IMAGE OF THE DAY

ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan (2nd from right) leads the hoisting of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (ARMMAA) flag during the opening of the 2007 Palarong ARMMAA at the Mamasapano Sports Complex, Mamasapano, Maguindanao assisting him are ARMM Executive Secretary Oscar Sampulna (rightmost), ARMM First Lady Hja. Bai Johaira "Bong-Bong" Ampatuan and Datu Saudi Mayor Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Jr. (leftmost). (BPI-ARMM)

Ex-president of lawyers group rebuts anti-Zamboanga Hermosa province

Lawyer Giovani John Luistro, Nuevo Zamboanga Movement council aspirant for District 1, has rebutted the comments of Councilor Juan Elago that proposal for the creation of Zamboanga Hermosa will only "disunite" the city.

"No! It will even involve more Zamboanguenos in the management of this city. Just like as a sole proprietorship is not good for a supermarket operation, the city is not also good for a sole proprietorship," Luistro told reporters.

In a recent news article, Elago described the proposed Zamboanga Hermosa province of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines ZamBaSulTa Chapter as a politically colored resolution and he asked the IBP to drop and leave the issue to the politicians.

"I beg to disagree with his assertion. I'd like to remind him that the IBP is also task with serving the community taking the lead in issues in the community," said Luistro, also former IBP president.

Luistro said he was surprised that the councilor, who is also a member of the IBP, went directly to the press and accused the present leadership of the IBP of making the proposal a political without having the courtesy of asking them.

"This is the very same thing that another lawyer did about a year ago when he asked the IBP leadership to withdraw the proposal when he did not even come to us personally and furnish us the copy of his letter," he said, referring to lawyer Luna, another member of IBP, who is also opposed to the proposal.

"So who is doing the political stand now? He (Elago) has to respect proper procedure," he said. "This particular proposal of the IBP for the creation of Zamboanga Hermosa Province is more than just a political thing it is the future of Zamboanguenos."

Under the IBP proposal, the center of Zamboanga City will remain as a city and to convert seven of this city's 98 barangays into municipalities to hasten progress and development in the countryside.

The 37 of this city's 98 barangays will remain under Zamboanga City while the 61 others will comprised the seven proposed municipalities. The proposed barangays that will be converted into municipalities are Curuan, Vitali, Sangali, Culianan, and Landang Gua in Sacol island, all located in this city's east coast. The other two proposed municipalities are Ayala and Talisayan in the east coast.

Luistro likens the proposed Zamboanga Hermosa province to sari-sari store, where its operation by sole proprietorship is good to a certain level but when its operation starts to grow it is already advisable for it to ship to a corporate operation.

"The city is like that…we have been ran like a sari-sari store by a sole proprietorship for a long time. Why do I say that? For 700,000 populations, we only have one chief executive, the mayor. The city is no longer good for small operations. We need more executives and managers."

"So the proposal instead of dividing Zamboanga City it would bring the city and its people closer to each other. It does not disunite Zamboanga City because no less than the Constitution also provides that for every group of cities and municipalities who want to remain together can also create by law a metropolitan set up. Much like what we have in Cebu and Metro Manila."

He cited Cebu, which is not just one city but surrounded by five other cities like Talisay, Danao, Mandawi, Lapu-Lapu and these are cities that are not part of Cebu City. These cities and several municipalities are part of Cebu Province, who are united Metro Cebu Coordinating Council.

"That is one option available to Zamboanga City. Just because we create a new province out of the outlying barangays to promote better management of these areas that does mean that we have to be divided," Luistro stressed.

"We can still be together to the metropolitan setup by creating Metro Zamboanga Coordinating Council, whereby the delivery of basic services and governance can still be met and coordination and unity among the old Zamboanguenos will still be retain."

The City has a land area of 1,474 square kilometer which is a big place for a local government unit to administer and manage. All the territorial jurisdictions of the 14 cities in Metro Manila summing up all together will not even be half the size of Zamboanga. It is more than two times bigger than Singapore and more than 400 square kilometers larger than Hong Kong, which are the most progressive and ultra modern countries in Asia. (HG)

Joint Military Exercise "Balikatan 2007" Closes with Inauguration of Humanitarian Projects on Jolo

A paved road built by U.S. and Filipino soldiers on Jolo Island during Balikatan 2007 will allow local residents to travel easily from their village to the island’s largest municipality year round.

U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney joined Secretary Jess Dureza, Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process in Mindanao, and Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to officially declare the road open in a March 3 ceremony in the town of Bato Bato on Jolo Island. The four-kilometer road improvement project was carried out during the annual joint Philippines-U.S. military exercise Balikatan 2007.

Local citizens travel the former dirt road to the city almost every day to sell crafts, buy food, and trade goods to support their families. But during three months out of the year, heavy rains cause erosion and ruts on the dirt road, making travel nearly impossible for vehicles. But the soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marines fixed the road as part of the Balikatan 2007 exercises, which focused primarily on humanitarian projects in Mindanao.

Aside from the road improvement project, the two militaries worked with local governments and partners to hold 12 free medical clinics in Mindanao that treated more than 6,000 residents; provided free dental care and veterinary care; built and renovated schools, a day care center, and a health clinic; and repaired a boat ramp and pier.

The two militaries also completed a combined task force staff exercise that emphasized crisis action planning in a maritime security scenario, which will help the two countries learn to work together in addressing real-world challenges such as terrorist transit routes, piracy, drug smuggling, and critical infrastructure protection.

The annual Exercise Balikatan is structured to further develop the two countries’ crisis action planning, enhance ability to effectively conduct humanitarian assistance operations, and promote interoperability between participating countries. (PRESS RELEASE)

Zamboanga City reaches alarming level in tuberculosis

The tuberculosis (TB) disease has reached alarming level in Zamboanga City with increasing number of cases, the Department of Health's Center For Health Development Office here said.

Over 1,000 people in the city have fallen prey to tuberculosis every year and out of the 98 barangays, seven of them are with high incidence of the disease, DOH Regional Director Aristides Tan said.

Tan identified Talon-Talon and Recodo as the two most among seven barangays with highest incidence of reported TB cases.

"The prevalence of the disease remains high in the said barangays. So it's alarming," he said without elaborating on the number of mortality or deaths.

But based on the World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that 75 Filipinos are dying everyday in the Philippines making the country No. 8 among the 22 countries with the highest TB burden.

Although the disease is curable, it's the sixth leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country. In 2000, the tuberculosis killed 25,000 Filipinos, many of them in the prime of life. One TB patient infects 10-20 persons a year.

That is why, the launching of Social Mobilization on Tuberculosis (SMT) Project in the city was very important, according to Mayor Celso Lobregat.

"Tuberculosis has affected so much of the world's population and it needs a concerted effort from all sectors especially right here in Zamboanga City," the mayor added.

Health officials said they have began first with the two pilot sites (Talon-Talon and Recodo), then after six months to one year they'll expand to other villages.

"Our main purpose here is to create a support group in the community who can help people infected with this disease," Tan added.

Marlon Villanueva, project coordinator of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (GFATM), said World Vision is covering 10 cities for a 5-year SMT project.

"The budget for this project is $4.6 million US dollars," Villanueva said.

He said the SMT projects are concentrated in the cities of Zamboanga, General Santos, Caloocan, Paranaque, San Pablo, Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo and Davao that will end in 2011.

GFATM is one of the principal sources of financing for global TB control efforts. It is a grant-making organization based in Geneva, Switzerland created in January 2002 that aims to dramatically increase resources available to fight the disease in the world. (HG)

Japan invites top ARMM execs for study visit on Malaysia's Halal industry

In support to the halal industry development thrust of the ARMM Regional Government, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-Malaysia has extended an invitation to some key officials of the region to participate in a study visit on Halal Certification Process and Halal Industry Development from 5th to 9th of March 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The main purpose of the visit is to enable participants to take a close observation of Malaysia’s halal industry, particularly study its stringent halal certification process with the help of JAKIM. It can be recalled that as a result of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan’s visit to the Malaysian State of Malacca, JAKIM , Malaysia’s halal certifying body, agreed to extend technical aid to the region’s halal industry development.

The establishment of a vibrant halal industry is one of the major thrusts being pushed by the Ampatuan administration to help jumpstart sound economic growth and social development in the region. Governor Ampatuan said in his first state of the region address that “the ARMM will take a lead role in the growth of halal food industry in the region, considering its huge potential markets in the East Asian Growth Area region and elsewhere.”

The national government is likewise supportive of this endeavor. The vision of making ARMM as the halal-based food production and processing center of the country is included in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan 2004-2010. This move is in line with the effort to establish Mindanao as the Philippine’s prime agri-fishery export zone.

Among those slated to participate in the study visit are DTI-ARMM Asst. Sec. Engr. Marites Maguindra, Dr. Abubacar Datumanong, Engr. Mlang Madal, DAF-ARMM Director for Special Concern Iskak Paguital and Ustaz Esmal Ebrahim of the Darul-Ifta. A delegation from the recently created Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board (MMHCB) will also be joining the group in the visit.

“We are very optimistic that the study visit will have definitive contributions in so far as the development of our halal industry is concerned,” said Regional Governor Ampatuan. (BPI-ARMM)

Probe into Muslim boy’s slay sought in Sulu

A Muslim women peace group wants concerned authorities to investigate the killing of a 14-year old Muslim boy in Indanan, Sulu last month allegedly by Scout Ranger.

The Muslim Women Peace Advocates-Sulu Council (MWPA-SC) asked authorities an investigation into the slaying of Hakim Abbilul of Barangay Tagbak on February 19, 2007.

The boy was returning home after watching a television program around 10:00 p.m. when gunned down at Kasambuhan village, said Mercia Alli, MWPA-Sulu Council secretary general.

The victim’s companion was also wounded within the vicinity of Kasambuhan, a recognized Peace and Development Community (PDC) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

However, Alli said information gathered from both the community and the military sources revealed conflicting reports.

“In the interest of justice and in line with the objective of the MWPA Sulu council to prevent escalation of conflicts, we appeal to the authorities concerned to demand an investigation,” she said.

Last Feb. 25, thirty-three women leaders representing the MWPA municipal councils of Indanan and Jolo and the MWPA provincial council met at Alat, Jolo and passed a resolution demanding for probe into the reported murder.

Copies of the resolution were furnished to CHR, the Army’s 104th Brigade, ARMM Governor, District 1 Congressman, Sulu Governor, Indanan Mayor, PNP Director, DILG-ARMM/Manila, AFP Chief of Staff, and OPAPP.

The MWPA of Sulu is a group of women from the different ends of the conflict spectrum such as the MNLF, MILF, the Abu Sayyaf, widows of soldiers and protagonists including social workers asserting the right of Muslim women to actively participate in peace building.

It aims to contribute to the resolution of the perennial conflicts in Mindanao by enhancing the capacity of the affected women as human rights and peace advocates and change agents. (HG)

AMORE's 'Wall of Light' unveiled in ARMM

To celebrate the “Partnership for Light”, the leadership of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) and the visiting Dutch Ambassador H.E. Robert Vornis led the unveiling of the “Wall of Light” at the ARMM Complex in Cotabato City last Monday.

The “Wall of Light” made of 129 granite tiles were installed to represent the 129 barangays electrified of which 71% of the electrified villages are in the region.

AMORE is a partnership project of the Philippine government-Department of Energy, US Agency for International Development (USAID, Mirant Philippine Foundation and Winrock Foundation).

"This day is a celebration because “electrification of close to 4,000 households in remote and conflict-affected areas is indeed worthy to celebrate because of its tremendous impact in these communities and in the region as a whole,” said ARMM Executive Secretary Oscar Sampulna.

Sampulna, who relayed the message of ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan extending his outmost gratitude and for the sincere commitment to being our partners in bringing about a peaceful, progressive and competitive region.

The partnership enabled PNOC to supply AMORE, through Shell Solar Philippines Corporation with 55-wattpeak solar homes systems for 30 households per village at a 60-percent price subsidy from the Netherlands government.

The joint undertaking electrifies the remote and conflict affected areas in Mindanao that cannot be connected to the power grid, with stand-alone renewable energy systems such as solar and microhydro.

By bringing light and electricity to the households in these communities, Sampulna added that "we not only improve their lives but we give them hope – a fervent reason to have brighter and more positive outlook in life despite the hardships brought about by the years of instability."

The AMORE program, Sampulna said continues to be among the most important and successful programs that the ARMM leadership have in the region.

H.E. Ambassador Robert Vornis of Netherlands said that their country gave 60 percent (60%) subsidy that is equivalent to 5.6 Million Euros or approximately 350 Million Pesos approved grant component of totality.

Energy Sec. Raphael Lotilla said that “we will bring power and light to all people”. He further concluded that they would complete the electrification for all barangays in the Philippines before 2008.

Mr. Victorino Bala of PNOC stressed that the electrification of villages was part of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the administration would provide assistance for Muslim brothers and to provide light on every homes so that more families would enjoy the improve quality of life.(BPI-ARMM)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Dutch Ambassador visits ARMM. Dutch Ambassador Robert Vornis (right) is welcomed by ARMM Executive Secretary Oscar Sampulna (left) and Chief of Staff Ulama Acad on his arrival Sunday in Cotabato City. Vornis is among the dignitaries who will take part in series of activities that celebrate the electrification of around 4,000 households in depressed areas in the ARMM under the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy Program (AMORE) program. ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan along with AMORE Chief of Party Tetchie Capellan and PNOC President Pedro Aquino will lead the unveiling of the "Wall of Light"- a symbolic marker that signifies the RP-US-Dutch partnership. Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and Shell Solar Philippines General Manager Ramin Nadimi will also be among the important guests in the said activity. (BPI-ARMM)

Salapuddin hails Basilan marines’ gun ban measure

House deputy speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin has welcomed the newly-assigned 1st Marine Brigade in Basilan for stepping up the enforcement of gun ban in the island province imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“We welcome the measures coming from the new Marine Brigade commander (Col. Ramero Alivio) assigned in Basilan. I firmly believe that should be the first task that the Philippine Marines should get into,” Salapuddin told reporters.

He said it’s high time that the strict implementation of the gun ban is enforced to the fullest not only during the election period to contain the proliferation of illegal firearms and private armies in his province.

In November last year, the third termer Basilan congressman asked the Lower House and the concerned government agencies to look into the alleged proliferation and acquisition of illegal firearms by politicians in Basilan.

Reports said heavy armaments being used for warfare and the maintenance of private of illegal firearms by unscrupulous politicians were how the election fever has been manifested in the island province.

“The acquisition was supposedly intended to maintain peace or for security or defensive measures. Unfortunately, unscrupulous politicians have been planning to use the firearms to guarantee victory at the polls through the use of violence and intimidation,” Salapuddin said.

Salapuddin called on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to immediately look into the situation in his province.

“I believe that the matter, if not addressed, will again tarnish the forthcoming conduct of elections,” the lawmaker added.

Salapuddin, meantimne, brushed off political detractors’ criticism against his bid for governor of Basilan, saying he is used to it and this pushes him more to do his job and serve the people.

“I don't want to waste my time with those critics. I have my hands full tackling unfinished business and pressing issues in congress,” he said.

Salapuddin, a third-termer congressman, is running under the administration's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Kampi-Lakas-CMD) coalition party.
(HG)

US-RP Balikatan soldiers fix bumpy road in Sulu

Bato Bato, Jolo Island resident Nader Daud and his friends come to watch the progress U.S. Marines and Seabees, along with their counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), make every day on the main road that leads from the village to the island’s largest municipality, Jolo City.

Daud and many of the local citizens travel the road to the city almost every day to sell crafts, buy food, and trade goods to support their families. But during three months out of the year, heavy rains cause erosion and ruts on the dirt road, making travel nearly impossible for vehicles.

On February 14, Joint Task Force Balikatan 2007 began an engineering civil assistance project, or ENCAP, to fix the road so it will be usable for local residents year-round. Helping out were U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan; U.S. Navy construction specialists from Port Hueneme, California (called “Seabees”); and AFP partners. Pictured above, a U.S. Sailor directs a large equipment specialist operating a front-end loader where to dump dirt to fill the new road.

The Bato Bato road construction is one of several projects being conducted throughout the island during the annual Balikatan exercise, which runs through early March. Other projects include school and clinic renovations, and free medical clinics that offer medical attention to local residents.

The annual exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States is structured to further develop the two countries’ crisis action planning, enhance their ability to effectively conduct humanitarian assistance operations, and promote interoperability between participating countries.

“This is the only ENCAP the detachment is doing that will require attention every day we are here,” said Staff Sgt. Jami D. Larson, a Fayetteville, N.C. native. “The road is more than three miles long, and with vehicles coming through here every day, it’s impossible to shut this road down. Working here through the duration is the only way this road will be finished.”

Larson said many considerations came into play when they started the project. “We had to pretty much tear up the existing road,” he said. “There were no drainage ditches, the road (was flat) and it was loose.”

Before construction began, the road was only made up of dirt, but after its completion, it will be mixed with gravel. “The rocks we’re using are three inches long on average, and are much larger compared to what we’re used to working with,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Robert N. Rossell, the project supervisor. “Now we have to use dirt to fill the gaps in between the rocks to make sure everything is compacted so the road will stay together.”

During the project, Marines and Sailors are digging ditches on both sides of the road while ensuring the road has a run-off so that water will drain to avoid erosion and ruts. Heavy equipment brought into Jolo such as graders and a compactor are being used to even the road and create a smooth-riding trip to Jolo City.

A lot of progress has been made on the project, but it hasn’t been easy, Larson said. “It’s tough doing all of this in this hot weather, but the Marines and Seabees are really working together to get the job done,” he said.

Cpl. Derek C. Riekena, a heavy-equipment operator with the detachment, said he and others anticipated a lot of work to finish the project from the moment they arrived. “While en route to our camp when we first got to the island, we could feel all the bumps and ruts we drove through,” the St. Peters, Missouri native said. “We have taken shorter lunch periods because we knew this was going to take a while. Since we started, we have made a remarkable difference.”

With the project partly finished, local resident Daud and others are already looking forward to a better road ahead. “We all come here every day and wave to the militaries to show our appreciation for their hard work,” said the 19-year-old. “The road is not even complete yet and we all have seen improvement.” (PRESS RELEASE)

ARMM conducts consultations on children protection

Members of the Provincial Technical Working Group conducted On-site consultations with the Municipal Council on the Protection of Children (MCPC) in the provinces of Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan. The MTWG visited the municipalities of Datu Montawal, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Matanog, Buldon, South Upi, Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Parang and Sultan sa Barongis. (Left) Emma Ali of DWSD-Maguindanao with Engr. Amy Dalandag (3rd, left) of DILG-Maguindano, Joy Bravo (2nd, left) from Commission on Human Rights 12 and a representative of the Local Government of Montawal (3rd, right) interviewed SPO1 Eddie Quia-eo of Datu Montawal on the needs of the law enforcement in terms of implementing the program for children under the MCPC. The on-site meetings is in partnership with the UNICEF. (BPI-ARMM)

Mindanao solon names partymates in Basilan

Administration gubernatorial aspirant Gerry Salapuddin has named his running partymates for congressional and vice gubernatorial race under the banner of local Kampi-Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats coalition party in Basilan for the May 2007 elections.

In an interview, Salapuddin said Jim Hataman Salliman, former mayor of Sumisip and brother of Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party List Rep. Mujiv Hataman, will run for congress while Majang Linggisan, Basilan’s ABC provincial president and Kampi provincial chairman, for vice governor.

“The inclusion of Salliman and Linggisan was a decision made upon consultations with all supporters and team partners in the province,” Salapuddin said when asked what prompted him to choose the two as partymates.

Salapuddin who is serving his final and last term as member of the House of Representatives, also filled in re-electionists Lamitan Mayor Orig Furigay and Isabela City Mayor Rody Tan with the local Kampi-Lakas coalition party in Basilan.

The House deputy speaker for Mindanao said his team, which is fielded with credible and qualified candidates, would push President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s platform of government.

President Arroyo vowed to fight for changes in the system that would lead to economic and political stability including constitutional reform leading to a change in the country’s form of government.

“We would implement ‘doable’ socioeconomic reforms and give priorities to delivery of basic services, agriculture, health, education, environment and a program to contain the proliferation of illegal firearms and private armies in Basilan,” Salapuddin said. (HG)

RP-US Balikatan Exercises 2007 opens today

The RP-US Balikatan Exercise 2007 formally opened on Monday at Camp Aguinaldo and it will run until March 4 in Jolo, Sulu, where Filipino soldiers are hunting down remnants of the Abu Sayyaf group and Jemaah Islamiyah militants.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo gave their respective remarks in the opening ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo Officers’ Club in Quezon City.

Dignitaries from the DFA and Defense, led by Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., the Philippine Congress, and co-exercise directors, U.S. Army Major General Stephen Tom and AFP Rear Admiral Amable Tolentino were in attendance.

Balikatan 2007, the 23rd in this series, is conducted under the auspices of the Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement, and reflects the robust and active Philippines - US military partnership for the benefit of the people.

This year’s exercise focuses mainly on humanitarian projects in Mindanao, especially Jolo Island, including multiple medical, dental, veterinary, and engineering projects carried out by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. personnel.

There will also be a combined task force staff exercises that emphasizes crisis action planning in a maritime security scenario, which will help the two countries learn to work together in addressing real-world challenges such as terrorist transit routes, piracy, drug smuggling, and critical infrastructure protection.

The term balikatan is from the Tagalog language, which means “shouldering the load together,” characterizing the guiding philosophy of this exercise and the US - Philippines security partnership. (PRESS RELEASE)

Salapuddin confident on President Arroyo nod for Lamitan cityhood before May polls

House deputy speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin is confident that the Municipality of Lamitan in Basilan, once siege by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group, will gain cityhood status soon before the May 14 elections.

This came as the Senate approved on February 5, 2007 the conversion of 12 towns in the country, including Lamitan and three other municipalities in Mindanao.

Salapuddin, author of the bill converting Lamitan into city, said he is very confident that President Arroyo would be able to sign the cityhood bills into law before the May polls.

“It will be a blessing to the people of Lamitan and Basilan in general. We have long wanted this to happen,” said Salapuddin, who is serving his final and last term as congressman.

Salapuddin, who also authored the cityhood of Isabela town, is running for gubernatorial post in Basilan under the administration's Kampi-Lakas coalition party.

If signed into a law, Lamitan will be the newly-created city in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the second city in Basilan next to Isabela City.

But the country's league of city mayors is questioning the legality of the bills converting 12 towns into cities. The league is also petitioning the Comelec from holding plebiscites.

The 12 towns include Lamitan, Basilan; Batac, Ilocos Norte; Baybay, Leyte; Bayugan, Agusan del Sur; Bogo, Cebu; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; Carcar, Cebu; Catbalogan, Samar; Tabuk, Kalinga; Tandag, Surigao del Sur; and Tayabas, Quezon.

The city mayors believe that the cities' share from the internal revenue allotment (IRA) would get smaller if the government would allow the conversion of 12 unqualified towns.

“That has always been their (city mayors) position but they are not the lawmakers. We are the lawmakers,” Salapuddin said.

“Why are they so selfish to deny what is due to others?” Salapuddin asked. “Everyone especially the depressed areas want also to be developed just like them.”

He stressed the best way of equitable sharing of the national wealth and income of the government is by creating cities specifically those provinces without cities yet.

“As I have always said there is no better way of developing of countering rebellion and insurgency in the countryside than socially and economically uplifting it.” (HG)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

President's bet. Monsi Crisanto dela Cruz, former priest turned politician, of Nuevo Zamboanga Movement (NZM) announces that he has been officially chosen as the standard bearer of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's KAMPI for mayoralty race in Zamboanga City on May 14 elections. (text & photo HADER GLANG)

Mixed reactions over senatorial candidacy of Sulu Sultan

There has been a mixed reaction among claimants of the Sultanate of Sulu to Malacanang’s decision of fielding Sultan Jamalul Kiram III as the 12th senatorial candidate of unity ticket for the May 14 elections.

Self-proclaimed paramount Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo Ibrahim Bahjin told reporters his family is not happy with Kiram’s decision to join politics.

He said: “We are not so happy about this recent development…the candidacy of our kin…my cousin actually…for the senatorial line up of the administration.”

“The true sultan upholds the dignity of his office and upholds the dignity of his raayats and his sultanate by not subjecting himself to the authority of another established sovereign entity.”

He added he couldn’t give his support to Kiram’s candidacy even if they are relatives.

But the influential Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun said he is not “deeply” concerned about Kiram’s political ambition.

“I truly am not that concerned about this issue. As the legitimate Sultan of Sulu, I don’t mingle in politics,” Pulalun added. (HG)

1,000 indigenous land claimants protest vs. police abuses in Bukidnon

DON CARLOS, Bukidnon -- Some 1,000 families of Lumads, Muslims and Christians who started occupying portions of the 1,766 hectares of land declared by the Supreme Court as ancestral land of the Daguiwaas clan, complained against a series of harassments allegedly by policemen of this municipality.

This developed as the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), a tri-people grassroots organization assisting the land claimants, condemned what it described as “obstruction of justice” by elements of the Don Carlos Police Station who were allegedly behind the harassment against the members of the Daguiwaas clan.

From February 7-8 and on February 10, the Daguiwaas clan complained against the policemen who allegedly fired M-79 grenade launchers and M-15 rifles towards the direction of the land occupants, though no one was hurt as the bullets landed on open fields.

The local policemen, however, claimed that they were “ambushed” by the members of the clan while patrolling the area, a claim vehemently belied by Benjamin Daguiwaas, president of the Daguiwaas Clan Foundation that leads the land claimants.

“They fired upon us from a distance and then they will come near us to tell us that we were the ones that fired upon them. How can that be possible when the direction of the bullets were towards us?” Daguiwaas asked.

He alleged that the policemen were with some armed civilians who are grantees of Certificates of Land Ownership Award by the Department of Agrarian Reform, but added that the CLOAs are “actually illegal because they were issued by the DAR after the Supreme Court has granted us this land.”

In 1988, the Commission on Settlement of Land Problem (COSLAP) decided to grant the 1,766 of the 4,000 hectares of land claimed by the Daguiwaases as part of their ancestral domain.Since the COSLAP decision was challenged, the Supreme Court, in 1989, decided with “finality” to sustain the ruling of COSLAP, but since then, over 50 installation orders penned by local Sheriff Tayron Tan could never be implemented.

Daguiwaas said that the installation orders could not be implemented because “some powerful politicians and big businessmen” have reportedly been “using money and their influence to block us from actually occupying and making productive use of our land.”

The clan named the Zubiris, the family of Bukidnon governor, among the politicians who are allegedly blocking their actual installation on the land.Among the alleged “squatters” the claimants have identified are Capitalists Danding Cojuanco, the Del Monte Corporation and the Bukidnon Farms Inc. They also named some of the Sorianos, Simbalons, Palmadas.

“The governor’s family has a 200-hectare banana plantation that encroached into our 1,766 hectares ancestral land,” Daguiwaas said.

Meanwhile, MPC Council Official Jose Akmad, who was here with two other MPC officials, in condemning the alleged harassement, said: “It is unfortunate that the law enforcers here seem to be the ones obstructing justice."

Akmad suggested for higher authorities to conduct and immediate investigation against the local policemen that allegedly harassed the land claimants and “they should be brought to the bar of justice if found obstructing justice.”

Akmad said that “unless these supposed law enforcers are punished, the people would lost their trust on this government and may conclude that this is a government of injustice.”

An official of the Community and Environment Office here, requesting not to be named, said that the Daguiwaases “could have initiated a legal proceeding asking proper government bodies to cancel the CLOAs issued to some individuals.”

Daguiwaas narrated that in 33 years of their legal battle, there were already 30 of them who were allegedly murdered by people they suspected to be “goons of the moneyed” people behind the squatting of their land.

There have been a number of attempts to re-occupy their land in the past, but the claimants ended up abandoning it also as they were met with alleged harassments that led to the murder of some clan members and burning of their houses.

The latest fatalities they reported were those in January of last year where seven died and a number of houses were torched.

The latest land occupation attempt that the claimants did was after the December 25, 2006 meeting of all tribal leaders involved. More than 900 families joined the land occupation but they are yet occupying just a portion of the land along the boundaries in the eastern part. (PRESS RELEASE)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Zamboanga tourist guides and Badjaos (sea gypsies) lead European visitors to pumpboats at a mini wharf near Lantaka Hotel for site seeing and swimming at the Sta. Cruz Island. Some 500 tourists, mostly Germans, arrived here onboard the worldwide cruise ship MS Albatros on Friday.(text & photos HADER GLANG)

BFAR-ARMM officials to participate in a seaweed mission to Sabah, Malaysia

As part of the measures being undertaken by the Philippine government to improve the seaweeds industry in the country, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has organized a mission tour to Sabah, Malaysia on February 11-17.

The mission, which will be composed of public and private fishery officials from Mindanao and Palawan, is intended to bolster the performance of the country’s seaweeds industry. The delegation will visit all the seaweed processing plants and some growing areas in Sabah and meet with their company officials.

The group will also get into talks with officials of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines-Facilitation Center (BIMP-FC) pertaining to the conduct of the proposed 1st BIMP-EAGA Seaweed Conference in 2007.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo along with the other heads of state of the BIMP-EAGA nations has earlier given directives to expedite the implementation of seaweeds programs and projects in the sub-region, among which is the Joint Venture on Seaweeds Production and Processing.

Two head officials of the region’s fisheries bureau, BFAR-ARMM Regional Director Keise Usman and BFAR-ARMM Asst. Reg’l Dir. Janice Musali, are set to participate in the said mission.

The two are expected to provide the mission with technical assistance during the tour.

“The seaweeds industry is among the most important industries that we have in the region both in terms of its economic and social impact. We hope that this mission will contribute to the improvement seaweeds farming in the region,” says Usman.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) continues to be the top seaweeds producing region in the country. The total seaweeds output of Mindanao made up the 60% of the total seaweeds products in the country in 2003. And around 70% of which came from the ARMM.

Export-bound seaweeds products are among Philippine’s top dollar-earner. In 2003, it generated $143.5 million for the country and registered a 10% increase in the following year with $158 million. It also accounts for most of the country’s total aquaculture output. (BPI-ARMM)

PNP Turns over 11 cars, 6 motorcycles to ARMM

To improve police service in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, PNP Police Director Oscar C. Calderon (3rd from right) turned over 11 brand new police cars and six motorcycles to Local Chief Executives and Chief of Police of some Local Government Units in the province of Lanao del Sur during his visit today at the Police Regional Office-ARMM, Camp SK, Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan. Witnessing the turned over ceremony is PNP-ARMM Regional Director Joel R. Goltiao (left), Asst. ARMM Cabinet Secretary Mr. Samson Gogo(2nd, left). (text & photos BPI-ARMM)