to prove its capacity to deliver projects that would boost economic activities within the region.

Meanwhile, ZCCIFI executive director said Mr. Serra is expected to visit Zamboanga City on April 5 to launch the promotional campaign and the official logo of this year 15th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon), which the city will host from August 31 to September 2.

In a separate interview, Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (PCCI) regional governor for Western Mindanao Teresita Uy Sebastian said the job given to Zamboanga to be this year's Minbizcon host will boost the local business sector to promote the city as a safe and peaceful place to visit and invest in.

She said Zamboanga was chosen as the venue for the main plenary of the Minbizcon in order to "promote the city to the rest of not only Mindanao but to the international business community in the Philippines and to the world."

Landingin said the city and the Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. are fortunate enough to host the activity for the second time. The first came during the 6th Minbizcon in 1997.

This year's theme of "Mindanao: The Best of The Philippines," will serve as an occasion to review and examine programs that will help boost the local products especially the huge agricultural sector of Mindanao and the critical role of the small and medium enterprises (SME) in countryside development.

ZCCIFI is expected to draw in all the big traders in Mindanao and other parts of the country, as well as those from the BIMP-EAGA, which stand to benefit from the various sessions and activities of the conference.

"It is expected that at least 1,000 businessmen from all over thecountry and the BIMP-EAGA Region, foreign dignitaries and foreign investors who are willing to do business in Mindanao especially Zamboanga city will be attending," Landingin said.

The Minbizcon is an annual conference of all businessmen in the island of Mindanao and had been held in different regions of the island since 1992. Its main objective is to promote Mindanao as an investment haven andto serve as venue for the enactment of resolutions that would address the concerns and problems of Mindanao businessmen. (ZS)

MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar (left) chats with General Zulkifli, the head of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team, during the Bangsamoro general assembly in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on May last year.

MILF ready to assume governance of Bangsamoro homeland, says Jaafar

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is ready to assume governance of its ancestral homeland once peace pact is forged with the Philippine government, MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar said on Wednesday.

Jaafar, former head of the MILF’s peace negotiating panel, issued the statement in the wake of criticism that they are not capable of assuming self-governance.

“Our people were used to governance before and there is no reason why we cannot govern perfectly well,” Jaafar said, adding that right now they are empowering their people to be more prepared to assume the reins of governance.

In May last year, government chief negotiator Silvestre Afable, Jr. told the general assembly of the MILF in Sultan Kudarat that the Arroyo administration is ready to give the Bangsamoro people whatever they want as long as it is not independence.

MILF welcomed Afable’s statement, however it warned it would not negotiate on the basis of autonomy, citing the case of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which failed to implement a genuine and full autonomy to the Bangsamoro people.

Earlier, the peace panels had agreed on the set up of a government for the Bangsamoro people during the discussions on the strand of governance with a defined territory and resources of the ancestral domain aspect of the Tripoli Agreement on Peace of 2001.

Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF Peace Panel Secretariat, said the form and structure of governance would be contained in a comprehensive pact.

He said the government has proposed for a federal state for the Bangsamoro people, but the MILF never munched a word rejecting or accepting the offer.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the informal peace talks have ended without settling issues of territory, or jurisdiction of Muslim land.

Sources said the negotiators from the government and MILF had been unable to reach agreement.

It said the talks could resume early in April, when both sides will try again to break the deadlock and fix a date for the signing of an agreement on ancestral domain, a key part of the peace process.

The Philippine government said resumption of informal talks made it more likely a final pact could be reached to end the insurgency that has killed more than 100,000 people and stunted growth on Mindanao.

The two sides were meant to meet in Malaysia on March 5 to 7 but the alleged plot last month to oust President Arroyo and her declaration of a week of emergency rule, which ended on March 3, delayed the talks.

The conclusion of informal discussions would pave the way for the first formal talks in three years. Neighboring Malaysia has hosted the peace talks since 2001.

The two sides hope to sign a landmark peace deal by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on September 16. (ZS)

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Officials of ARMM business council & Bangsamoro law center sign MOA on Polloc Freeport

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on Tuesday between the ARMM Business Council (ABC) and the Bangsamoro Law & Policy Center (Moro Law), designating the latter as the ABS’s Research Affiliate with the facilitation of the Polloc Freeport as its first project.

The signing of the MOA took place during a back-to-back meeting of the First Special Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), a sectoral committee of the Regional Economic and Development Planning Board, and the Inter-Agency Levelling-Off Meeting on the Task Force Polloc Freeport.

Task Force Pollocport is an initiative of the REDC in support of the Regional Economic Agenda (REA) of ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan as pronounced in his State of the Region Address (SORA).

Muslim Mindanao Act. No. 154 or better known as the Regional Economic Zone Authority (REZA) Law mandates the establishment of Polloc Freeport. REZA was signed into law on August 20, 2003.

ABC Incorporated is an umbrella organization of the chambers of commerce and industry, trade groups, and other cooperatives and business organizations in the region while the Moro Law, a non-government organization, is a research center focusing on peace and development issues affecting the muslim community in the autonomous region.

The MOA states that the Moro Law will facilitate the inter-agency implementation of the operationalization design for the Polloc Free Port. It should conduct research and studies; facilitate foras; seminars and workshops; write and draft position papers; secure grants and funding, either on its own or with the assistance of ABC from funding organizations and other agencies to defray the cost of its research and other activities and other activities that will assist the ABC and its members.

Executive Director Jose Mario Gana and Atty. Zainudin S. Malang are signatories to the MOA representing ABC and Moro Law respectively.

A presentation of the Moro Law showed the objectives of the operations of the Polloc Freeport Ecozone which aims to streamline, harmonize and consolidate procedures and regulations for the pre-entry and post-entry of goods into the Polloc Freeport and to create business-friendly regulatory environment, to incorporate good-governance principles in the procedures and regulations in the Polloc Freeport.

Department of Trade and Industry –ARMM Secretary Ishak Mastura said this will help level-off with the various agencies on their respective mandates and regulatory functions in the entry and exit of goods at the port and to seek ways to harmonize the same.

Mastura added that “we will follow all rules and regulations especially on the aspect of quarantine. We will protect the port. We will ban all the prohibited materials to enter our ports.”

Task Force Polloc include the departments of Trade & Industry, Agrarian Reform, Telecommunications, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, RPDO, Regional Ports and Management Authority, MARINA, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Quarantine and Port of Polloc and Local Government Unit of Parang. (BPI-ARMM)

Economists review ARMM's economic programs & policies

Members of the Regional Economic Development Committee (REDC), a sectoral committee of the Regional Economic and Development Planning Board (REDPB) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao came together on March 21, 2006 to discuss the newly reformulated Regional Economic Agenda and the possible integration of the Local Economic Development (LED) Framework into it.

The review and re-assessment of the region’s economic programs and policies have been among the priority directives of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan in a bid to effectively facilitate the economic development as well as address the pressing social issues in the ARMM.

According to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-ARMM Secretary Ishak Mastura the issue for ARMM line agencies has always been on how to efficiently coordinate and link up their programs and projects with the Local Government Units.

“The regional government is taking vital steps that would allow provincial and municipal government units in the ARMM to have more prominent roles in our development efforts. The encouragement and assistance we have been giving to harness the potentials of their leading local products and industries are just one of our initial steps,” said Regional Gov. Ampatuan.

Member agencies were asked to identify priority projects which can be complemented by the LGU facilitated LED Framework, a project under the Local Government Support Program for ARMM (LGSPA) of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and being undertaken in partnership with the DTI-ARMM.

The World Bank defines LED as “the process by which public, private and non-government sectors work collectively to create better conditions for economic growth and employment generation. The aim is to improve the quality of life for all.”

The project’s main objective is to provide support and assistance to LGUs in implementing strategic thrusts designed to improve the local economy and contribute to the alleviation of basic social problems such as poverty and the like. (BPI-ARMM)

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Famous bamboo tree house at Pasonanca Park. Buy It Now