Mindanao Island - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 12

Alingatong

July 13th, 2008, 08:55 AM

Native fibers revival can sustain garment industry

THE revival and commercial development of native fibers is the Philippines' best hope at making the stagnant garments industry grow more rapidly.

Such was the conclusion arrived at by a group of experts that helped Ricardo C. Juliano, regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) of Central Mindanao, to look deeper into the impact of globalization on the Philippine garments industry.

Although the local garments industry grew to become a multi-billion dollar a year business two decades back, it has stagnated in the past 10 years even with free trade and even lost its hold on the domestic market to smuggled clothing, including second hand items known as "ukay-ukay."

"We need to revive the local production of cotton in the Ilocos region and Sarangani in Mindanao, as well as revive the manufacture of tropical fibers that include rayon, pineapple, banana, abaca, ramie and silk," said Claro Arriola, president of the Textile Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (TMAP).

"Cotton farming now has become more profitable than tobacco growing," he said.

The Philippines used to produce up to 200,000 metric tons of cotton when the Philippine Cotton Corporation was still active.

He further said that pineapple leaves and banana trunks used as raw material in making native fibers are abundant in Mindanao and Southern Luzon, while Philippine silk produced in the Cordilleras and parts of Mindanao were found by China as the best in the world.

The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), on the other hand, revealed the research body under the Department of Science and Technology (Dost), has developed the technology to convert native fibers into top quality textile but nobody has been interested in commercially using that technology.

Only foreign companies like Calvin Klein that now imports abaca fiber for its signature products are interested in local fibers used in the manufacture of top quality textile products.

It was noted, however, that native fibers mixed with polyster are for the top end market for textile and garments. Only cotton could be developed for the domestic market for clothes. (Press release)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2008/07/13/bus/native.fibers.revival.can.sustain.garment.industry.html)

geraldpatrick

July 13th, 2008, 11:01 AM

Emano, Duterte Join Forces For Stronger Mindanao Voice :bow:

cagayan de oro VICE Mayor Vicente Emano said an alliance between him and Davao City Mayor Rudy Duterte has been formed to have unity in the island of Mindanao.

In a press statement, the vice mayor said they have joined forces to ensure that the voice of the people will be heard through the strong representation in government.He believes that unity among political leaders in Mindanao is necessary."Dili pamolitika ang among tuyo niini. Kon dili, ang paghiusa aron kami basin dunay mahimo alang sa mga kaubang local nga mga officials nga gipanglakag sa dili makiangayon nga paagi. Andam kaming modawat ni bisan kinsang lider sa Mindanao, basta lamang nga aduna siyay hugot nga baroganan nga dili magpagawong ni bisan kinda," he added.

guys if a2ng mga leader nag unite for 1 common goal 4 mindanao, y dili na2 kaya mag unite mga tao frm davao and cdo? eh mga guyz if davao or cdo Progress dapat happy ta tana

ona

July 13th, 2008, 03:49 PM

It's about time.

BOB-bXu

July 13th, 2008, 03:59 PM

Emano, Duterte Join Forces For Stronger Mindanao Voice :bow:

guys if a2ng mga leader nag unite for 1 common goal 4 mindanao, y dili na2 kaya mag unite mga tao frm davao and cdo? eh mga guyz if davao or cdo Progress dapat happy ta tana

true happiness for Mindanoans means if progress will be seen in Lebak to Cantilan..in Malanggas to Maluso...or in Kinoguitan to Maramag...

or peace and unity in Sharif Kabunsuan and Lamitan

Get me ? :)

dinabaw

July 13th, 2008, 04:02 PM

^^ i agree!

paulkrps

July 13th, 2008, 04:14 PM

a strong mindanao then will be, we will be the ones calling the shots.

MtApoStandard

July 13th, 2008, 05:47 PM

true happiness for Mindanoans means if progress will be seen in Lebak to Cantilan..in Malanggas to Maluso...or in Kinoguitan to Maramag...

or peace and unity in Sharif Kabunsuan and Lamitan

Get me ? :)
correct. someones preparing for the next round of election

MtApoStandard

July 13th, 2008, 06:13 PM

survey result was a collective work outcome of aim in partnership with academe. check on the school that represented your area and forward your protests to them:D talk your complains with them if your doubts are valid, why they failed to deliver the result you would like to happen:D are they competent schools for the job? i read in news before, aim was going places paticularly regional capitals giving series of lectures on local governance and helping them understand the criteria of pccrp. what happened?:D
anyways, check the schools from your area:

"The data were derived with the assistance of various academic partners: Angeles University Foundation, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Zamboanga, De La Salle Lipa, De La Salle Dasmariñas, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, Notre Dame of Dadiangas College, Silliman University, St. Louis University, University of San Agustin, University of San Carlos, and Xavier University."

"The Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project, a biennial research project of the AIM Policy Center, has renewed its partnership with 15 academic partners, including newcomers Philippine Normal University- Agusan, Notre Dame of Marbel University, De la Salle University- Canlubang and University of Saint Louis- Tuguegarao."

in the meantime...
davao city is reaping and enjoying the fruits of survey accolades despite repeated travel advisory in the island of mindanao

geraldpatrick

July 13th, 2008, 10:25 PM

Guys remember Reuben Canoy ? he ones stood for Mindanao, Mindanao is wealthier than the central , d2 galing almost lahat ang raw material and malaki din ang contribution nating sa tax and revenue galing from our local government, it’s time for us to stand out and be heard, if we united we will prosper, I believe this two leader will prosper for the common good of Mindanao, I May be idealistic like my grandfather but its true we should unite, so guys stop na ang conflict between Cagayan de oro and davao forum hehehe by doing so para naring we support the aspiration of our leaders

geraldpatrick

July 13th, 2008, 11:31 PM

;22540930']"its unfair! it unfair!" :lol:

Cagayan must not be discourage, it should be a challenge guys !!! good for cagayanon folks kac magiisip na ang local government of Cagayan kong ano pa ba ang dapat eh improve, we should accept the Truth guys that we need to improve ,Cagayan has the potential, makakabawi din tayo guys , as for DAVAO congratulations wll done!!

GearX

July 14th, 2008, 10:10 AM

The Hole in the Mountain

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/2008/lanaotunnel.jpg

dark_knight_detectve

July 14th, 2008, 03:48 PM

The Hole in the Mountain

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/2008/lanaotunnel.jpg

where is this located anyway?

geraldpatrick

July 14th, 2008, 09:02 PM

bilib na talaga sa iyo GEARX ,I admired your reliable information and the time u spend for sharing ur knowhow about the development of CdeO, ano pala work mo na intriga 2loy ako? If its ok! R u a dude or female?

Peng Hok

July 15th, 2008, 03:54 AM

Pile drivers being installed to start up the construction of Mindanao's very own Ayala Center.

AYALA UPDATE!

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j187/tonioboi/DSC00206.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j187/tonioboi/DSC00205-1.jpg

CGYanon

July 15th, 2008, 04:27 AM

:applause:
good for Davao and Mindanao as well na rin. im glad the Ayala's are still keen on investing inspite of the not so good news about Mindanao. Viva Ayala! Viva Davao!

dinabaw

July 15th, 2008, 11:00 AM

Tuesday, 15 July 2008
2 Mindanawon journalists are among new fellows for MA Journ
MindaNews
Tuesday, 15 July 2008 10:37
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/14 July) – Two female Mindanawon journalists, both based in Davao City, are among 13 journalists in Asia who have been awarded fellowships for Master of Arts in Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ).

Germelina Lacorte, associate editor of davaotoday.com and Debbie Uy, editor in chief of Mindanao Insider, are among seven Filipinos awarded fellowships starting school year 2008-2009. Lacorte is also a correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer while Uy is also editor in chief of Go South magazine.

The fellows were presented formally at the alumni homecoming dinner Saturday at the Paparazzi restaurant at EDSA Shangrila at the Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City.

The MA Journalism fellowships cover full tuition and miscellaneous fees, as well as expenses during two periods of on-campus stay such as travel, accommodation, and living expenses.

Uy was among eight who received the “Fellowships for Emerging Leaders in Asian Newsroom,” chosen “for their career records as well as their potential to contribute to the development of an independent, responsible and viable press in their communities.”

Lacorte, on the other hand was among four who received “Senior Fellowships,” chosen for their “outstanding careers and their contribution to the growth of the press in their communities.”

As of March 2008, some 60 working journalists from Cambodia, China , India , Indonesia , Malaysia , the Philippines and Sri Lanka have earned the degree first offered in 2003. ACFJ also offers diploma programs in photojournalism and radio journalism.

Lacorte and Uy are the second and third Mindanawons awarded a fellowship in the MA Journalism program. The first was MindaNews’ Carolyn O. Arguillas who was awarded a Senior Fellowship. Arguillas graduated in March 2007 and joined the faculty in the second semester of 2007-2008, teaching “Reporting about Conflict and Peace.”

In the Diploma in Photojournalism program, eight Mindanawons, all male, have been awarded the fellowship, four of whom have completed the course: MindaNews’ Froilan Gallardo of Cagayan de Oro City, now editor in chief of SunStar Cagayan de Oro and Charlie Saceda, Zamboanga City-based photojournalist of Philippine Star. Gallardo and Saceda were part of the first batch and graduated summer last year. In the second batch, former MindaNews reporter Keith Kristoffer Bacongco of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, now campaign officer of the Legal Resources Center (LRC) in Davao and Jose Aurelio “Toto” Lozano of Koronadal City, completed the requirements of the course summer this year and will graduate on August 1 this year.

Four other Mindanawon photojournalists are still completing the course: Rene B. Lumawag, who recently retired from SunStar Davao, and Rommel Rebollido of General Santos, a bureau chief of Philippine News Agency. MindaNews contributor Gandhi Kinjiyo of General Santos City and lawyer Glocelito Jayma of Butuan, formerly with LRC, now in private practice have just started the course. Kinjiyo is the lone Moro fellow.

Aside from Lacorte and Uy, the other MA Journalism fellows from the Philippines are Jennifer Alejandro, presently based in Singapore where she works as producer, reporter and business news anchor, senior manager, News and Current Affairs of Channel News Asia; Ruth Ann D. Cabal, news produce of GMA Network, Inc.; Iris Cecilia D. Gonzales, reporter of the Philippine Star; Hector Bryant L. Macale of Bulacan, senior staff writer of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility; and Alexander F. Villafania, reporter of Inquirer Interactive, Inc.

From Indonesia, the fellows are Yuri A. Aladdin of West Java, senior editor of the Antara News Agency where he also serves as Instructor in the Antara School of Journalism, and coordinator of reporters; .Fransiscus Xaverius Lilik D. Mardjianto of Jakarta, also of Antara News Agency; and Kurniawan Sisnoko of the Jakarta Post.

The other fellows are Senthong Phavasath of Vientiane, reporter and sub-editor of KPL News, Laos News Agency; Sam Noeun, executive producer of Radio FM 102 in Cambodia; and Pratibha Tuladhar, news anchor and sub-editor of Kantipur Television of Nepal. (MindaNews)

http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4741&Itemid=240

GearX

July 16th, 2008, 12:07 PM

Peñalosa title defense vs Rocha set in Tubod (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=125369)
By RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions has agreed to allow WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa to stage his title defense against Nestor Rocha in Tubod, Lanao del Norte on September 20.

Peñalosa was originally scheduled to fight Rocha on the undercard of the Joel Casamayor-Juan Manuel Marquez WBO lightweight championship on September 13 at the MGM Grand.

He, however, wanted the Philippine TV rights in addition to the $100,000 purse. His manager, Billy Keane, said this was not possible since the TV rights had been acquired by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN.

Peñalosa then asked that his purse be increased to $150,000. Keane informed him that Golden Boy was only willing to increase the amount to $130,000 which Peñalosa felt was too little.

This prompted him to begin work on plans to stage the fight in the Philippines.

He flew to Ozamis City and met with Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo. The boxer said the congressman agreed to a budget of $300,000 and submitted a Memorandum of Agreement to Peñalosa.

Peñalosa sought the help of well-known promoter Sammy Gello-ani's SGG Promotions who agreed to stage the event in cooperation with Bong Yap of the Black Scorpion Gym and Dimaporo.

Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer earlier said that the Peñalosa title fight had been taken off the Casamayor-Marquez fight card.

Gello-ani said that since Peñalosa is under contract with Golden Boy, he would have to pay $75,000 to the promoter to cover the purse of Rocha, travel expenses of his team to and from the Philippines, the necessary sanction fees and the outfit's promotional fees.

Peñalosa said that was keen on projecting the province and its many assets.

He added that the congressman wants to develop the image of Lanao del Norte and is prepared to give Peñalosa $300,000 to stage the fight card, pay the purses of all the fighters, ring officials and others and handle all travel costs and accommodations, sanction fees and other ancillary costs. .

Meanwhile, among the fighters who will see action on the undercard are Michael Farenas, a protégé of Penalosa, Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales, Donrei Marcos and Elmer Legaria.

Peng Hok

July 17th, 2008, 03:13 AM

Rendering of Mindanao's very first Ayala Center.

Ayala Center Davao
July 16, 2008 — Davao Councilor Peter Lavina

The Ayalas of famed Makati are finally coming back to Davao.

Executives of Ayala Land briefed the City Council yesterday on its plans to put up a mixed-used commercial center infront of Redemptorist Church in Bajada on a 9.5 hectare property owned by the Floirendos. Yes the banana magnate.

Phase 1 of their plan is a mall with BPO offices as shown here.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i292/naxju/ayala3.jpg

Phase 2 includes a hotel and condos.

The Ayalas were pioneer investors in the city staring the Insular Village in the 1960s in Pampanga District, the enclave of Davao’s rich. They also build the famous Insular Hotel, which was ran by the Intercontinental Hotel chain just like the occupant of No. 1 Ayala Center Makati. The hotel was eventually bought by Gatchalian’s Waterfront Group during the reign of Erap.

A key feature then of the Insular Village was Mindanao’s first modern ten-pin bowling center. Unfortunately, it fell victim to martial law in the early 1970s. It closed shop when curfew was imposed and those from downtown like me did not risk traveling north with plenty of Philippine Constabulary check points along Bajada and Lanang.

The Ayalas attempted a Davao comeback even before they started Ayala Center Cebu. During the mid-1980s, they sought to acquire the nearby Lanang Golf Course of the Dakudao’s but failed.

The golf course is closing at the end of this month and the Ayalas were beaten to the draw. A chunk was acquired by Henry Sy’s group for a reported SM City Davao North project.

GearX

July 17th, 2008, 03:55 AM

Mindanao products stranded in ports (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080716-148863/Mindanao-products-stranded-in-ports)
By Julie Alipala, Edwin Fernandez, Ma. Cecilia Rodriguez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:10:00 07/16/2008

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Traders and agriculture officials in Mindanao expressed grave concern over continued restrictions in cargo movement as a result of the ban on Sulpicio Lines following the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars.

Leaders of various business groups and officials of the agriculture department said they were starting to hurt because the movement of agricultural products had been suspended.

They said the effect of this could be felt in Luzon and Metro Manila, where most of Mindanao’s products are sent.

“The ban is becoming detrimental to business,” Rodolfo Meñes, president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce, said.

Meñes said it is a fact that Sulpicio is a major player in the shipment of agricultural products and livestock from Mindanao.

“The ban is affecting us because 40 percent of cargo traffic goes through Sulpicio,” he said.

Lealyn Ramos, director of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao, said the small farmers are the ones most affected by the ban on Sulpicio.

“Most of the farmers in our region are entrepreneurs, their products have a market outside of Mindanao,” she said.

In Cotabato City, engineer Rodel Mañara, of the North Cotabato Agriculture and Fisheries Council, said farmers are already complaining about the lack of means to transport their products to Luzon and other parts of the country.

“During our meeting on Tuesday, farmers from Davao and General Santos City were also complaining because their products are rotting. They were not able to bring them to Manila because of the ban,” Mañara said.

Mañara said Mindanao supplies the bulk of agricultural products consumed in many parts of the country.

“The government has to do something, the government knows its figures,” Mañara said.

He warned that unless the ban is lifted, areas dependent on Mindanao products would eventually experience a shortage in agricultural products.

“If the present situation remains in the next few days wala nang kakainin ang mga taga-Luzon niyan,” he said.

Ramos agreed, saying that Luzon is experiencing difficulty in the supply of food now because of the typhoons.

She said the government could avert another calamity by lifting the ban on Sulpicio.

“I think the ban should be lifted if all things are already settled (with Sulpicio). Luzon needs our products since the crops there are destroyed by typhoons,” Ramos said.

“I’m telling you, 50 percent of agricultural product movement from Mindanao is carried by Sulpicio (Lines),” Mañara said.

Meñes said the Oro Chamber held a meeting on Tuesday, during which they decided to draft a letter of appeal to Malacañang.

“The ban should be lifted now because it is already affecting the movement of goods,” he said.

Meñes said the government should exempt cargo ships owned by the company while investigations on the ferry disaster continue.

“I am referring to cargo ships only, not passenger ships of Sulpicio,” he said.

Mañara said there is really no alternative to Sulpicio at this time.

“The Philippine Navy could not possibly ship our products to Manila,” he said.

Mañara admitted there are other shipping companies but they could not fill the gap left by Sulpicio.

“The port in Davao City is very large but there is lack of carriers. The products are at the port and are rotting now,” he said.

In Zamboanga City, city agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the ban would also affect production in Mindanao because the movement of farm inputs will be restricted.

dark_knight_detectve

July 18th, 2008, 01:58 PM

Mindanao HS studes to get P50-M grants (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008071621&type=2)

By Helen Flores
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The government will spend about P50 million for a three-year scholarship program for high school students in Mindanao.

Ester Ogena, director of the Department of Science and Technology’s Science Education Institute, said the program dubbed “Mindanao Opportunities for Vitalizing Education and Upgrading of Science” or MOVE UP, aims to provide “leveling opportunity” to Mindanao youth.

“A lot of studies showed the correlation between socio-economic deprivation and the low interest in science among Muslim youth,” Ogena said.

Republic Act 7687, or the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994, mandates the government’s scholarship program that reaches out to poor, talented and deserving students desiring to pursue a degree or training in science and technology.

Ogena said the project, which would start in the fourth quarter of this year, would provide 90 scholarship slots to incoming high school students.

“We will spend P16 million for the first year of implementation, P20 to P25 million for the second year, close to P50 million for three years,” she said.

Ogena said a youth camp is scheduled in October at the Philippine Science High School-Davao campus to gather Muslim elementary students.

“The activity aims to drum up interest among Muslim youth so that they would take scholarship exam for high school,” Ogena said.

SEI is the DOST agency mandated to develop a critical mass of competitive S&T workers and professionals.

The agency is also offering graduate scholarships under its Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program.

Peng Hok

July 18th, 2008, 04:00 PM

d/p

Peng Hok

July 18th, 2008, 04:12 PM

:applause:
good for Davao and Mindanao as well na rin. im glad the Ayala's are still keen on investing inspite of the not so good news about Mindanao. Viva Ayala! Viva Davao!

Not just Ayala bai. Robinsons and SM, as well. As you may already know, SM has already purchased the 66-hectare Lanang Golf and Country Club to convert it into a business park with a second SM City Davao mall (I really hope it would be named SM North Davao). Ayala Center Davao and Robinsons Cybergate Davao (which, by the way, are both underconstruction), and the SM project in Lanang are separated by just a few kilometers from one another. Add to that, in front of Ayala would be the condotel project of Filinvest (as confirmed by the project manager of Filinvest for Mindanao who is based in Davao City). Indeed, all these projects in Davao would help disprove negative perceptions about Mindanao.

WawaY[625]

July 18th, 2008, 04:33 PM

yeah keep the projects and other developments from mindanao coming :) go go go mindanao :)

WawaY[625]

July 18th, 2008, 06:50 PM

S. Mindanao gets share of construction boom (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2008/07/19/bus/s..mindanao.gets.share.of.construction.boom.html)

THE Davao Region or Southern Mindanao placed fourth in having the highest number of approved building permits in the country during fourth quarter of 2007, trailing behind the industrial region of Calbarzon, Metro Manila, and Cebu.

This was revealed in the private building construction statistics released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in its website Friday.

Southern Mindanao issued 2,122 permits or 10.23 percent of the total 20,727 building permits approved nationwide.

The figures, however, are smaller compared to the same period in 2006.

The number of approved permits lowered by 14.8 percent compared with 24,330 building permit applications recorded during the last quarter of 2006.

Although there were less construction activities, the total aggregate value of construction in 2007 amounted to P26.3 billion which is .5 percent higher from the P26.2 billion recorded during the same period of 2006.

Topping the ranks is Region 4A (Calbarzon) with 4,466 or 21.54 percent, followed by the National Capital Region with 3,158 or 15.22 percent, then Central Visayas where Cebu is with 2,805 or 13.53 percent.

Closely behind Southern Mindanao and in 5th place is Central Luzon with 2,097 or 10.11 percent. (GLP)

Peng Hok

July 18th, 2008, 11:54 PM

;22814646']yeah keep the projects and other developments from mindanao coming :) go go go mindanao :)

Well, yes.

One Oasis Davao (Filinvest) and Magallanes Residences (Consunji) are also under construction.

I did not include muna big projects by local businessmen such as Central Park Hotel and expansion of Gaisano Mall of Davao.

Good for Mindanao indeed that at least one of its cities is being groomed to be one of the country's top shopping destinations as adverted to by the architect of Ayala.

Alingatong

July 19th, 2008, 01:24 AM

;22814646']yeah keep the projects and other developments from mindanao coming :) go go go mindanao :)

May tama ka @Way. Big projects for Mindanao. Sana lahat ng mga cities sa Mindanao may mga malalaking mall na para di na dumayo sa ibang lugar para mag-shopping lang. :cheers:

GearX

July 19th, 2008, 03:21 AM

Pagasa: Low pressure area spotted off Mindanao (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/107964/Pagasa-Low-pressure-area-spotted-off-Mindanao)

MANILA, Philippines A shallow low pressure area (SLPA) was spotted east of Mindanao, but state weather forecasters did not say if it may intensify into a cyclone.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the SLPA was estimated to be 430 kilometers (km) east of Mindanao as of 4 a.m. Saturday.

In its 5 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said the SLPA was embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao.

Also, it said moderate to occasionally strong southwesterly surface windflow is prevailing over extreme Northern Luzon.

"Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it said.

Pagasa said moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the southwest would prevail over Extreme Northern Luzon with moderate to occasionally rough seas.

Elsewhere, light to moderate northeasterly and southeasterly winds will prevail with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms. - GMANews.TV

MtApoStandard

July 19th, 2008, 03:25 AM

http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/sr08352f2.gif
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/sr08352tx.html

;22819212']S. Mindanao gets share of construction boom (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2008/07/19/bus/s..mindanao.gets.share.of.construction.boom.html)

THE Davao Region or Southern Mindanao placed fourth in having the highest number of approved building permits in the country during fourth quarter of 2007, trailing behind the industrial region of Calbarzon, Metro Manila, and Cebu.

This was revealed in the private building construction statistics released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in its website Friday.

Southern Mindanao issued 2,122 permits or 10.23 percent of the total 20,727 building permits approved nationwide.

The figures, however, are smaller compared to the same period in 2006.

The number of approved permits lowered by 14.8 percent compared with 24,330 building permit applications recorded during the last quarter of 2006.

Although there were less construction activities, the total aggregate value of construction in 2007 amounted to P26.3 billion which is .5 percent higher from the P26.2 billion recorded during the same period of 2006.

Topping the ranks is Region 4A (Calbarzon) with 4,466 or 21.54 percent, followed by the National Capital Region with 3,158 or 15.22 percent, then Central Visayas where Cebu is with 2,805 or 13.53 percent.

Closely behind Southern Mindanao and in 5th place is Central Luzon with 2,097 or 10.11 percent. (GLP)

Peng Hok

July 19th, 2008, 11:18 AM

Mindanao's first and only yacht club so far. Located in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g261/waway625/29-11-07_1042.jpg
^^ outdated photo though

http://neodavao.wordpress.com/files/2007/09/img_0378.jpg

Peng Hok

July 19th, 2008, 11:26 AM

Francisco Bangoy International Airport
Davao City, Philippines

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/6748/photo392fj9.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4458/photo539eh8.jpg

^^Serving the island of Mindanao with direct international flights...

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/4250/photo354fi0.jpg

^^...And rewarding visitors who pass through it.

Peng Hok

July 20th, 2008, 07:19 AM

Developments in Davao always redound to the benefit of Mindanao.

More shopping malls to rise in Davao City
Philippine Star
Philippine Star - Saturday, July 19

DAVAO CITY - Three of the country's leading mall developers have poured in new investments in Davao City, the leading growth center in the south.

The investments again prove that the city deserves its being the country's most competitive highly urbanized city based on a survey conducted by the Asian Institute of Management under its Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project for 2007, local officials said.

Occupying second to fifth places in the survey are Quezon City, Makati, Manila and Marikina, respectively.

Among the latest investments is the P3.5-billion mega-mall and business park that Ayala Land Inc. is putting up with Anflocor Investment and Development Corp. on a nine-hectare property of the Floirendos along J.P. Laurel Avenue.

The city council is expected to soon approve the application of Ayala Land and Anflocor for a reclassification into a major commercial area certain portions of the property declared residential in a 1996 zoning ordinance.

While SM already has a mall in the southern part of the city, in Ecoland, along Quimpo Boulevard, negotiations are underway for the purchase of a 10-hectare property also along J.P. Laurel Avenue for the construction of another mall north of the city.

A scion of the Dacudao family that owns the Lanang Golf and Country Club told The STAR that negotiations are on the final stages, although the two parties have yet to agree on the final amount.

Work is also underway for Robinsons Land Corp.'s P400-million mall also along J. P. Laurel Avenue.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte though said that investments should be tempered with proper city planning.

Duterte said the city government has to do its share to maintain the viability of the city as an investment haven.

The AIM survey took into consideration the dynamism of the local economy, cost of doing business, infrastructure, human resources and training, responsiveness of the local government to business needs, and quality of life.

Davao City has consistently ranked high in the AIM survey for several years, sharing the top spot with Makati City in 2005. - Edith Regalado/Philstar

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20080719/tph-shopping-malls-davao-5994a93.html

bariQ

July 20th, 2008, 07:24 AM

i just wana ask... is duty free bah like ann international company or is it like every country has one? coz theyre logos are different every country... ngutana lang hehe

KulasKusgan

July 20th, 2008, 07:29 AM

i just wana ask... is duty free bah like ann international company or is it like every country has one? coz theyre logos are different every country... ngutana lang hehe

its a franchise awarded by the govt to private sector to operate duty free shops...

from wiki...

Duty-free shops (or stores) are retail outlets that do not apply local or national taxes and duties. They are often found in the international zone of international airports, sea ports or onboard passenger ships. They are not as commonly available for road or train travelers, although several border crossings between the United States and Canada have duty-free shops for car travelers.

These outlets were abolished for travel within the European Union (EU) in 1999, but are retained for travelers whose final destination is outside the EU. They also sell to intra-EU travellers but with appropriate taxes. Some special member state territories such as Åland, Livigno and the Canary Islands, are within the EU but outside the EU tax union, and thus still continue duty-free sales for all travelers.

Duty-free shopping is also available to foreign visitors in many ordinary shops in some cities. In this case, the visitors will pay the normal price, but the tax is refunded when the goods are exported. In the case of the EU, the tax is refunded when the goods leave the EU.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty-free

Brief History of Duty Free Philippines

The exclusive franchise to operate duty and tax free shops was originally granted to Tourist Duty Free Shops, Inc. (TDFS), a private corporation, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1193 (P.D. 1193) and Letter of Instruction No. 595 (LOI 595), both dated 6 September 1977. TDFS was authorized to establish, operate and maintain duty and tax free stores at all international airports and seaports, selected hotels, tourist resorts, and commercial or trading centers throughout the country for a period of twenty-five (25) years. However, this franchise was revoked by Executive Order No. 24 dated 27 June 1986.

Executive Order No. 46 (E.O. 46) dated 4 September 1986, authorized the Department of Tourism (DOT), through the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), to establish and operate a duty and tax free merchandising system in the Philippines for the purpose of augmenting service facilities for tourists and generating foreign exchange and revenue for the Government. Under this system, the PTA has the exclusive authority to operate shops and stores that would sell tax and duty free merchandise, goods and articles in international airports and sea ports throughout the country on its own or by contracting private parties through public bidding.

On March 1, 1987, a twelve-man task force headed by Mr. Jose N. Esteban III, was created to lay down DFP’s initial operations with only $91,000 in capital. On 28 March 1987, Customs Administrative Order No. 3-87 (CAO 3-87) was issued, prescribing the rules, regulations and procedures for the establishment, operation and control of duty and tax free stores and warehouses.

The first duty free outlet located at the Arrival Area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) started its operations on 2 May 1987, initially offering liquor, tobacco, fragrances and confectionery.
A month after, the Departure shops at NAIA became operational, boasting of sleek and modern designs. By the end of 1987, a third outlet was opened at the Mactan International Airport in Cebu while the Manila Hotel and Manila Garden Order Centers were added in 1988.

April 2, 1989 saw the birth of DFP’s first off-airport shop and its largest duty free outlet --- the Fiesta Shopping Center . The FSC, a take-off from the Department of Tourism’s Fiesta Islands Philippines promotion, was an 8,000 sq.m. facility right across NAIA and the country’s biggest duty free store. More new shops were opened in 1992: the DFP Arrival store at Fort Ilocandia in Laoag, Ilocos Norte; departure and arrival outlets in the new terminal building of the Mactan International Airport in Cebu; and an off-airport store at the Paskuhan Village in San Fernando, Pampanga. A downtown shop opened in 1993 in Davao. April 1997 marked the opening of DFP’s flagship store on a 5-hectare lot, purpose built for duty free retailing. The new Fiestamall boasts of a 24,000 sq.m. selling area and state-of-the-art facilities.

At present, DFP operates the following outlets: Fiestamall in Parañaque City, Arrival & Departure Stores at the NAIA Terminals 1 & 2, Arrival & Departure Outlets at the Cebu Mactan International Airport, a store at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu and the Arrival and Pre-departure shops at the Davao International Airport.

http://www.dfp.com.ph/modules/content/index.php?id=15

paulkrps

July 20th, 2008, 12:51 PM

notice lang nako, most duty free shops are within the terminal building and usually located before you exit immigration counters. why the different case in davao?

KulasKusgan

July 20th, 2008, 02:25 PM

Angkol pol, there are 2 duty free shops in DIA. Ang isa nasa loob sa may departure area. Ang isa yang nasa pic sa labas sa may parking area.

paulkrps

July 20th, 2008, 03:10 PM

ic angkol claus. sori, didn't know there was one inside. only thing is, kung naay isa sa sulod, and is this situated in the international wing? if so, what's the frequency of international flights coming in?

KulasKusgan

July 20th, 2008, 03:24 PM

Opo, naa sa intl wing ang duty free sa sulod. Everyday naa may 2-4 intl flights plus kung naay chartered flights. Gamay lang man ang duty free sa sulod. Gamay lang pud ila baligya. Naay mga wines, liquor, chichirya, chocolates og mineral water. Di lang ko sure kung naa ba silay baligya dagum pantuslok sa pusod. Mga 3 ka dupa ra kadako. Nya naay mga istante nga glass. Lahos lahos lang ang tao sa ky open lang man.

paulkrps

July 20th, 2008, 03:30 PM

nay kaldero for the kaldero tourist?:lol:

unta kumpleto, haplas sa sakit sa ulo, hilanat, kalibanga ug uban pa.:lol:

KulasKusgan

July 20th, 2008, 03:39 PM

Way ayo kay walay kaldero. Maski man lang white flower, wala. Naa silay baligya nga tubig, ferti kamahal maski wa-il man gani to. Evian ang nakasulat. Nangita kog tanduay, wala pud. Jack daniels lang daw. Nge wa man gani ko kaila ana.

paulkrps

July 20th, 2008, 03:53 PM

keksakli, murag ako, nangitag dyobos wa daw.

seryoso daw.

kung ing-ana kadaghan ang frequency, ok lang. pero i think nga ang sa gawas nga duty mas kusog kay wa magsalig sa international passengers.

KulasKusgan

July 20th, 2008, 04:02 PM

Ok lang man nga gamay ra siya kay gamay lang man pud intl passengers. Pangit man pud nga padak an nila nya way halin, purdoy sila sa overhead expenses lang daan. Ang sa gawas medyo spacious, nya open sa public.

paulkrps

July 20th, 2008, 04:05 PM

yups, was there last december. flexible ilang payment schemes - pero, dolyar or credit cards.

boju2

July 21st, 2008, 02:53 AM

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/boju4289/mindanao/July21-1000.jpg

Pro-Life Rallies Set in Mindanao (http://themindanaocurrent.blogspot.com/2008/07/headlines-front-page-july-21-2008.html)

Pro-life groups in various areas of Mindanao have scheduled rallies and symposia to oppose the Life Reproductive Health Bill now pending in Congress.

The campaign started here in Cagayan de Oro with the celebration of Humanae Vitae Month with a symposium on the Papal Encyclical at Lourdes College High School in Macasandig, last July 5, 2008. The symposium was conducted by Fr. Florencio Salvador, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

Last July 14, the Prelature of Ipil had a planning meeting to set their activities for the island wide display of protest to the bill.

The Diocese of Malaybalay held their Prayer Rally in Valencia City last 20th which culminated with a Eucharistic Celebration officiated by Most Rev. Honesto Ch. Pacana, S.J., Bishop of Malaybalay.

Dipolog will have theirs on the 21st, Surigao on August 18th and Ozamis on October 5th. Other Archdiocese and Diocese are still finalizing their plans.

What is clear is that all dioceses in the country are coming out against this Life Reproductive Health Bill.

Earlier, a Pro-life rally organized and attended by thousands of youth leaders in Lipa City has left its mark. Congressman Mark Leandro of the 4th district of Batangas withdrew his support of anti-life bills, thus shrinking the number of politicians supporting the reproductive health bill to 33.

But Bullecer clarified that this is not the end of the pro-life warfare because they will launch a series of pro-life rallies from various regions in the Philippines.

He criticized Albay Rep.Edcel Lagman, the principal author of the reproductive health and population management bill in the house who was quoted as saying “no one among the members of the 14th Congress is espousing permissive abortion,”

“Lagman is innocent that he is endorsing permissive abortion because he is a politician and not a doctor, but for us doctors we study and do research that contraceptive is clearly an abortion per se,” added Dr. Bullecer.

Bullecer appealed on the Catholic Hierarchy to impose the same discipline to the Catholic doctors who are consistently doing massive ligation and vasectomy. Compared to 33 pro-abortion congressmen, there are more Catholic doctors who are doing ligation and vasectomy, said Bullecer.

“If these doctors will disobey the Church’s precautionary measures they should be excommunicated or interdicted,” Bullecer concluded.

Back in Ozamis, Bishop Dosado said he called and met with Misamis Occidental first district Congresswoman Hermie Ramero when he saw Ramero’s name as one of the endorsers of anti-life bills. The prelate disclosed that he spoke privately with Congresswoman Ramiro and the solon immediately withdrew her support of the bills.

In another development, Senate President Manny Villar has assured Ozamiz Archbishop Dosado of his firm stand against anti-life bills during their meeting at the Archbishop’s residence in Banadero, Ozamiz City.

Villar met with the Archbishop a day after the prelate issued a statement saying pro-abortion Catholic politicians should be denied Holy Communion unless they stop their pro-abortion campaign.

Dosado expressed elation upon knowing that Villar is one of the three pro-life senators in the senate together with Senators Nene Pimentel and Chiz Escudero.

At the meeting, Villar gave the assurance that there is no threat the 14th congress may pass the anti-life bills because majority of the Representatives in the Lower House are pro-lifers.

Earlier, Dosado’s pastoral letter stating his unequivocal stand against anti-life politicians made headlines.

Dosado said that in 2002 he issued the same pastoral letter stating the case of pro-abortion Catholic politicians that their parish priests should meet them; instruct them about the Church’s teaching, inform them that they should not receive Holy Communion unless they stop their pro-abortion actions.

Saying it is not enough

Meanwhile Chairman of Human Life International Dr. Rene Joseph Bullecer said it is not enough for Villar to declare his being a Catholic and a pro-life senator, he must also prove his claim by doing all his means to kill the anti-life bills.

Bullecer strongly supports Dosado’s stand to call the attention of all pro-abortion Catholic politicians. When these precautionary measures failed to get the intended effect, and still present themselves to receive Holy Communion, the Minister of the Holy Eucharist must refuse to distribute it, said Bullecer.

“I’m not in favor that pro-abortion politicians should be denied communion without calling [their attention] and instructing [them first] about the Church’s teachings because not all of them are aware that they are supporting the anti-life bills,” Bullecer said. (With reports from Wendell Talibong and Roy Lagarde)

boju2

July 21st, 2008, 02:56 AM

Australian gov’t launches horticulture programs for RP (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072108/content.php?id=031#shang)

The Australian government, through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), recently launched two big horticulture programs aimed to improve domestic profitability and export competitiveness of selected vegetable and fruit value chains in Southern Philippines.

Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) Counselor Sam Zappia, representing Australian Ambassador Rod Smith, and Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development (PCARRD) Executive Director Dr. Patricio Faylon opened the program inaugural meeting.

Representatives from ACIAR’s partner organizations were also present at the event, including Rey Velasco, chancellor, University of the Philippines-Los Baños; Jose Bacusmo, president, Visayas State University; David Hall of New South Wales Department of Primary Industries; and Bob Williams of Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

ACIAR is providing P285 million (A$7.5 million) of the two programs’ total cost of about P444 million (A$11.7 million), the rest of which are contributions from Australian and Philippine collaborators.

The four-year vegetable value chain program, to be managed by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, aims to develop integrated soil and crop nutrient management in vegetable crops in Southern Philippines and Australia.

The vegetable value chain program will also look at developing a cost-effective protected vegetable cropping system, particularly in high-rainfall areas of Leyte and Mindanao, to produce high-value crops in the wet season when prices are high. These systems will also be modified for use in Australia.

The fruit value chain program, on the other hand, will be managed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and implemented over the next four years in Leyte, Northern Mindanao/Cagayan de Oro and Southern Minda-nao/Davao. This program aims to improve domestic profitability and export competitiveness of the following fruit crops: mango, papaya, durian and jackfruit. The two programs are the result of consultations and collaborations of ACIAR with the private sector, local government units, nongovernment organizations, state universities and colleges, and farmer group representatives.

These programs demonstrate the Australian government’s commitment to support the Philippines in its fight against poverty by paving ways for sustained means of livelihood, particularly in the agriculture sector depended on by majority of rural people.

MtApoStandard

July 21st, 2008, 07:17 AM

PLDT, Smart tap ONB for bills payment in Mindanao
By Carmelito Q. Francisco

THE PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. and its subsidiaries have partnered with One Network Bank so that they could use the infrastructure of the bank in reaching the hinterlands for payments of bills.
Under the Memorandum of Agreement signed last Friday, the telephone company and its subsidiaries will use the bank as its payment facility for its products and those of its subsidiaries considering that the Mindanao-based company has set up branches and automated teller machines in areas considered as “underbanked” or even “unbanked.”
Rolando G. Pena, head for consumer affairs of the telecommunications company, said that the partnership will allow the telecommunications company and its subsidiaries to widen their reach as subscribers in small municipalities will be able to pay their bills without spending much.
“Our customers will be able to save more time and fares and this is big,” Pena said during the signing of the memorandum of agreement at the Waterfront Hotel Davao last Friday.
The partnership, he said, will allow the telecommunications company to improve its services because subscribers can now pressure it considering that they have their way to pay their bills on time. “One Network Bank is helping us to serve our customers even better,” he said.
The telecommunications company has extended its telecommunications system throughout Mindanao where one can use a wireless landline to call any part of the world.
Pena added that the signing of the memorandum of agreement completes the business relationship between the two companies considering that the bank is the telecommunications company’s clients for its telecommunications facilities.
Alex V. Buenaventura, president of the bank, said this will also allow the bank to streng-then its marketability considering that the bank is partnering with one of the biggest companies of the country.
“Perhaps we could deliver a good job in accepting payments (for the telecommunications company and its subsidiaries),” he said, adding that the agreement is specially important in areas where other banks are not around.
Although the telecommunications company has signed with other banks for its payment facility, Buenaventura told the TIMES this is a big boost to the bank because it is only the rural bank that has this facility.
At present, the bank has 70 branches with 17 of them in areas where there are no banks. The management of the bank earlier announced it will set up 25 branches in the next five years. It also has 68 automated teller machines, some of them not within their banks.
Under the one-year agreement, the bank will receive payments for the telecommunications company and its subsidiaries like Smart and Smart Broadbank Inc. and Maranao Telephone Co. in Lanao del Sur even when there is no statement of account “provided that the subscriber can fill in the correct account or reference number.”

http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=20963

MtApoStandard

July 21st, 2008, 07:28 AM

Monday, 21 July 2008
PSC eyes IOC recognition of Mindanao Friendship Games PDF Print E-mail
Rico Biliran/MindaNews
Monday, 21 July 2008 10:37
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/20 July) -- The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) plans to apply for “official recognition” of the Mindanao Friendship Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez hopes IOC will recognize the MFG to ensure sustainability of the “sports for peace” program.

“IOC recognition is very important to sustain the program and uphold its purpose, “said Ramirez in a press briefing here Saturday afternoon.

In order to be recognized by the IOC, the statute, practice and activities (of the applicant) must be in conformity with the Olympic Charter.

Once the MFG obtains the nod of the Olympic body, Ramirez said, the “sports for peace” program which comes to life again this year after half a decade of dormancy would get an initial US$ 500,000 funding.

“With that funding, we can continue the MFG even if we are no longer at the PSC, “said the first Mindanawon PSC chief who spearheaded the creation of the MFG in 2001.

Two weeks ago during the Mindanao Sports Summit in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte, Ramirez said the revival of the MFG, which was last held in Mati, Davao Oriental in 2003, is "for the people of Mindanao."

"The MFG can put us together in one place and play despite our differences in religion, culture and status," said Ramirez, adding: "In MFG, no one bothers to ask your religion or status. We just play, develop camaraderie and friendship through sports."

Ramirez, 58, appealed to “all groups or factions” not to create havoc that could disrupt the staging of the revival of the MFG on November 10 to 15 in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte, the venue of its inauguration in 2001.

The MFG, a multi-sports event for the local government units (LGU) in the island, had sent a message of peace in the region in 2001, 2002, and 2003 before it was scrapped in the calendar of the national sports agency reportedly due to financial constraints.

“I hope that no chaos would occur that could impair the revival of the Mindanao games,” said the former professor at the Ateneo De Davao University and Davao City sports coordinator.

“We only have one friendship game in the country. We should take care of it, “Ramirez added.

According to the MFG charter, the fundamental principles of the games are developing champions for talent identification to the national pool, sporting brotherhood for Mindanao’s Moro, Lumads (Indigenous Peoples) and settlers, and sharing each other’s culture.

"The MFG not only offers competition and development but endeavors to be similar benefit to a Mindanawon by adopting a culture from one place, integrating positive values of one cultural characteristics," the MFG charter added.

The MFG began in 2001, a year after the “all out war” waged by the Philippine government against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that displaced nearly a million people. It lasted for three years and was last held in 2003, another year of war in South-Central Mindanao. A little over 400,00 person were displaced by that war.

The government and MILF are still negotiating peace. (Rico J. Biliran/MindaNews)

MtApoStandard

July 21st, 2008, 07:56 AM

Mindanao rural dev’t to get P300-M boost

DAVAO CITY — Agriculture and infrastructure projects covering 225 towns in 27 Mindanao provinces are the target of some P300 million to be disbursed this year under the second phase of the World Bank-funded Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP 2).

MRDP 2 deputy program director Arnel de Mesa said his office has received applications for projects, with value totalling over P500 million. "Farm-to-market roads comprise more than 80% of the applications but we also have potable water supply and irrigation," he said.

Implemented under the Department of Agriculture, the first phase of MRDP which ended in 2005 disbursed a total of $27 million for 32 municipalities in five provinces in Mindanao.

Phase 2 of the program, which started July 3 last year, involved a $83.752-million loan from the World Bank, along with 50% equity from host local governments.

Each local government can avail of rebates of up to 20%, according to performance-based benchmarks.

MRDP 2 will first focus on 125 municipalities; the remaining 100 will follow once the first batch receive satisfactory rating from the assessment team of World Bank.

Under the old scheme, the share of the local government depended on the municipality’s income class. A study by the National Economic and Development Authority found out that 60% of the local governments that availed of the grant belonged to 3rd and 4th class municipalities, to the detriment of others (1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th class municipalities) that could have been just as qualified.

Under MRDP 1, excluded municipalities were considered either too developed to warrant assistance, or too poor to raise the required 20% equity.

Arnulfo D. Lantaya, municipal planning development officer of Pantukan town in Compostela Valley, said some municipalities might find it difficult to raise the equity, especially now that it is higher than what was required under the first phase.

But this, he said, is still better than having to shoulder the entire cost. "If you want farm-to-market roads, then you can really save a big amount, since you now only have to allocate for 50%, instead of 100%," he said.

Rogelio C. Chio, regional executive director of the Agriculture department, said: "We are glad thatnow, we can fully implement the multi-million infrastructure projects critical in increasing agriculture production here in Mindanao." — JBE

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072108/content.php?id=056

GearX

July 21st, 2008, 08:07 AM

Mindanao still an attractive investment site (http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Business_19/Mindanao_still_an_attractive_investment_site.shtml)

MANILA, July 20 (PNA) -- A special House body is set to pass several measures to attract foreign and local businessmen to invest in the Mindanao region.

Rep. Edelmiro Amante (2nd District, Agusan del Norte), chair of the special committee on the East Asean Growth Area (EAGA), said despite the negative publicity in Mindanao the region remains an attractive investment site as the Philippines continues to promote trade, business and tourism with three of its East ASEAN neighbors.

Formed in 1994 by the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (BIMP), the BIMP-EAGA aims to increase trade, investment and tourism in the region.

Amante said several measures are being considered by the House panel to improve the trade relations and security cooperation with neighboring countries.

"The House will prioritize the crafting of a Philippines-EAGA law granting special and liberalized incentives to stimulate economic activities in the area," the lawmaker said.

Amante said the other proposal is the granting of travel tax exemptions to air and sea travelers from Mindanao and Palawan to any destination in the BIMP-EAGA areas.

"Building up EAGA will cause an explosion of prosperity in the country and its neighboring areas," Amante added.

The BIMP-EAGA consists of the entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; 10 provinces in the islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Irian Jaya in Indonesia; the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan in Malaysia; as well as Palawan and Mindanao in the Philippines.

Amante said the EAGA would be seen as a new economic center because the area is rich in natural resources.

The Mindanao solon said the area is being eyed as a major location of high value-added agro-industry, natural resource-based manufacturing industries, high-grade tourism and non-resource based industries. (PNA)

boju2

July 22nd, 2008, 01:44 AM

Tuesday, 22 July 2008
PSC eyes IOC recognition of Mindanao Friendship Games (http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4772&Itemid=61)

Rico Biliran/MindaNews
Monday, 21 July 2008 10:37

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/20 July) -- The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) plans to apply for “official recognition” of the Mindanao Friendship Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez hopes IOC will recognize the MFG to ensure sustainability of the “sports for peace” program.

“IOC recognition is very important to sustain the program and uphold its purpose, “said Ramirez in a press briefing here Saturday afternoon.

In order to be recognized by the IOC, the statute, practice and activities (of the applicant) must be in conformity with the Olympic Charter.

Once the MFG obtains the nod of the Olympic body, Ramirez said, the “sports for peace” program which comes to life again this year after half a decade of dormancy would get an initial US$ 500,000 funding.

“With that funding, we can continue the MFG even if we are no longer at the PSC, “said the first Mindanawon PSC chief who spearheaded the creation of the MFG in 2001.

Two weeks ago during the Mindanao Sports Summit in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte, Ramirez said the revival of the MFG, which was last held in Mati, Davao Oriental in 2003, is "for the people of Mindanao."

"The MFG can put us together in one place and play despite our differences in religion, culture and status," said Ramirez, adding: "In MFG, no one bothers to ask your religion or status. We just play, develop camaraderie and friendship through sports."

Ramirez, 58, appealed to “all groups or factions” not to create havoc that could disrupt the staging of the revival of the MFG on November 10 to 15 in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte, the venue of its inauguration in 2001.

The MFG, a multi-sports event for the local government units (LGU) in the island, had sent a message of peace in the region in 2001, 2002, and 2003 before it was scrapped in the calendar of the national sports agency reportedly due to financial constraints.

“I hope that no chaos would occur that could impair the revival of the Mindanao games,” said the former professor at the Ateneo De Davao University and Davao City sports coordinator.

“We only have one friendship game in the country. We should take care of it, “Ramirez added.

According to the MFG charter, the fundamental principles of the games are developing champions for talent identification to the national pool, sporting brotherhood for Mindanao’s Moro, Lumads (Indigenous Peoples) and settlers, and sharing each other’s culture.

"The MFG not only offers competition and development but endeavors to be similar benefit to a Mindanawon by adopting a culture from one place, integrating positive values of one cultural characteristics," the MFG charter added.

The MFG began in 2001, a year after the “all out war” waged by the Philippine government against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that displaced nearly a million people. It lasted for three years and was last held in 2003, another year of war in South-Central Mindanao. A little over 400,00 person were displaced by that war.

The government and MILF are still negotiating peace. (Rico J. Biliran/MindaNews)

GearX

July 22nd, 2008, 04:28 AM

Why 3 Oxfam offices are pooling resources for Mindanao (http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4767&Itemid=50)
Romy B. Elusfa/MindaNews
Sunday, 20 July 2008 09:59

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/19 July) -- "An alarming proportion" of poverty and violent conflict confronting the tri-people of Mindanao is a major factor that made three Overseas Development Agencies conglomerate and focus their peace and development efforts in only three regions of Mindanao.

Felipe Ramiro Jr., Joint Oxfam Mindanao program coordinator said that while Oxfam has already worked in peace building efforts before in partnership with organizations like the Bantay Ceasefire, they are now looking at "scaling up the different peace initiatives towards a more integrated approach towards peace-building."
Ramiro said they poured in the bulk of their funds to Mindanao because "poverty is greatest in Mindanao and is exacerbated by conflicts."

According to a briefing paper of the Joint Oxfam Program (JOP) presented during the launch at the Apo View hotel here on July 16, between 1988 and 2006, “poverty has increased at alarming proportions" in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM,) Southwestern Mindanao (Region 12) and Caraga (Region 13).”

In a study, JOP, which pooled together the resources and efforts of Oxfam Great Britain (OGB), Oxfam Hong Kong (OHK) and Oxfam Novib ON), noted that "the poverty incidence rate for households was registered as highest in 2003 in Caraga (47.1%), and ARMM (45.4%), nearly double the national average of 24.4%. On top of this, ARMM and Region 12 had experienced continuing episodes of armed conflict, resulting in huge humanitarian and economic losses. Needless to say, women suffered more than men from poverty and carried the burden of male-dominated decisions and actions in times of war."

Caraga comprises the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte and the cities therein; ARMM comprises Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and the towns within Shariff Kabunsuan province. The Supreme Court has recently ruled that Section 19 in RA 9054 which allowed the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly to create new provinces and cities is unconstitutional as only Congress has that power.

Region 12 comprises South Cotabato, Sarangani, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and the cities of Cotabato,

"Despite its natural endowments," JOP said "Mindanao could not afford decent livelihood for its residents" because the "majority of the poor (two for every three) are found in rural areas, subsisting on agriculture.”

JOP deduced from its study that "locals in the countryside compete more now compared to any other time, for finite land resources, prompting among others, the problem of landlessness. Many women in agriculture are reported landless, rendering unpaid labor."

Half of Mindanao's four million hectares of farm lands is reportedly planted to rice and corn with the largest granaries located in Region 12. Yet, small rice and corn farmers complain of losses because of the high cost of production dependent on chemical-based inputs, the study said.

Compounding the peasants' problems, JOP said that "these farmers have to confront new challenges triggered by climate change like long periods of drought usually followed by infestation," not counting the "massive conversion of rice and corn lands into high-value commercial crops like banana, pineapple and asparagus."

Other high-potential cash crops like abaca, coffee, mango and rubber remain largely underdeveloped because "small farmer-to-market linkages remain practically absent. The coffee sector demonstrates this clearly," the JOP study shows.

While Mindanao produces about three-fourths of national coffee output, coffee hectarage in Caraga has dramatically declined by 40% between 2000 and 2003. "Farmers have no incentives to continue growing coffee," said the JOP documents which formed part of the briefing paper at the launch participated in by around over 50 representatives of Civil Society Organizations.

Meanwhile, abaca maintains its dismal yield per hectare of less than 1 MT per hectare. Most of the abaca farms located in ARMM and Caraga, covering "16,262 hectares or 55% of Mindanao's total, remain stagnant."

Municipal fishery, JOP's study showed, is characterized by "low return on investments, leaving eight out of 10 municipal fishers in Mindanao poor as of 2006. Only 16% of the total national fisheries output (almost one million MT of fishes and other marine products as of 2001), could be attributed to this sector.

Compounding the problem is illegal logging, the study showed. "Dependent to Mindanao's vast forest resources bear the brunt today of many years of illegal logging, rampant largely in Caraga."

The study cited Agusan del Sur, the poorest of five provinces in Caraga, where 76% of the land area is classified as forest, only 2.4% is considered today as old growth forest.

Unfortunately, the "logging" mentality pervades most people and "even community-based groups" have been awarded with tree plantation contracts, which the study said has "canceled out sustainable forest management and agro-forestry as viable strategies to meet the income needs of upland dwellers."

Against this depressing outlook for rural livelihoods in Mindanao, the JOP says "the national government's response regrettably fails to inspire."

It mentioned that the Arroyo administration, in June 2004, included in its 10-point national program the development of two million hectares for agribusiness, with Mindanao singled out to be the main agro-forestry and export zone. "This brings to fore the issue of food security," JOP said while noting the "aggressive push of late by government for bio-fuels signaled further reduction of the area planted to food crops in the region."

The study showed that the government's "unfinished business in agrarian reform" and its promotion of mining have also added more blows against the small farmers.

The land reform program "conveniently excluded private agriculture lands 50 hectares and above" while having multiple tenurial instruments also led to "competing claims to land."

It noted P.D. 705 (Revised Forestry Code of 1975), an "outmoded" law, as government's mantle, "even though new policy settings such as the NIPAS Act of 1992 and the IPRA of 1997 exist."

"As a final strike, the government heavily promotes mining to attract foreign investments in the Philippines, most especially in Caraga. Of the 10 primary mining sites prioritized by government, five are in Caraga. Generous incentives have been introduced such as faster processing of applications and liberalizing the certification criteria and procedures to entice interest in mining. Ultimately, what this suggests is that government is relentless to spur economic growth, even without due consideration for equity and the environment. Sadly, in scenarios like this, the poor, most especially women and children, will be affected the most," the study said.

An important concluding note in the study stressed on the "effects of the delay on the completion of the peace process in Mindanao, something that the Arroyo administration also committed to do in 2004. Past violent conflicts occurred at great cost and in the economic sense alone, the loss has been pegged at 10-billion pesos from 1975 to 2002."

The nearly 11-year old peace talks between the government and the MILF Moro Islamic Liberation Front has yet to resume after it was stalled December last year.

Henk Peters, program officer of ON and Frank Elvey of OHK still could not provide a figure on how much they would spend for their joint project in Mindanao, though they said that the bulk of their $6-million fund for the country would be spent in Southern Philippines. Elvey said "it is not a fixed but developing amount" and Peters added that "we will still try to mobilize additional funds from others. We are giving more attention now than we did before to Mindanao."

Peters said their program includes advocacy work that their partner organizations may undertake to "try to influence government to come up with policies that are more responsive to the needs of the poor."

The focus of the policy advocacy, Ramiro said would be "towards agriculture. I guess it is important to ensure access of Lumads to their lands so they will be able to come up with viable plans on developing their ancestral domain." (Romy B. Elusfa/MindaNews)

red_jasper

July 22nd, 2008, 04:49 PM

Arroyo forms task force for Mindanao river rehab

By Inquirer Mindanao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:04:00 07/22/2008

COTABATO CITY, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved on Tuesday the creation of a special task force that would look into the rehabilitation of heavily silted rivers in south central Mindanao.

The President named former Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, OMI, as head of the task force.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza revealed the creation of the task force after the President met with officials of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Regional Development Council (RDCC-ARMM) and other Cabinet officials inside the 6th Infantry Division headquarters in Barangay (Village) Awang, in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Shariff Kabunsuan.

"The task force has no appropriate name yet but will be implemented under the Mindanao River Basin Program (MRBP)," Dureza said.

He said Quevedo would be assisted by heads of government agencies and local stakeholders in the efforts to save the Liguasan Marsh and major tributaries from heavy siltation.

"The Archbishop was chosen to head the task force as pushed by local leaders and for ample transparency on the project implementation. The President is due to issue an executive order for the task force creation as soon as she gets back to Manila," Dureza said.

He said that aside from improving water tributaries in Central Mindanao, the task force would also work for the rehabilitation of rivers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Dureza said the task force would work under the MRBP budget of P6 to P9 billion up to 2010, the end of the President’s term.

Full story here (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080722-150074/Arroyo-forms-task-force-for-Mindanao-river-rehab)

Peng Hok

July 23rd, 2008, 04:08 AM

junax

July 24th, 2008, 02:43 AM

Muzika del Sur Music Awards A celebration of Mindanao music
Published : 2008-07-22

TO CREATE music magazine show that showcases the music scene of the south started as chitchat idea of the creators of Muzika del Sur or MDS, Dax Cañedo and Niño Flores.
At that time, music lover Niño observed that bands playing original compositions had no venues to perform their masterpieces.
“In 2003, very few bands were bold enough to play their originals. If there were any, they always had difficulty looking for gigs that accommodate them,” Niño recalled.
As fate worked, Cañedo was working on shows to be aired on the then Channel 28 (now popularly known as the South Spot Channel 13), and found the idea of MDS feasible since Mindanaons are known to be good listeners of music.
“MDS was created to encourage our local musicians to pursue with their passion for music and to provide something new in the field of music to our fellow Mindanaons. (It’s) something that most of us are unaware but we should also be aware of — and one of that is the growing music scene here in the South,” Dax stated.
In 2007, the team created the first-ever music awards by the Mindanaoans and for the Mindanaoans, the Muzika del Sur Music Awards (MDSMA).
Surge of challenges were encountered by the team.
“One of the biggest challenges that the first MDSMA encountered was financial constraints. Since the Music Awards was on its infancy stage, we had difficulty clinching sponsors and producing the required amount for the whole production. It even reached a point where we entertained the thought of postponing the awards; nevertheless we chose to pursue with it and succeeded,” MDSMA Executive Producer Choko Bordios remembered.
Aside from financial blunders, another challenges that the team encountered were the comments of the detractors who happened to be Mindanaoan musicians as well. Accusation of MDSMA being too ambitious in creating the first Music Awards because the Mindanao crowd is not yet prepared for it came out that it almost demoralized the team.
Fortunately, dedicated personnel of the MDSMA and most of the music artists were persevering enough to prove that the Mindanaon music and its talents deserve recognition primarily by those who belong to Mindanao.
“When do we start recognizing the great talents that are hidden here in Mindanao? Do we wait for others to discover us or do we discover ourselves? There are no groups apt enough to recognize the rich talents in Mindanao but those that are from Mindanao. Sure, we want to be recognized by those from Manila and reach the national media but recognition and appreciation should start among us first and the rest will follow,” Four Sided Circle band vocalist Maki Serapio said.
Learning from the mistakes, rectifying errors, and surmounting the challenges faced during the first Music Awards, Muzika del Sur through the Muzika del Sur Music Awards 2008 is back to heighten the celebration of the musicians from the South who choose to pursue with their love for music and create their own songs.
Next month, the best of Mindanao music will take a center stage as MDS honors the biggest crop of musicians in the island.
Included in the awarding are Best Music Video, People’s Choice Awards, Mindanao Pride, Best Mindanao Song, Best Rock, Best Hip-Hop, Best Ragga, Best Pop and Best Metal.

source: http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=20978

Alingatong

July 24th, 2008, 05:49 AM

Mindanao 1st quarter investments reach P3.1-B

MINDANAO investment generation kicked off strongly this year on a total of P3.1 billion worth of Board of Investment (BOI)-registered investments recorded for the first quarter, surpassing the P747-million mark during the same period last year.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) announced Wednesday that recent BOI data showed these new investments came from 12 newly registered firms in Mindanao, which generated almost 2,000 jobs.

The newly registered firms, some of which started operations in January, include Liberty Land Corporation, Philippine Sinter Corporation, and Pilmico Foods Corporation in Northern Mindanao; Bioenergy 8 Corporation, Bongreen Corporation, Far East Seafood Inc., International Pipe Industries Corporation, and Nanoscript Inc. in Southern Mindanao; Mommy Gina Tuna Resources Inc. in Central Mindanao; Caraga Oil Refining Inc. and Krominco Inc. in Caraga region; and Pacifica Agro Industrial Corporation in Western Mindanao and Central Mindanao.

Medco said that majority of the investments were poured in Northern Mindanao amounting to P1.83 billion worth of three major investments in power generation, real estate, and animal feed production.

Central Mindanao came in second with a record of P557.9 million in investments mostly from marine products, according to Medco.

It said that around P1.03 billion came from Philippine Sinter Corporation, which is investing in power generation located at the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental and this comprises the bulk of Mindanao's total investments during the first quarter of the year.

Liberty Land Corporation, a real estate developer, is expanding its mass housing project in Cagayan de Oro registering P139.38 million in investments, while Pilmico Foods, which is due to start commercial operations in Iligan this month, has poured in P660 million investments for animal feed production.

Bioenergy 8 Corporation, the first bio-diesel production facility in Mindanao located in Sasa, Davao City started its pre-development stage in January this year.

The plant is expected to enhance access to biodiesel supply in the region.

Nanoscript Inc., an Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based company engaging in medical transcription training under the Medical Transcription Companies Academy (MTCA), has also started operations in Davao City early this year.

Most of these investment projects are in their pre-development stages.

Foreign investment partners include Chinese, Japanese, Korean and British investors.

BOI-registered investments in Mindanao reached P7.227 billion in 2007 with power generation as the leading investment area.

"The impressive investment performance for the first quarter will give a positive signal especially to foreign investors to pour in more investment projects in Mindanao," said Medco chairman Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana.

Leyretana said the investment outlook for 2008 would see a surge in power generation and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)-related investments. (Bong Garcia)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/zam/2008/07/24/bus/mindanao.1st.quarter.investments.reach.p3.1.b.html)

red_jasper

July 25th, 2008, 04:12 PM

Better deals eyed for fruit growers in Davao
07/25/2008 | 02:35 AM

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A Manila-based firm involved in fresh produce export will sign an agreement with fruit suppliers during the two-day 1st Minfruit Market Encounter, which opens here on July 31.

A press release the other day from the US -funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) quoted Zavier Abella, Agri-Nurture Inc.’s purchasing officer for fruits, as citing the need for more fruit suppliers to meet an increase in demand for mangoes in Hong Kong.

GEM said the company has already secured a purchase agreement from a 50-hectare mango plantation in North Cotabato.

The company has also started buying bananas from growers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and that it is interested to buy solo papaya and pineapple as it develops new markets specifically New Zealand, China and Canada. The report added the company currently ships fruits twice a week to Singapore.

The company official said it also plans to establish buying centers in Mindanao to "help streamline shipments to Luzon and the Visayas." Agri-Nurture is just one among the buyers invited to the two-day Minfruit Market Encounter, which will showcase market options for growers.

Antonio B. Partoza Jr., chairman of the sponsoring Mindanao Fruit Industry Development Council, said the event will bring buyers and producers closer in the hope of eliminating the middlemen who add another price level, placing growers at the losing end. "If we can just eliminate one or two layers (in the marketing chain), we will be very happy," he said. — BusinessWorld (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109228/Better-deals-eyed-for-fruit-growers-in-Davao)

dark_knight_detectve

July 26th, 2008, 01:37 PM

SPDA-BUSCO MOA for peace and development (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080725105&type=2)
FROM THE STANDS By Domini M. Torrevillas
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Most of us will agree that peace and development go hand in hand as peace is elusive in the midst of poverty; conversely, eliminating poverty is very difficult to achieve when there is no peace.

A recent development that is calculated to help brighten dimmed hopes of a lasting peace in the Mindanao region is the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) and Bukidnon Sugar Milling Co. (BUSCO) that is intended to develop and transform thousands of idle SPDA lands in Lanao del Sur into productive agri-business/agro-industrial pursuits — a project, that, when implemented, will generate jobs for thousands of Muslims, Christians, and Indigenous Peoples, and, consequently, lead to the much-desired and hoped-for peace and harmony among inhabitants.

The agreement seals the seriousness of both entities in working together for the development of these lands into self-contained, integrated agri-business-agro-industrial undertakings, i.e production of sugar cane and other crops, and eventually bio-fuels after BUSCO has completed a thorough study to determine suitability for crops, that will be followed by a comprehensive master development plan of the project site.

A reading of the MOA reveals economic as well as social responsibility at work. After BUSCO has evaluated areas that are suited to sugar cane and other crops, BUSCO and SPDA have agreed that BUSCO will lease these areas. It will then undertake farm infrastructure development which in turn will be followed by the contract growers’ actually engaging in sugar cane and other crops production. In other words investment would be in two forms. One is in leasing the land and the other, actually undertaking agricultural projects on the land — a proposition that could involve billions of pesos over 5 to 7 years.

This columnist was told the project will spur accelerated development of the area and improvement of the quality of life of the people there — mostly Muslims, Christians and Indigenous peoples. Priority will be given to the present occupants and MNLF returnees and their families as contract growers.

I was told that if the project pushes through, BUSCO will establish schools and housing facilities for the contract growers, and with SPDA, an Institute of Agronomics for Contract Growers to be run by selected agriculture graduates from different universities and colleges in the country.

As stated, BUSCO plans to build roads and bridges, and housing and educational facilities. In addition, the company will buy and process the cane produced by the farmers. In other words, BUSCO will pay for the cost of developing and helping the farmers improve their quality of life at no cost to the government.

The project, according to SPDA Chairman Saeed A. Daof, will “contribute immensely towards the advancement of the peace and development process in Mindanao. It will help in accelerating the completion of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement as envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in revitalizing SPDA through EO 560. This is peace and development-building at work.”

In his job as chair of the “new” SPDA, Daof has instituted a corporate policy that adheres to, and implements “private sector, market-driven, profit-oriented initiatives, with less or non-dependency on government funds, transparency, and sincere dedication to public service.”

BUSCO, SPDA’s partner in this noteworthy project, is known for its concern for the welfare of thousands of contract growers and employees in Bukidnon. Its presence in the area has without a doubt boosted the economy of municipalities and barangays.

Established in 1988 with Julio Sy Sr. as president, and with a respected board of directors, it is the second biggest producer of raw and refined sugar in the country, using state-of-the-art equipment in its refinery in Bukidnon. At the MOA signing held at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati, BUSCO chairman Roman Ozaeta Jr., said the company “is committed to undertake thorough surveys and feasibility studies, at no cost to the government, within six months after the signing of the MOA, and the receipt of all pertinent data from SPDA to determine the area for sugarcane plantation and other crops. Such undertaking will be the basis or road map for the systematic preparation of a master development plan of the project site.”

Ozaeta said BUSCO accepted the invitation and challenge by the government through SPDA Chairman Daof, “to extend our helping hand to bring its expertise and capabilities to help foster and accelerate the balanced growth of Southern Philippines for national, social and political stability particularly in the municipalities of Wao and Bumbaran, Lanao del Sur.”

Guests attending the MOA signing were visibly impressed by the intent of the envisioned project. BUSCO president Julio Sy Sr. expressed to this columnist as he had in past meetings, about the time being ripe for a partnership between the government and private sectors to help in the development of Mindanao.

Representing Presidential Management Secretary Cerge Remonde, the brilliant Undersecretary Charito Elegir, who has served on the presidential economic staffs of five Presidents, was elated by the objective of the project, and said she looks forward to the success of the undertaking.

Undersecretary Nabil Tan, who represented Peace Secretary Hermogenes Esperon who had to attend a meeting in Malaysia at the time of the MOA-signing, described the project as “a milestone that will trigger a diversified agri-business/agro-industrial undertaking in the region. This multi-million project is an example of how unity and cooperation will propel Mindanao to greatness.”

Congressman Yusop Jikiri of the First District of Sulu told Daof he was thankful for a project that would help realize President Macapagal-Arroyo’s “catch-up” plan for the completion of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement.

Among the country’s top agriculture scientists and economists who are advisers to Chairman Daof who were present at the signing, UP Regent Nelia Gonzales expressed willingness to put to the attention of UP and collateral state universities, the advisability of undertaking technical cooperation with the SPDA-BUSCO technical working committee that will prepare the master development plan for the project.

Daof said that in the spirit of transparency, President Macapagal-Arroyo, Secretary Jesus Dureza, then Presidential Supervisor for the Mindanao Region, the SPDA Board of Directors and Administrator Sultan Yahya Jerry Tomawis had been informed about the project.

The MOA signing is the first step to helping accelerate development — and peace — in Mindanao. What is needed is cooperation from all sectors to make the project a reality. As Ozaeta said in his remarks, “The venture will move forward through cooperation, mutual understanding, good will and peace among the stakeholders.”

* * *

My email:dominimt2000@yahoo.com

davaob4now

July 27th, 2008, 07:41 PM

Monday, July 28, 2008
Minfruit exec: Quality of Mindanao fruits not a problem

QUALITY of fruits produced in Mindanao is not a problem, said Lawyer Antonio Partoza Jr., president of the Minfruit Council, on Wednesday.

"Farmers in Mindanao do not have problems in the quality of fruits they produce because we have our main advantage. We do not have typhoons here," Partoza said.

"The problem is how to meet the quality requirements of the processors so that farmers can further improve the quality of fruits," he added.

Partoza also said the council wants to help small farmers realize that they are also part of the industry and that they do not need to seclude themselves from opportunities which the council offers.

"What's happening is that when there's opportunities, such as exhibits and market matchings, small farmers hesitantly join. They just prefer to sell their produce to big growers who usually join and this is what we want to change," Partoza said.

Partoza claimed that small farmers are the council's target in the staging of the two-day 1st Minfruit Market Encounter to be held at the Green Heights Convention and Business Center in Buhangin, Davao City.

"With this, buyers will be given the venue to present their fruit requirements in terms of volume and quality and to provide farmers the market options for their products," Partoza said.

He said with the staging of the market encounter, direct links between the farmers and the buyers, particularly exporters will be established. (JGRS)

www.sunstar.com

boju2

July 28th, 2008, 02:24 AM

Sun Life bullish on RP economy, Mindanao growth potential (http://bworldonline.com/BW072808/content.php?id=024)

CAGAYAN DE ORO — Sun Life Financial, Inc. Philippines remains bullish on the country’s economy as well as Mindanao’s potential and is looking forward to the growth of its business on the island within the next two years.

The Canadian insurer is expanding its presence in Mindanao’s countryside by establishing an office in Valencia, Bukidnon’s commercial hub. Sun Life firms have agencies and offices all over Mindanao, especially in regional growth centers.

"We have been looking at a Metro Manila biased market but that is changing," said Gregory S. Martin, senior vice-president for marketing and alternative distribution. Mr. Martin said over the weekend that there would be changes in marketing and promotional methods for the firm’s life products and there was also the need for different approaches.

Mr. Martin said that the company will begin product surveys this September in specific market segments focusing on the needs of customers. "The product surveys and research will take about six to eight weeks depending on the life products," said Mr. Martin.

Sun Life has been making the rounds of malls in Pampanga, Cebu and in this city to promote variable unit-linked insurance products that offer both protection and investment benefits to policyholders, in a "different" market education campaign.

Customers are encouraged to take a "financial explorer’s quiz."

"We would like this to be an eye-opener that we need to invest for our retirement plans," said Maya del Rosario, Sun Life product manager. The campaign is designed at countering negative sentiments of due to market uncertainty and rising prices.

Sun Life had reported a 143% increase in profits covering three business lines — life, pre-need and mutual funds — in the first quarter, at P591.4 million from P243.4 million last year. It has over 40, 000 policy-holders nationwide and an agency force of 3,000. — Geefe P. Alba

MtApoStandard

July 28th, 2008, 06:18 PM

Mindanao electric consumers to be refunded
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 04:46:00 07/28/2008

DAVAO CITY—Electric consumers in some Mindanao areas will receive refunds from power utility firms although some companies hinted that the exact amounts and dates of the refunds had remained uncertain.

Other electric cooperatives said they had nothing to refund because they did not collect meter deposits in the first place.

Ross Luga, assistant vice president for corporate communications of Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC), said consumers would be notified if the refunds were ready.

Only consumers who applied for electric connection before 2003 would be entitled to refunds because DLPC has stopped collecting meter deposits from that year onwards, Luga said.

“Deposits prior to this period will be refunded in accordance with the implementing guidelines by the ERC,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

In 1995, the Energy Regulatory Commission, then known as the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB), ordered power utilities to return meter deposits and advance fees they had collected from consumers. The order was recently firmed up.

Luga said refund guidelines were being finalized, after which DLPC would publish a notice to consumers. “The notice will indicate the schedule, mechanics and mode of the refund and other pertinent information,” he said.

In Cotabato City, DLPC’s sister company Cotabato Light and Power Co. (Colight), said the refunds could run up to P7,000 per consumer.

Cris Ferolino, Colight manager, said the amount would cover meter deposit and advance fees.

Ferolino said consumers could choose between receiving checks for the refund or use it to offset their bills.

In Tagum City, Allan Laniba, senior manager for Institutional Services Department (ISD) of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco), said the refunds would cover consumers who availed themselves of their services from 1992 up to 2004.

Daneco has about 120,000 members in Davao del Norte and nearby Compostela Valley.

Laniba said he was not certain how much each consumer would receive once the refund procedures were finalized.

In Digos City, the Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (Dasureco) said it had nothing to refund because it had not collected meter deposits.

Jesus dela Victoria, Dasureco general manager, said Dasureco is the only power cooperative that did not collect meter deposits during the last 20 years.

Dasureco only collects P5.05 as membership fee and P500 as security deposit.

Dela Victoria said he would try to check if the amounts were covered by the ERC order as well.

In Cagayan de Oro City, Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) did not say when the refunds would actually be made but added it would be as soon as possible.

Marilyn Chavez, Cepalco customer and community relations manager, said the Refund Task Force had been informed as early as last year when the ERC guidelines for the refund came out, to ensure systematic disbursement.

“We will abide by the ERC guideline that refund should be done within the next six months. We will conduct massive information campaign to let our customers know of the (payment) scheme,” Chavez said.

“Everybody who has been charged with meter deposit will get their refund. We estimated that for big companies, the refund will be substantial plus interest. Same goes for long-time consumers. For new ones, the refund could be less than P100,” Chavez said.
She said refunds for consumers who had died would be given to their next of kin.

The Misamis Oriental Electric Cooperative (Moresco) I said it will refund only meter deposits because its consumers were not required to pay any advance billing fees.

Eugene Velasco, Moresco I finance manager, said the refund would vary with the type of connection applied for.

“We are given 15-30 days to submit the list to ERC on these refunds, the office is still working this thing out,” he said.

In Sulu, consumers will not get any refund, according to the Sulu Electric Cooperative (Suleco).

Rusmar Composa, Suleco member services chief, said the cooperative could not afford to subsidize the cost of meters so consumers had to shoulder it.

Composa said consumers were asked to pay P1,500 as meter deposits or to purchase their own meters from commercial stores.

“The EPIRA Law provides for free electric meter and 30 meters of duplex wire connection for every member consumer but we cannot afford to shoulder that,” Composa said. Charlie Señase, Frinston Lim, Orlando B. Dinoy, Ma. Cecilia Rodriguez, Grace Cantal-Albasin, Ed General, Joselle R. Badilla, Inquirer Mindanao

scarletwitch.wanda

July 29th, 2008, 02:57 AM

From SunStar Davao
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Processors turn to non-traditional fruit products

MINDANAO fruit processors are diversifying into non-traditional products to expand their domestic and foreign market reach.

"The market is looking for good (alternative) fruit products, and processors are always on the lookout for buyers," said Mar Marantan, general manager of Linkage Food Ventures Corporation, which recently shipped samples of its passion fruit juice products to potential buyers.

While Mindanao is now well-established as an exporter of fresh tropical fruit -- mainly banana, pineapple and papaya -- as well as banana chips and pineapple juice, a number of processors are venturing into "nontraditional" dried, pure‚ and frozen fruit products.

In 2007, Mindanao also shipped out about 2,250 metric tons of mango and other fruit juices worth approximately US$1,261,580 to markets in the US, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Linkage Food Ventures and other suppliers of both traditional and new fruit products will be attending the 1st Minfruit Market Encounter on July 31 to August 1, 2008 at the Green Heights Business and Convention Center, Diversion Road, Buhangin, Davao City.

The Market Encounter is organized by the Mindanao Fruit Industry Development (Minfruit) Council with support from the Department of Agriculture, the GEM Program, and local producer associations.

The event will serve as a venue for buyers and processors to present their volume and quality requirements to local fruit producers.

It will also highlight the latest farming and post-harvest handling technologies, to help growers meet export market standards.

Linkage Food Ventures Corporation, a subsidiary of Jentec Storage Inc., started its Davao operations early in 2008, producing mango and calamansi pure.

Linkage is capable of producing 1,000 liters of mango pure‚ per hour, and also operates a cold storage plant and hot water treatment facility in the city.

The GEM Program, which assisted Jentec in establishing links with fruit growers in the Davao and Cotabato provinces, is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council.

GearX

July 29th, 2008, 03:16 AM

Rice, corn yields up in 1st quarter (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080729131067.html)

Mindanao is living up to its tagline as the country’s food basket by posting robust performance in rice and corn production during the first quarter of 2008.

Data from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics show that the island produced a total of 999, 212 metric tons of rice during the first three months, up by 4.78 percent in the same period last year.

A large bulk of rice output came from Region XII which contributed a total of 380, 327 metric tons to the total production. ARMM and Region XI also boosted the total rice production by contributing 193,228 and 142, 928 metric tons, respectively.

Among the Mindanao regions, Caraga registered the highest growth at 12.85 percent. This was followed by Region X at 10.92 percent. Region XII at 10.11 percent, Region IX at 5.93 percent and Region XI at 4.06 percent while ARMM registered negative growth at (9.10) percent.

"We would like to reiterate that the current rice supply is sufficient to meet the daily requirements of the island and the current rice prices are expected to go down during the harvest season," said Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said.

Around 3,546,120 bags of rice are reportedly needed to meet the rice requirements before the harvest season in August. The rice inventory is expected to reach 3.805 million bags of rice. This implies that the rice supply is sufficient to meet the needs during the lean months, which is from June to September. Rice supply, however is expected to rise during the harvest season in August.

Meanwhile, corn production hit a double-digit growth of 22.31 percent in the first quarter, marking a total output of 883,409 metric tons from just 722, 269 metric tons in the same period last year.

Caraga region also registered the highest growth of corn output at 56.55%. Following Caraga in terms of corn production growth are Region XI at 51.38 percent, Region X at 40.18 percent, Region XII at 35.51 percent. Region IX registered negative growth at 2.10 percent.

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 05:51 AM

MIMAROPA’s economy soars in 2007
(PR-200807-SnSO-01, Posted 26 July 2008)

MIMAROPA’s domestic economy surged by 9.4 percent in 2007, topping the other 16 regions of the country. The region’s economy upped its modest 1.6 performance in 2006 on account of hefty gains in the industry sector, which had a 41.4 percent share of the region’s output.

Other fast growing regional economies included Central Visayas with an 8.7 percent growth, Caraga with 8.6 percent, Northern Mindanao with 7.9 percent, and the National Capital Region (NCR) with 7.8 percent. On the other hand, Eastern Visayas posted the lowest growth at 3.2 percent.

Fourteen out of the country’s 17 regions registered accelerated growths in 2007, with MIMAROPA also posting the biggest jump in growth with 7.8 percentage points. It was followed by Zamboanga Peninsula (5.3 percentage points), Bicol (5.1 percent), Central Visayas (3.9 percent), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (3.6 percent). Growths in the economies of three regions decelerated, with Eastern Visayas recording the biggest drop at 2.0 percentage points.

NCR remained as the biggest contributor to the country’s economy with a 32.6 percent share, followed by CALABARZON with 12.1 percent and Central Luzon with 8.3 percent. NCR likewise had the biggest share to the growth of the country’s GDP at 2.5 percentage points, followed by CALABARZON with 0.7 percentage point and Central and Western Visayas, each with a 0.6 percentage-point contribution.

The three Visayas regions collectively grew by 7.6 percent, a 2.6 percentage-point acceleration from the 2006 performance. Its share to the total gross domestic product (GDP) was maintained at 16.5 percent, while its contribution to growth increased from 0.8 percentage point to 1.2 percentage points. The Mindanao island group, composed of six regions, had an aggregate growth of 7.2 percent, an improvement from the 5.2 percent expansion in 2006. Its contribution to the country’s GDP growth increased from 0.9 to 1.3 percentage points while maintaining its 17.7 percent share to total GDP. On the other hand, the Luzon island group, composed of seven regions (excluding NCR), aggregately grew by 6.4 percent, accounting for 2.1 percentage points of total GDP growth. Its share to the total domestic economy, however, decreased slightly from 33.4 percent in 2006 to 33.2 percent in 2007.

Per capita GRDP was highest in NCR at P40,252, an increase of 6.3 percent from the 2006 level. It was followed by Cordillera with P19,120 and Northern Mindanao with P16,537. Per capita GRDP was lowest in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at P3,582. MIMAROPA, Central Visayas, and Caraga, the three fastest growing regions in 2007, also registered the best improvements in per capita GRDP, posting a uniform growth of 6.6 percent.

NCR continued to record the highest per capita index relative to the national average at 260.9. Cordillera was a far second with 123.9, while Northern Mindanao ranked third with 107.2. ARMM had the lowest per capita index at 23.2.

The gross regional domestic product (GRDP) measures the goods and services produced in each of the geopolitical regions of the country. It provides for an analysis of the regional distribution of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the industries and factors that contribute to the regional economies, and the pace at which these economies are moving. The National Statistical Coordination Board compiles the GRDP on an annual basis.

Copies of the 2007 GRDP are available for sale at the National Statistical Information Center (NSIC) located at the Ground Floor, Midland Buendia Building, 403 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. For subscription and inquiries, please contact the NSIC at telephone numbered (632) 895-2767 or e-mail info@nscb.gov.ph.

-------------------
Congrats to CARAGA and Northern Mindanao. The stat says it all! :cheers:

Question: erased due to virus infection. :lol:

WawaY[625]

July 30th, 2008, 06:16 AM

^^ the stat says exactly what?

oo nga nasaan nga pala ang mga mas progressive na lugar like Central Luzon and Western/Central Visayas at Southern Mindanao?

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 06:33 AM

di ata marunong mag basa pinag uusapan diyan growth :ohno:

WawaY[625]

July 30th, 2008, 06:38 AM

these types of news says it all..umaarangkada ang commerce and tourism sa mindanao :)

so tuloy na pala ang pukpukan sa Ayala lol

anyway here's the tallies from the counsel ... parang Pacman-Diaz fight!

City Council OKs Ayala Mall
July 30, 2008 — Peter

The City Council finally approved the application for reclassification of the Floirendo property, site for the Ayala Center Davao project.

Local media reported the voting as unanimous. Actually here are the tallies - Approval of the Committe Report - 23-0; Approval of the Resolution - 24-0; Approval of the Ordinance on Second Reading - 25-0. Only Councilor Angging Librado-Trinidad was not present. She just gave birth to her second child, a son, last Sunday.

Councilors who expressed concerns about the drainage and traffic issues were convinced to support our committee’s favorable report after no less than Ricky Floirendo presented the following plans:

Drainage measures would include tapping and expanding existing drainage systems inside the property as well as those leading to the Bacaca, Dacudao Ave. and Veloso St. outlets.

Traffic plans include three private and public utility entrance/exit points from JP Laurel with plenty of loading/unloading bays inside the property; no public utility vehicle loading and unloading infront of Redemptorist Church, and opening of N. Torres St. Extension as new ingress/engress point leading to Bo. Obrero and Agdao.

The measure will go for a final Third Reading next session. However, I noticed ground prep work is now going on at the site. The Ayala-Foirendo Group must really be in a hurry.

http://ptlavina.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/city-council-oks-ayala-mall/#comments

comment lang ko gamay kay Konsehal hehe.... well it was conceived late last year pa & they have a target date to finish and we all know big or small projects have timetables , maybe the city should now check areas na bahaon or future traffic congestions para wala nay hassle kaayo sa investors , it's time now for the Council to see how they can ease the applications of future investors , a good move to alleviate us from # 19 to maybe #10 in business processing , kudos to the city council!

Home > Business > Top Stories

More seats alloted on Philippine-Thailand flights
07/28/2008 | 06:30 PM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us MANILA, Philippines - Air negotiations between the Philippines and Thailand succeeded with the approval of additional seat entitlements between the two southeast Asian countries.

The air panels also agreed to open international airports in Clark, Pampanga, and Davao City to handle flights to and from Thailand.

“For Clark, everything is new. That is for both passenger and cargo. We do not have an agreement in place before. The same in Davao, which is also a new point outside of Manila," Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Deputy Executive Director Porvenir Porciuncula said.

Carriers using the Clark International Airport were awarded a total of 17,400 seat entitlements per week for Thailand flights(8,700 seats have been allocated for Clark for each country (http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080728%5cACQDJON200807280649DOWJONESDJONLINE000226.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Philippines,%20Thailand%20Complete%20Amendments%20On%20Air%20Deal))

Airlines can also carry cargo of up to 700 tons per week for the Clark-Thailand route.

Meanwhile, flights between Davao and Thailand have 2,110 seats per week.

Based on an amended air services agreement, airlines can now seat additional 1,700 seats, or a total of 5,400 passengers weekly between Manila and Thailand.

CAB is a member of the Philippine air panel. Other members of the negotiating team are from the departments of Transportation and Communication, Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Trade and Industry, and local airlines. - GMANews.TV

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 06:44 AM

^^Super WoW!!! :okay:

At least humahabol na ang Mindanao. Go go Mindanao! :cheers:

boju2

July 30th, 2008, 06:52 AM

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 06:52 AM

di ata marunong mag basa pinag uusapan diyan growth :ohno:

me iba rin na di nakakaintende.

Obvious naman talaga na growth. Me iba pa ba? :ohno:

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 06:57 AM

:applause::applause::applause: Several years na rin na mataas ang growth rate ng Northern Mindanao, sana tuloy-tuloy na 'to para naman may mindanao region na makapasok sa top 5 national GDP, kaya siguro nangulilat tayo sa infra projects...

Sana nga @bujo2. Ipagdarasal natin yan. :okay:

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 06:58 AM

^^ mag deny ka pa iba ang intensyon ng i pinost yan.....well dinelete mo na !:ohno:

i hope you could furnish the whole GRP of the regions

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 06:59 AM

^^Sorry po. Sana wag lang tayong masyadong sensitive sa mga ganyan. :peace:

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 07:03 AM

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/radar.jpg

2007 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)
(Posted 28 July 2008)

HIGHLIGHTS

Philippine economy stronger with a 7.2 percent GDP growth

The Philippine economy grew stronger at 7.2 percent in 2007 from 5.4 percent in 2006, backed by an environment of benign inflation, low interest rates, and a strong peso. All the major industries contributed to the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The agriculture, fishery and forestry (AFF) sector registered a moderate expansion from 3.7 percent in 2006 to 4.9 percent in 2007. Industry rose faster at 7.1 percent in 2007 from 4.8 percent in 2006, while services grew at a healthy 8.1 percent in 2007 from 6.5 percent in the previous year. Robust performances were recorded in the mining and quarrying, construction, and finance subsectors.

Fourteen regions register higher growth

Fourteen out of the country’s 17 regions posted higher growths in 2007. MIMAROPA soared from a modest 1.6 percent increase in 2006, accelerating five times more to reach an impressive 9.4 percent growth in 2007, thus outpacing all the other regions. Other fast growing regional economies were Central Visayas with 8.7 percent, Caraga with 8.6 percent, Northern Mindanao with 7.9 percent, and the National Capital Region (NCR) with 7.8 percent.

The three regions that recorded the lowest growths in 2007 were Eastern Visayas with 3.2 percent, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 5.4 percent, and CALABARZON with 5.5 percent.
MIMAROPA growth shoots up, outpaces all other regions

MIMAROPA, the fastest growing region in 2007, also recorded the biggest jump in growth. It was followed by Zamboanga Peninsula (from 2.1 percent in 2006 to 7.4 percent in 2007), Bicol Region (2.6 to 7.7 percent), Central Visayas (4.8 to 8.7 percent), and the Cordillera Administrative Region or CAR (3.6 to 7.2 percent). On the other hand, among the three regions with decelerated growths, Eastern Visayas experienced the biggest deceleration from 5.2 percent in 2006 to 3.2 percent in 2007. The other two regions registered minimal slowdowns - Ilocos Region, from a 6.1 percent growth in 2006 to 5.8 percent the following year, and Cagayan Valley, from 7.4 to 6.6 percent.
Metro Manila remains as top contributor to the national economy

The perennial top five among the regional economies maintained their relative shares in 2006 and 2007. NCR continued to account for the bulk of the country’s economy with a 32.6 percent share in 2007, followed by CALABARZON with 12.1 percent, Central Luzon with 8.3 percent, and Western and Central Visayas, each with a 7.2 percent share.

As expected, the five largest regional economies also contributed the biggest shares to the growth of GDP. NCR continued to be the top contributor with 2.5 percentage points. It was followed by CALABARZON with 0.7 percentage point, Western and Central Visayas, each with a 0.6 percentage point share, and Central Luzon contributing 0.5 percentage point.

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/radar.jpg

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 07:06 AM

WawaY[625]

July 30th, 2008, 07:12 AM

^^ nice charts, unsa daw ang specific significance ana?

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 07:16 AM

^^Ako alam ko pero i'll keep it to myself na lang para di makoryente. :)

boju2

July 30th, 2008, 07:31 AM

^^nice job @Alingatong:applause::applause::applause::applause:

WawaY[625]

July 30th, 2008, 07:44 AM

kasi yang mga graph na yan (gaya nung tourist arrivals na napakataas daw ng arrivals ng misocc) eh di naman ganun ka importante kung walang nakikitang "effects"

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 08:18 AM

well Davao Region did fair good from 4.3 to 6.7 growth and were talking of Region....

IX ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA 2.1 7.4
X NORTHERN MINDANAO 6.9 7.9
XI DAVAO REGION 4.3 6.7
XII SOCCSKSARGEN 6.6 6.7
ARMM MUSLIM MINDANAO 3.7 5.4
XIII CARAGA 6.0 8.6

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/2007congr.asp

Regional Accounts of the Philippines
Unit: In Thousand Pesos
LEVELS AT CONSTANT 1985 PRICES
GROSS REGIONAL DOMESTIC PRODUCT
2006 and 2007

IX ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA 32,665,145 35,075,036
X NORTHERN MINDANAO 62,651,117 67,597,096
XI DAVAO REGION 57,863,091 61,756,506 2nd
XII SOCCSKSARGEN 44,725,046 47,743,622
ARMM MUSLIM MINDANAO 11,288,866 11,893,340
XIII CARAGA 16,523,620 17,947,902

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/2007conlev.asp

well expect next year will be tremendous growth for Davao Region when all the investments poured in 2007-08 !:cheers:

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 08:46 AM

^^:okay:

bariQ

July 30th, 2008, 09:30 AM

mga amigo, mga igsoon lets just sing WkZKtACxZcM

Peng Hok

July 30th, 2008, 12:21 PM

Numbers are numbers. We can never argue with raw data. Oh well, I guess the Davao Region would just have to be contented with these. Not bad, is it?

More shopping malls to rise in Davao City
Philippine Star
Philippine Star - Saturday, July 19

DAVAO CITY - Three of the country's leading mall developers have poured in new investments in Davao City, the leading growth center in the south.

The investments again prove that the city deserves its being the country's most competitive highly urbanized city based on a survey conducted by the Asian Institute of Management under its Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project for 2007, local officials said.

Occupying second to fifth places in the survey are Quezon City, Makati, Manila and Marikina, respectively.

Among the latest investments is the P3.5-billion mega-mall and business park that Ayala Land Inc. is putting up with Anflocor Investment and Development Corp. on a nine-hectare property of the Floirendos along J.P. Laurel Avenue.

The city council is expected to soon approve the application of Ayala Land and Anflocor for a reclassification into a major commercial area certain portions of the property declared residential in a 1996 zoning ordinance.

While SM already has a mall in the southern part of the city, in Ecoland, along Quimpo Boulevard, negotiations are underway for the purchase of a 10-hectare property also along J.P. Laurel Avenue for the construction of another mall north of the city.

A scion of the Dacudao family that owns the Lanang Golf and Country Club told The STAR that negotiations are on the final stages, although the two parties have yet to agree on the final amount.

Work is also underway for Robinsons Land Corp.'s P400-million mall also along J. P. Laurel Avenue.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte though said that investments should be tempered with proper city planning.

Duterte said the city government has to do its share to maintain the viability of the city as an investment haven.

The AIM survey took into consideration the dynamism of the local economy, cost of doing business, infrastructure, human resources and training, responsiveness of the local government to business needs, and quality of life.

Davao City has consistently ranked high in the AIM survey for several years, sharing the top spot with Makati City in 2005. - Edith Regalado/Philstar

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20080719/tph-shopping-malls-davao-5994a93.html

Peng Hok

July 30th, 2008, 12:25 PM

^^
Or maybe these?

One Oasis Davao Condominiums

One Oasis Davao Condominium, is situated in a 2.29 hectare-property along Ecowest Drive in Ecoland Subdivision, Matina, Davao City. Adjacent to (BESIDE) SM City Davao and is easily accessible through public transport along Quimpo Boulevard.

A 5-minute drive to almost all major offices, schools, churches, other malls, health clinics and commercial establishments.

Four (4) Asian Tropical Themed walk up residential condominium buildings, each building having 5 floors or levels.

First building will be have 24 condo units per floor or a total of 120 condo units for the first building. Start of construction will be March 2008, will be finished in 10 to 12months.

A condominium Project of Filinvest Land, Inc.
- One Located at the back of SM City Mall, Ecoland Davao City

- 7 condominium 5 Storey buildings which is consist of 4 residential condo, 3 commercial condohotesl

- now pre-selling One Oasis, building F

- Land area of 22,000sqm+

- almost fronting DMC Eco4000 Condominium Units

presenting...the official rendering of ONE OASIS DAVAO! :okay:

http://www.davaoestate.com/176one_oasis_condominium/perspective.jpg
PERSPECTIVE

http://www.davaoestate.com/176one_oasis_condominium/clubhouse.jpg
CLUBHOUSE

http://www.davaoestate.com/176one_oasis_condominium/entrance.JPG
ENTRANCE

^^ For queries, you may also email me at shealthiel@gmail.com or send an sms at 0927-772-1039

^^ Hindi matutuloy ang HIRISE!!!!!! pero eto yung architect's rendering ng hotel! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/550_hotelbuilding.jpg

And here's the good news...tuloy na tuloy ang HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW SAMAL and their grand launching will be on Wed. November 7, 2007 @ 7pm @The VENUE!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/600_beachfront.jpg
^^ Beachfront

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/600_marina.jpg
^^ Marina

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/800_restaurant_on_viewing_deck.jpg
^^Restaurants on Viewing Deck

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/800_boardwalk.jpg
^^ The Marina Boardwalk

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/800_villas.jpg
^^ Resort Villas

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/800_entrance.jpg
^^ Main Entrance

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/800_hotel_lobby.jpg
^^ Hotel Lobby!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/DAVAO/playaazalea.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/DAVAO/playaazaleaanflolandcologo.jpg

Another landmark on the rise.....Playa Azalea in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao.

Anflocor (owner and developer of Pearl Farm Resort) and Landco (an established developer engaged in high end residential resorts and leisure estates) teamed up to develop a world class coastal tourism estate and beach community in the Island Garden City of Samal. It is envisioned to be the center of leisure, tourism and social activity in Davao Region - offering a mixed use of seaside commercial and residential enclave. An upscale district which will enjoy its own private beach offering breathtaking views of Davao Gulf and Davao City.

It is the first resort in Davao City to have a river pool. This project will be similar to Landco's high end leisure project in Batangas.

Thanks to Rean for the information and updates!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/Davao%20UC/kadavo2.jpg
Photo by Dinabaw

^^Another condominium project is now launched in Davao City - Magallanes Residences! A tri-condominium complex which is consist of 3 condominium mrbs with 7 floors each. Located literally at the heart of Davao City, Magallanes Residences is a 5 minute walk away from Davao City Hall, Museo Dabawenyos, the San Pedro Cathedral, and other landmarks in downtown Davao.

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 01:06 PM

^^WoW na Wow! Hataw Dabaw! Hataw Mindanaw! :okay:

KulasKusgan

July 30th, 2008, 01:22 PM

;23334184']kasi yang mga graph na yan (gaya nung tourist arrivals na napakataas daw ng arrivals ng misocc) eh di naman ganun ka importante kung walang nakikitang "effects"

If those graphs would translate to more job opportunities, more revenues, less crime rate, mas ok. Pero kung papogi lang, forget it.

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2008, 01:37 PM

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/aff.jpg

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/industry.jpg

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/services.jpg

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/ipin.jpg

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/percapita.jpg

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/grdp/2007/default.asp

good work, bro. kudos to alingatong. the one and the only! your stats are perfect examples of facts and figures. and it shows the whole mindanao and not just in one region. :)

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 01:38 PM

^^Para sa kin, importante ang mga graphs na yan. Kaya nga pinag-gagastusan at pinaghihirapan ng gobyerno ang mga datos na yan. Dyan makikita ang performance ng bansa at mga rehiyon nito.

sandman.ink

July 30th, 2008, 01:45 PM

deceptive ang growth rate...especially pag % ang pinaguusapan when talking about viability...

KulasKusgan

July 30th, 2008, 02:02 PM

deceptive ang growth rate...especially pag % ang pinaguusapan when talking about viability...
True. It can be deceptive. Kunyari icompare mo ang Phil sa Japan, possible mas mataas ang growth rate ng Phil. But when we speak of volume, light years ang pagitan ng Japan. Pero magagamit din ang growth rate sa mga govt agencies to assess kung saang aspeto pa ang kulang in terms of implementation of short term plans & programs.

Peng Hok

July 30th, 2008, 02:03 PM

deceptive ang growth rate...especially pag % ang pinaguusapan when talking about viability...

As an economist, growth rates are important to show the trend. But it is likewise important to show the absolute figures to show actual performance.

Parang ganito:

A: 40 points to 90 points = 125% percentage change

B: 110 points to 150 points = 36.36% percentage change

Thus, looking at the percentage changes, it would seem that sample A is the overall better performer if the analyst would only consider the percentages. But if we reveal the absolutes, it would show that sample B has a bigger output. Only, the percentage change from the previous output of sample B is lower than that of sample A.

This scenario is likewise typical of developed nations and developing nations. In the late 90s, Vietnam had the highest growth rate in Asia. But this does not mean that Vietnam is richer than Japan or South Korea.

sandman.ink

July 30th, 2008, 02:09 PM

True. It can be deceptive. Kunyari icompare mo ang Phil sa Japan, possible mas mataas ang growth rate ng Phil. But when we speak of volume, light years ang pagitan.

As an economist, growth rates are important to show the trend. But it is likewise important to show the absolute figures to show actual performance.

Parang ganito:

A: 40 points to 90 points = 125% percentage change

B: 110 points to 150 points = 36.36% percentage change

Thus, looking at the percentage changes, it would seem that sample A is the overall better performer if the analyst would only consider the percentages. But if we reveal the absolutes, it would show that sample B has a bigger output. Only, the percentage change from the previous output of sample B is lower than that of sample A.

This scenario is likewise typical of developed nations and developing nations. In the late 90s, Vietnam had the highest growth rate in Asia. But this does not mean that Vietnam is richer than Japan or South Korea.

yes, I agree.

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 02:09 PM

Me mga explaination at summaries naman ang mga graphs na yan. Nagiging deceptive lang yan kung tinitingnan at binabasa lang ngunit hindi ini-intende. :ohno:

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2008, 02:13 PM

Me mga explaination at summaries naman ang mga graphs na yan. Nagiging deceptive lang yan kung tinitingnan at binabasa lang ngunit hindi ini-intende. :ohno:

i agree with you bai.

the graphs show that the whole mindanao is mentioned. in fact, the whole country is mentioned. no offense but what your posting is most of the time the developments of davao only.

alingatong mentioned the whole country epecially the provinces of mindanao. in short, hes promoting the whole country especially mindanao and not just one place.

KulasKusgan

July 30th, 2008, 02:17 PM

I believe ginagamit ang growth rate esp govt agencies to assess its implementation of plans & programs. Ang as a tool in setting up direction.

Peng Hok

July 30th, 2008, 02:17 PM

^^WoW na Wow! Hataw Dabaw! Hataw Mindanaw! :okay:

Surely. Thanks for the unwavering support from folks up north. You guys are very congenial towards Davao indeed. Let's :cheers: to that!

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2008, 02:19 PM

Surely. Thanks for the unwavering support from folks up north. You guys are very congenial towards Davao indeed. Let's :cheers: to that!

i agree with you on this. lets promote mindanao as a whole. sorry if i may have said unpleasant words. peace! :)

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 02:25 PM

Surely. Thanks for the unwavering support from folks up north. You guys are very congenial towards Davao indeed. Let's :cheers: to that!

Honestly atty, we love development and it does not matter if it's in our backyard or somewhere else. Big or small as long as it brings joy to everyone we welcome and rejoice for it. How much more if it's a billion-worth of development. Ang totoong winner? Tayong lahat. :cheers:

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 02:51 PM

sino si Ms. Congeniality ,stand up please? :jk:

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 02:53 PM

^^:applause: :applause: You may now take your seat. :jk:

Peng Hok

July 30th, 2008, 02:55 PM

^^
Lols.

Kayong lahat mga Mr. Congeniality. Ako Mr. Pogi. :jk:

Peace all. :)

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 02:58 PM

^^Amen to that. :)

Panalo talaga 'to si Atty. :cheers:

Peng Hok

July 30th, 2008, 03:05 PM

^^
Lols. There may be still be times that opposing discussions will erupt in this thread. I just hope that we guys can contain the discussions in subtlety (if not, at least on a tolerable level) and still wrap up in peace. :)

BOB-bXu

July 30th, 2008, 03:06 PM

mmmm.... if I may ask pardon to use a bit of expression here..

reading the posts all of you make me see superficial tolerance rather than acceptance...

I could not understand why we pester that NSCB 2007 report as if it is a COMELEC tally report...

NSCB is a data gathering body of the governmenmt whose databases are used by government implementing agencies for development..

they have standard measures and yardsticks and thus the figures are not mere products of variables nor subjectivities

mga dodong, the numbers serve as our guide...and not to sow deception.

are we not happy that most of the best regional performers belong to this island of ours?

have I heard somebody saying here that "the growth of malls in....redound very well to Mindanao economy..."...following that principle, could that be also possible that a good economic performance of a neighboring region redound well to the entire Mindanao economy too??

punyeta !!, nag ija ija aho aho na man ta ani...

KulasKusgan

July 30th, 2008, 03:06 PM

^^
Lols.

Kayong lahat mga Mr. Congeniality. Ako Mr. Pogi. :jk:

Peace all. :)

Magshare ta sa title ky dili ra ba ko friendly. Only Belo touches my skin. Lols.

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 03:08 PM

^^As I said sa thread namin, kailangan din meron tayong mga ganitong uri ng diskusyon para masaya pero wag lang masyadong mapikon. Nakakairita nga minsan pero nakakatulong din sa pagcontrol mg patience natin else aatakihin tayo sa puso. :okay:

BOB-bXu

July 30th, 2008, 03:09 PM

ok...good to see all of you calm....now where's my anti-hypertensive tablets

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 03:09 PM

ok Ali....am cool na....send me chedengs :lol:

He he he! Yan ang Bob. Cool. Ok, PM me your address para mapadalhan kita ng chedeng's at Sukang Pinakurat. :cheers:

BOB-bXu

July 30th, 2008, 03:10 PM

sandman.ink

July 30th, 2008, 03:11 PM

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 03:14 PM

is there a doctor in the house, please stand up?:D

BOB-bXu

July 30th, 2008, 03:17 PM

^^ this is the very definition of over-reaction.

over reaction to what?

KulasKusgan

July 30th, 2008, 03:20 PM

Oi si Bob giatake og heart attack. Haha. Nitaas ang high blood. Ayaw pag night swimming basta gabii. Maayo man pud ning maglalis panagsa basta wala lay dugo nga mubanaw.

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 03:22 PM

sorry guys..tensyonado ko...I was reading this article about ARMM expansion in Mindanao...plus away away pa gyud ta dire...maka tense gyud...pastilan...haay

i didn't read the agreement unsa diay ilang gusto?

BOB-bXu

July 30th, 2008, 03:25 PM

Oi si Bob giatake og heart attack. Haha. Nitaas ang high blood. Ayaw pag night swimming basta gabii. Maayo man pud ning maglalis panagsa basta wala lay dugo nga mubanaw.

sorry guys..tensyonado ko...I was reading this article about ARMM expansion in Mindanao...plus away away pa gyud ta dire...maka tense gyud...pastilan...haay

Alingatong

July 30th, 2008, 03:25 PM

^^Ambot lagi Bob, gitabangan man ko nila nga nag-post ra man ta ko'g graph. Maypay mamaligya na lang kog mani ani. :lol:

BOB-bXu

July 30th, 2008, 03:29 PM

i didn't read the agreement unsa diay ilang gusto?

well, the proposed BAngsamoro homeland could not use the historical context in their expanded claims to additional brangays..nor could they use ancestral claims context too...kase if they do that....mabuak na gyud ning Mindanao..pastilan

henji

July 30th, 2008, 03:39 PM

part of my worries... MILF getting a share of Mindanao lands.... samoka ana nila uy..
good to hear peace na ta dire tanan.

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 03:41 PM

well, the proposed BAngsamoro homeland could not use the historical context in their expanded claims to additional brangays..nor could they use ancestral claims context too...kase if they do that....mabuak na gyud ning Mindanao..pastilan

diba they already agreed last Sunday? or this is another story? i thought it's up to the tribes kung mo sugot sila mag pasakop sa Bangsamoro , sorry bob sumasakit na kasi ang ulo ko sa usapan na yan , wa na kuy gana basahon hehe

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2008, 03:50 PM

mindanao is known to be the land of promise. the milf may demand more lands for them but that doesnt mean that mindanao will be broken. its always in each of us to exercise our right to vote. each city and province will vote whether they want to belong to bangsamoro or not. they can do this in terms of individual voting as what happen to pagadian, dipolog, zambo city and the rest of zamo peninsula a few years back. take for example basilan province. it is just an island across zambo city and can be traveled by ferry boats. basilan prov is like camiguin island. the capital of basilan prov is isabela city while the capital of camiguin is mambajao. isabela city is under to zambo peninsula while the rest of basilan prov is under armm. its like saying mambajao belongs to normin while other towns like mahinog, catarman and the other towns is under caraga. isabela is part of zambo peninsula because majority of the people there voted to be part of zambo peninsula while the other towns like lamitan and so forth are under armm :)

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2008, 03:51 PM

SPDA, Busco ink deal for agri-business development (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080729126&type=2)

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Southern Philippines Development Authority and Busco Sugar Milling Co. signed last week, a memorandum of agreement that formally sealed an agreement of cooperation and documented the seriousness of both entities in working together toward the development and transformation of thousands of hectares of idle SPDA lands in Lanao del Sur into a self-contained integrated agri-business/agro-industrial pursuits. Sugarcane, other crops, and bio-fuel (ethanol) production after more than six months of intense dialogue and negotiation.

The MOA was signed by SPDA Chairman Saeed Daof and Busco Chairman Roman Ozaeta Jr. It spelled out ways and means on what SPD and Busco intend to do to help the national government in addressing national food and energy security concerns, providing thousands of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities to Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples, promoting a culture of peace, attracting interest in Mindanao as an investment destination, and making as priority the expeditious improvement of the quality of life of the people in the area.

Ozaeta said Busco accepted the invitation and challenge by the government through Daof, “to extend our helping hand to bring its expertise and capabilities to help foster and accelerate the balanced growth of Southern Philippines for national, social and political stability particularly in the municipalities of Wao and Bumbaran, Lanao Del Sur.”

Busco was established in 1988, and is today the second biggest producer of raw and refined sugar in the country. According to Ozaeta, Busco commits itself to undertake thorough surveys and feasibility studies, at no cost to the government, within six months after the signing of the MOA and the receipt of all pertinent data from SPDA. Busco will then initiate and complete the land survey and/or feasibility studies to determine the suitability of the area for sugarcane plantation and other crops. Such undertaking will be the basis or road map for the systematic preparation of a master development plan of the project site.

Staff Undersecretary Charito Eligir, representing PMS Secretary Cerge Remonde, expressed her support of the project.

Usec. Nebil Tan who represented Peace Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr., said the MOA signing was a milestone that will push a diversified agri-business/agro-industrial undertaking in the region. This multi-million project is an example of how unity and cooperation will propel Mindanao to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of our forefrathers as a land of promise. Tan said the project is noteworthy, demonstrating the newly-instituted SPDA policy that emphasizes private-sector, market-driven and profit oriented initiatives with less dependence on government funds, transparency, and most of all, dedication to public service.

UP Regent Nelia Gonzalez for her part, expressed her willingness to put across to the attention of UP and collateral state universities, the advisability of undertaking technical cooperation with the SPDA-Busco technical working committee that will prepare the master development plan for the project.

Daof, who initiated and spearheaded the negotiations with Busco, upon his assumption to duty as SPDA chairman seven months ago said, “The project will contribute immensely toward the advancement of the peace and development process in Mindanao. It will help accelerate the completion of the 1996 GRP-MNLF peace agreement as envisioned by President Arroyo in revitalizing SPDA through E.O. 560.
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Peng Hok

July 30th, 2008, 03:54 PM

Hala murag naay naulahi sa bangi? Abi ba nako nag declare na ug ceasefire? :lol:

henji

July 30th, 2008, 03:55 PM

dili jud diay mapulpog sa AFP ng MILF? kinsay sunod magkateritoryo ALKHOBAR? shef...

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 03:57 PM

eto ba yun Bob?

What is the GRP-MILF agreement on ancestral domain?
Thursday, 24 July 2008

In a summary of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain obtained by abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, Camilo Miguel Montesa, policy adviser of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), said that under the accord, the Philippine government agrees to:

* Recognize the Bangsamoro people as "distinct from the rest of the national communities";
* Grant the Bangsamoro people their own "distinct territory";
* Grant the Bangsamoro pople their own "government"; and,
* Concede international recognition to the Bangsamoro people.

Who are the Bangsamoro?

The Bangsamoro people refer to "those who are natives or original inhabitants of Mindanao and its adjacent islands including Palawan and the Sulu archipelago at the time of conquest or colonization and their descendants whether mixed or full native blood."

Spouses and descendants, including the Lumads, he said, are also classified as Bangsamoro "unless they choose otherwise."

"They are the ‘First Nation’ with defined territory and with a system of government having entered into treaties of amity and commerce with foreign nations," Montesa said.

Bangsamoro territory

Under the MOA, the Bangsamoro territory comprises the following areas:

* the present Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM);
* the municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte, which voted for inclusion in the ARMM during the 2001 plebiscite;
* additional geographic areas in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, and North Cotabato, "subject to plebiscite."

Montesa said that under the MOA, the Bangsamoro homeland did "not form part of the public domain." Thus, it is "not within the jurisdiction of the Philippine government."

The Bangsamoro homeland, he added, "encompasses ancestral communal and customary lands, maritime, fluvial and alluvial domains as well as all natural resources therein that have inured or vested ancestral rights on the basis of native title."

Bangsamoro government

The Bangsamoro territory will be governed by the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).

Montesa said the "relationship between the Philippine government and the BJE shall be associative characterized by shared authority and responsibility with a structure of governance based on executive, legislative, judicial and administrative institutions with defined powers and functions."

The BJE’s purpose is to "establish a system of governance suitable and acceptable to them as a distinct dominant people." (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak (http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5149&Itemid=88889279))

BOB-bXu

July 30th, 2008, 03:59 PM

eto ba yun Bob?

:yes:

then there's this article in Manila Bulletin ni Espina...am still looking for it over their online site...

dinabaw

July 30th, 2008, 04:10 PM

^^ marami atang nag change, AFAIK they did'nt totally agreed the inclusion of Palawan that's why they had a lull before they resumed & agreed last sunday of the 27th , correct me if i'm wrong.

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2008, 04:12 PM

it seems land is always an issue when it comes to conquering. more land, more power. im still hoping that only most of armm will be included and, not cotabato and lanao norte, as what vice gov pinol is trying to stress out.

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2008, 04:13 PM

the milf are also trying to include some parts of zambo city and mayor lobregat is opposing it. hopefully, that wont happen.

sandman.ink

July 30th, 2008, 04:21 PM

part of my worries... MILF getting a share of Mindanao lands.... samoka ana nila uy..
good to hear peace na ta dire tanan.

grabe na if that happens...basig makahimo ta ug great wall dri sa mindanao...or murag eas/west germany...

sandman.ink

July 30th, 2008, 04:21 PM

Peng Hok

July 30th, 2008, 04:27 PM

I say the government should call a plebiscite to reflect the popular choice of the people on whether or not to be included in the proposed expanded area of jurisdiction of ARMM. It is unfair to push for the move without consulting the affected populace. To do so would defeat the well-enshrined precepts of democracy.

Geez, ano ba tong sinasabi ko? :bash:

bariQ

July 31st, 2008, 01:16 AM

lol looks like theres tis issue where everybody agrees on

CGYanon

July 31st, 2008, 01:53 AM

18 mayors refuse to be part of MILF land (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/07/31/18.mayors.refuse.to.be.part.of.milf.land.html)

DAVAO CITY -- All 18 mayors of North Cotabato are against the inclusion of their respective areas to the expanded Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (Armm), echoing the sentiments of their Provincial Government.

In the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) set to be signed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on August 5, the expanded Arrm will cover a sizeable portion of North Cotabato, which government refers to as just several barangays.

In their "Manifesto of Support to Provincial Resolution No. 362 of the Provincial Board," the mayors said that the people of North Cotabato have overwhelmingly voted against the proposal to include their province in the Armm in the plebiscite of 2001 and 1998.

"The inclusion of North Cotabato in the proposed plebiscite was unilaterally decided by the so-called 'peace negotiators' without proper consultation with the people and the leadership of the province," the mayors' manifesto stated.

They cited that the people and the leaders of the province were not given an idea or a listing of the areas, which would be included in the expanded Armm.

Furthermore, the mayors said they have no knowledge on the plebiscite that would follow the signing of the MOA-AD.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Hermogenes Esperon meanwhile refused to validate the contents of unofficial copies of the draft agreement.

However, he has admitted during the Regional Peace and Order Council meeting on July 14 that North Cotabato will be included in a plebiscite to be held six months after the signing of the said agreement.

Based on unofficial documents, the areas to be included in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity are the whole town of Pikit, the whole town of Kabacan, and various barangays in the towns of Pigcayawan, Midsayap, Alamada, Aleosan, Banisilan, Carmen, Matalam, Mlang, Tulunan, and President Roxas.

Aside from the mayors of these towns, the local chief executives of Libungan, Arakan, Antipas, Magpet, Makilala, and Kidapawan City, which are not included in the list of affected local government units, also signed the manifesto.

A petition for writ of mandamus and prohibition against the National Government was already filed by Vice Governor Emmanuel Pinol before the Supreme Court last week.

The petitioner also prayed for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction to stop the signing of the MOA-AD on August 5. (Ben O. Tesiorna of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

GearX

July 31st, 2008, 05:18 AM

the moro homeland would never be solved if religion continues to be an issue....the expanded ARMM is just a small piece...they want the entire Mindanao to be under Islamic State...

dinabaw

July 31st, 2008, 06:22 AM

^^ what do you mean let the muslims convert to christianity and the christians should be converted to islam in Mindanao , the majority of the people of Mindanao wants peace, it's elusive but we should clamor for it .imo religion is not the issue the greed of some people , ironically they are the rich & the powerful.

Ibex

July 31st, 2008, 06:27 AM

GearX

July 31st, 2008, 12:05 PM

The ARMM was just a compromise because the rest of Mindanao would not want it to be an islamic state. Besides, the MILF/MNLF cannot justify the whole Mindanao to be an islamic state because it is still predominantly Christian as of today. Yup...the ancestral domain claim...they'll definitely use it.

Here's a portion of a write up taken from a USAID website (http://www.usip.org/philippines/reports/mindanao_tuminez.html)

Territory

Three brief statements on territory are warranted. First, land that belonged to the Moros since time immemorial has been taken from them unjustly. It only took about 60 years to minoritize the Moros demographically and territorially on Mindanao. A form of territorial compensation is required for a just peace. Second, the first peace agreement signed in Tripoli in 1976 promised the Moros autonomy in thirteen provinces and nine cities. But, since that time, the machinations of the government in Manila have succeeded in preventing the Moros from gaining true autonomy in these provinces and cities. The best they have been able to do is get the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is comprised of five poverty-stricken provinces and one city. Moros feel that they have been cheated and now may be their final opportunity to get any kind of honest deal from the government. Third, MILF itself recognizes that the past cannot be restored. Its leaders have scaled back demands for ancestral domain encompassing all of Mindanao, the Sulu archipelago, and Palawan and mainly talk now about territory covering only Muslim-majority areas. Territorially, they may settle for ARMM and additional Muslim-dominated territories, which may add up to 14 additional municipalities. At this point, nobody knows exactly what MILF will ask for and what the Philippine government is ready and able to give.

TONZI

August 1st, 2008, 02:01 AM

Maybe they'll use the ancestral domain issue to push the idea :)

yes, perhaps that would be true. For me, giving them the whole Mindanao would not give a lasting peace all through out.

Just see for example INDONESIA which is an all muslim country, you still cant see peace there specially in the ACEH PROVINCE. They even have their own muslim rebels there. Now, do you think MILF's move to push that idea would be the answer? I give you this analysis to think if giving them an Islamic state is the answer.

After all, if we give them Mindanao and all Chrisitians would move out of Mindanao, they would still give us problems as they would sail out to the VISAYAS areas to insist yet another issue and that would be economic in nature. I dont think they can handle a good government, a good society, and a good institution. Im not generalizing the muslims for this matter but only for the MILF as they themselves cannot even handle their own ranks and file as seen in the presence of their lost commands.

sandman.ink

August 1st, 2008, 06:18 AM

yes, perhaps that would be true. For me, giving them the whole Mindanao would not give a lasting peace all through out.

Just see for example INDONESIA which is an all muslim country, you still cant see peace there specially in the ACEH PROVINCE. They even have their own muslim rebels there. Now, do you think MILF's move to push that idea would be the answer? I give you this analysis to think if giving them an Islamic state is the answer.

After all, if we give them Mindanao and all Chrisitians would move out of Mindanao, they would still give us problems as they would sail out to the VISAYAS areas to insist yet another issue and that would be economic in nature. I dont think they can handle a good government, a good society, and a good institution. Im not generalizing the muslims for this matter but only for the MILF as they themselves cannot even handle their own ranks and file as seen in the presence of their lost commands.

the solution to all of these is education, and proper law enforcement. kahit meron ARMM, kung mali p din ang pamamalakad, then it's worthless.

I don't know why the Gov't is bending over. if both parties are really interested in peace, all they have to do is put down their arms and go by the rules.

now poverty is pushing the rebels (whether MILF or NPA) to fight...but if their children are educated, they start to have dreams...kahit ung mga parents that are not educated but their children are studying, they start to have aspirations...then, they will have the inclination to protect their futures.

dinabaw

August 1st, 2008, 06:26 AM

^^ i don't think we give the whole Mindanao as some people here are saying, Musllims are just 20 % or less in Mindanao. I guess the contention is the govt' is being secretive sa usapan nila.

scarletwitch.wanda

August 1st, 2008, 07:13 AM

Harvests of rice, corn in Mindanao increase

By Aquiles Zonio, Orlando Dinoy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:45:00 08/01/2008

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Rice and corn production in Mindanao was much higher during the first quarter of the year compared to the island’s grains output during the same period last year, data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said.

The BAS said for rice alone, Mindanao harvested 999,212 metric tons during the first three months of the year, or about 4.78 percent higher than the same period last year.

The bulk of the harvest came from Central Mindanao, composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, with a total output of 380,327 metric tons.

Even the conflict-stricken Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and Southern Mindanao, composed of the Davao provinces and Davao City, helped boost rice production by contributing 193,228 metric tons and 142,928 metric tons.

The data, which was released this week, reinforced claims that there should be no reason for rice and corn prices to increase in Mindanao.

Since May, prices of rice and corn have been increasing in various parts of the island, with some rice-producing areas buying rice at P50 per kilogram.

The prices later went down especially in the wake of raids conducted by authorities on suspected rice hoarders.

Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), said he hoped the prices would continue to fall as the next harvest season draws near.

He also said that because of the boost in production, the island’s demand for rice would be met.
The National Food Authority (NFA) estimates that the island has about 3.8 million bags of rice in stock.

Aside from rice, Mindanao corn production also went up during the first quarter of the year, according to the BAS report.

The BAS said the island’s total corn harvest for the first quarter of 2008 reached 883,409 metric tons, or about 22 percent higher, compared to the 722,269 metric tons produced during the same period last year.

Caraga Region, composed of the two Agusan and Surigao provinces, recorded the highest growth by posting a 56.55 percent increase in corn harvest while the Davao provinces came in second at 51.38 percent.

Northern Mindanao and Central Mindanao posted 40.18 percent and 35.51 percent increases in corn yield.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080801-151928/Harvests-of-rice-corn-in-Mindanao-increase

Alingatong

August 1st, 2008, 01:00 PM

Mindanao groups, Pimentel seek disclosure of govt deal with MILF
08/01/2008 | 04:27 PM

MANILA, Philippines — Mindanao-based civic, religious and political leaders on Friday sought the help of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in pressing government to make public its deal on ancestral domain with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF).

A statement on the CBCP website (www.cbcpnews.com) said the Mindanao-based group wants the contents of the deal disclosed before its formal signing in Malaysia on Aug. 5.

Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo accepted the proposal of Kidapawan City mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco to have President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo defer the signing until until copies have been given to Mindanao officials for review.

Gantuangco raised the proposal in a breakfast meeting July 31, the CBCP said.

"The most influential group that could convince the president is the CBCP," Gantuangco told the participants, which included a delegation from North Cotabato.

North Cotabato's delegation included Governor Jesus Sacdalan, Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol, and members of the provincial board and mayors.

The Mindanao leaders said they want to convince the Arroyo administration to consult leaders and people of Mindanao affected by the MOA on ancestral domain before it is signed.

Piñol said most of the participants think a hastily signed MOA could give the MILF a status of belligerency.

North Cotabato officials led by Sacdalan and Piñol earlier filed with the Supreme Court a petition asking the high court to compel the national government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, to divulge the contents of the MOA before it is signed.

They also asked the Supreme Court to issue a restraining order against the national government to ensure that the MOA is thoroughly reviewed and studied before it is signed.

For his part, Bagaforo said in an earlier radio interview he is inclined to support Piñol's moves.

Mayors of North Cotabato, led by League President and Magpet Mayor Efren Piñol, also asked the Supreme Court to act on the petition earlier filed by the provincial officials.

Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat also directed his lawyers to rush the filing of a similar independent motion before the Supreme Court.

Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz was also expected to do the same, the CBCP said.

Other government officials present in the meeting were Reps. Abraham Khalil Mitra of Palawan, Erlie Fabian of Zamboanga del Sur, Darlene Antonino-Custodio of Gen. Santos City and Beng Climaco of Zamboanga City; city mayors Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga and Lawrence Cruz of Iligan, and Civil Service Commissioner Cesar Buenaflor.

ARMM election
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban), meanwhile, urged Malacañang to submit to the Senate the government's accord on ancestral domain, as well as other agreements it has forged with the MILF.

In a press statement, Pimentel suggested that the administration's peace authorities and members of the government's negotiating panel should officially inform the senators on the progress of the peace talks which began at the inception of the Arroyo presidency.

He said the members of the Senate are in the dark about the agreements that have been hammered out by both sides. And yet, he said President Arroyo has cited the need to sustain the momentum of the peace talks as a reason for postponing the August 11 election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The agreement on ancestral domain supposedly provides for the inclusion of about 700 more barangays or villages in the so-called Muslim juridical entity subject to the results of a plebiscite in accordance with constitutional process.

Pimentel, principal author of the ARMM organic act, maintained that the ongoing peace negotiation between government and Muslim rebels should not be used as a ground for disrupting the scheduled regional polls.

He said any postponement of elections is inadvisable because it will unnecessarily extend the term of incumbent officials, including the incompetent and corrupt. At the same time, he said postponement deprives deserving leaders of a chance to get elected and serve the people.

If the ARMM election is postponed, the biggest casualty will be the costly automated voting and counting system intended to eliminate fraudulent practices. He said this will also jeopardize the plan to computerize the 2010 national and local elections.

"People must remember that the ARMM election was also intended to provide the venue for testing of the computerized election process in preparation for the 2010 elections. If you postpone the election now, that means there will be no more opportunity to test the automated voting machines. Therefore, they can use that excuse that since the machines were not tested, they could not be used for the 2010 elections. That, to my mind, is the ultimate purpose to defer or cancel the ARMM election," Pimentel said.

Other reasons cited for Pimentel for opposing the postponement of the ARMM polls:

1. There is no more time for Congress to pass the bill to defer the elections.

2. It is unfair to candidates for ARMM positions who have already spent a lot of money for their election campaign.

3. It will create the impressions that the government is weak for being unable to enforce its election laws.
4. It will aggravate political instability in Mindanao.

5. It will put to waste billions of pesos in taxpayers money already spent on the automated electoral system and other preparatory activities. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/110874/Mindanao-groups-Pimentel-seek-disclosure-of-govt-deal-with-MILF)

henji

August 1st, 2008, 04:19 PM

deleted

henji

August 1st, 2008, 05:07 PM

Mindanao branded as future ‘orchard, agribusiness hub’

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY Arthur C. Yap revealed his agency’s vision of the island region as the country’s future “orchard” and agribusiness capital.
In his written message delivered by Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup during the 1st Mindanao Fruit Industry Council (Minfruit) Market Encounter held recently at the Green Heights Business and Convention Center, Diversion Buhangin, Yap enjoined the participants to join hands with the government in fulfilling the lofty vision of making Mindanao the country’s leader in fruit production and other agribusiness ventures.
He further pleaded for renewal of partnerships to ensure that agribusiness investments continue to pour into Mindanao, particularly in the fruit industry.
To achieve this objective, DA commits to ensure rapid modernization of agriculture and fisheries in the island-region by continuously investing in rural infrastructure, postharvest facilities, credit facilitation, research, development and extension, and market linkage initiatives.
Specifically, Yap promised to deliver within the year Extended Hot Water Treatment tanks for the Davao del Sur Mango Association in Digos City and General Santos-Sarangani Fruit Cooperative in General Santos City to boost mango exports to the vast Chinese market.
Other marketing support activities initiated by DA includes bilateral and multilateral negotiations to expand further exports to traditional markets and open up new ones, such as the Netherlands, South Korea, the Middle East, Hawaii, and Guam.
In answer to Mindanaoan fruit growers’ concern regarding transport cost, Yap advises the growers to take advantage of the RORO System which operates numerous routes to and from Mindanao.
Aside from this, Yap also assured the fruit growers that DA is continuously campaigning for increased fruit consumption among the Filipinos.
The 1st Minfruit Market Encounter was organized by Minfruit Council in coordination with DA-High Value Commercial Crops Program, and Growth with Equity for Mindanao.
It was attended by fruit growers from all over Mindanao and fruit buyers from as far as Ilo-ilo, Cebu and Manila.
Some of the highlights of the activity included the signing of the memorandum of agreement between Agricultural Nurture Inc.(ANI) and various fruit growers’ cooperatives under the Minfruit council, wherein ANI commits to buy banana and mango fruits from said cooperatives at a certain agreed price.
Another was the exhibit booths at the venue wherein several banner products of the different local government units of Region XI and other agribusiness firms are showcased. On sale at the different LGU booths are citrus, coconut, and malunggay products and by-products at Compostela Valley Province booth; Mango fruits and Cacao by-products at Davao Oriental booth; and processed durian products and other related delicacies at Davao City booth. (pr)

http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=21131

henji

August 1st, 2008, 05:22 PM

Friday, 01 August 2008

Learning from the Aceh peace process
MindaNews
Thursday, 31 July 2008 12:28
mmm

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/31 July) – A leading activist on human rights and the peace process in Aceh, Indonesia will be in Cotabato City tomorrow (August 1) to discuss milestones in the Aceh peace process which the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) can learn from as they enter the political settlement phase.

mmm

mmm

Mr. Wiratmadinata, secretary-general of Forum LSE Aceh, a network of 60 local Aceh NGOs, and The Asia Foundation’s William P. Fuller Fellow in Conflict Resolution for 2007-2008, will discuss the decades-long conflict in Aceh and the historic Helsinki Accord of August 2005 which brought a cessation to the hostilities.

Organized by the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, The Asia Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Forum on Aceh and the Mindanao Peace Processes from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Estosan Garden Hotel, promises to be a good venue for comparative learning of peace processes.

“Specifically, the Forum aims to identify factors that contribute to the success of the implementation of the 2005 Helsinki Agreement for Aceh; describe the role of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) in the initial implementation of the agreement; suggest recommendations that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) can consider in the ongoing peace talks from both the Aceh Peace Agreement, and locally, from the experience of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) when it forged the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) with the GRP in 1996,” the organizers’ press statement said.

Mr. Wiratmadinata will be joined by Major Haroun-Al-Rashid Jaji of the Philippine Army assigned with the 6th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City. Jaji will speak on the Role of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM), having served once the Deputy Chief of Mission of the entire Joint European Union-ASEAN AMM, vice the European Mission Chief, Peter Feith.

Prof. Abhoud Lingga, IBS Executive Director of the Institute for Bangsamoro Studies will give his thoughts on what worked and what did not between the Aceh and the Mindanao peace processes respectively.

Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema will give the welcome remarks while TAF Country Representative Dr. Steven Rood will deliver the opening remarks. (MindaNews)

http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4841&Itemid=190

sandman.ink

August 2nd, 2008, 07:58 AM

^^ i don't think we give the whole Mindanao as some people here are saying, Musllims are just 20 % or less in Mindanao. I guess the contention is the govt' is being secretive sa usapan nila.

concerned kaayo ko aning MILF deal...kse MILF is an armed group, and considered terrorist by the US (if I'm not mistaken)...imagine the travel advisories if ever this deal pushes through and magfail ang ARMM...daghan ra ba magput-up unta na foreign businesses dri mindanao but won't push thru kse red flagged ang mindanao sa ilang mother companies sa US...sayang ang job opportunities...

Alingatong

August 2nd, 2008, 03:25 PM

Catholics plan protests against Manila's Muslim deal
Sat Aug 2, 2008 1:33pm BST

By Manny Mogato

MANILA, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Catholic officials from two cities in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao are calling for protests next week against a government deal that increases the size of an autonomous region for Muslims.

The agreement between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has taken more than 10 years to negotiate, gives more land to minority Muslims in the largely Catholic state and also gives them broader political and economic powers.

"This is treason," Maria Isabel Climaco, a member of the lower house of Congress representing Zamboanga City, told reporters.

"The government has allowed Mindanao to be dismembered from this country. We were never consulted and I would oppose that deal in Congress," Climaco added.

More than 120,000 people have been killed, 2 million displaced and economic growth stunted across the whole of Mindanao, a region rich in nickel, gold and copper, due to 40 years of conflict between Muslims seeking some form of independence and the central government.

A copy of the deal, seen by Reuters, commits both parties to agree a formal peace deal by November 2009.

The proposed new Muslim state would receive 75 percent of all central government revenues from resources found in the ancestral area. It would also have broad political, economic and cultural powers but would not have control over defence, foreign and monetary policies.

This week, the Supreme Court asked government lawyers to respond to a petition by a governor and congresswoman from North Cotabato province asking that the signing be stopped.

But the court did not issue an order halting the signing in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 5.

The mayors of Zamboanga and Iligan said on Saturday they would also ask the Supreme Court to block the signing.

"Let's stop them from signing that agreement," Celso Lobregat, mayor of Zamboanga City, told local radio on Saturday.

"Let us not look at ourselves alone, this is a fight for the whole of Mindanao and the country."

Lobregat said many businesses had agreed to close on Monday to join the protest.

Lawrence Cruz, the mayor of Iligan in Lanao del Norte province, said he was organising similar protests.

In the mid-1990s, Catholic politicians from key cities in the south also held region-wide protests when Manila signed a peace deal with another rebel group in 1996 that created the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

uk.reuters.com (http://uk.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUKL25888520080802)

BOB-bXu

August 2nd, 2008, 06:39 PM

Surigao Sur-Davao Oriental Coastal Road Project Updates

http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/news/img/08/SONA.jpg
DPWH Region 13 Director Romeo S. Momo briefs DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. and Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut on the status of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road Project, one of the SONA strategic road projects of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Mindanao.

http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/news/img/08/SURIGAO.jpg
DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. together with Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut and Region 13 Director Romeo S. Momo inspect the progress of works on the Tandag-Marihatag Section of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road Project in Surigao del Sur

http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/news/img/08/MINDANAO.jpg

Animo

August 2nd, 2008, 08:10 PM

why would people vote to be under MILF? seriously, d b considered na sila na terrorist group sa US?

It’s mostly because their culture is being threatened. Try to imagine yourself being "unconsciously" bombarded with Filipino Christian propagandas in the media and nationally speaking they are invisible. These people wants more representation. Also, because they use history as a basis that they were an unconquered and established (Islamic State prior to colonization) peoples of the Islands.

We (in behalf of my Islamic relatives) are peacefull people that wants peace. The militaristic side is just for force. I do not think these people can have what they want without terrorism. :gunz: :jk: Joking aside, since my maternal granfather is Muslim I can opt for a Morolandia Visa! :lol:

ikra

August 2nd, 2008, 10:42 PM

I hear you.

But I dont think that drawing a fine line between whats muslim territory and christian territory will help us gain peace and coexistence. I heavily believe that it is instead doing the exact opposite.

Choosing this "territorial" option is chosen by people who are full of greed, blindness, and stupidity... i.e. the government: congress and senate. Heck why do we even let the senate get into this when in pure honesty those people who are in that position dont even know mindanao in its true heart.

Too bad, we have to bring all our problems to the top when those guys most likely dont even know or care about what their doing to us in the bottom.

sandman.ink

August 3rd, 2008, 12:29 AM

It’s mostly because their culture is being threatened. Try to imagine yourself being "unconsciously" bombarded with Filipino Christian propagandas in the media and nationally speaking they are invisible. These people wants more representation. Also, because they use history as a basis that they were an unconquered and established (Islamic State prior to colonization) peoples of the Islands.

We (in behalf of my Islamic relatives) are peacefull people that wants peace. The militaristic side is just for force. I do not think these people can have what they want without terrorism. :gunz: :jk: Joking aside, since my maternal granfather is Muslim I can opt for a Morolandia Visa! :lol:

religion is not really an issue. it's about good and honest governance...see, we have "Christian" leaders who are corrupt, and same can be said about other leaders...lets just say that they are not true to their beliefs. (ex. Philippines is Christian country pero struggling, Malaysia is an Islamic country but prosperous)

however, it's about credibility...the credibility of MILF is questionable among foreign and probably even local investors. At the moment, many investors are wary of putting up business in Mindanao, even in areas not part of ARMM...we can only imagine what happens with an MILF controlled region.

GearX

August 3rd, 2008, 01:30 PM

religion is not really an issue. it's about good and honest governance...see, we have "Christian" leaders who are corrupt, and same can be said about other leaders...lets just say that they are not true to their beliefs. (ex. Philippines is Christian country pero struggling, Malaysia is an Islamic country but prosperous)

however, it's about credibility...the credibility of MILF is questionable among foreign and probably even local investors. At the moment, many investors are wary of putting up business in Mindanao, even in areas not part of ARMM...we can only imagine what happens with an MILF controlled region.

couldn't agree more...:cheers:

Farirah

August 3rd, 2008, 01:40 PM

No comment yata ako regarding this issue. They have treated their ancestral lands as "Palestine" in Mindanao. Isa pa, it's like some of the radicals have already claimed that all people in Mindanao were Muslims before the Spaniards and Christian migrants from Visayas and Luzon came.

But look at now, there are still sizable lumads in Mindanao who follow animistic religion. :nuts:

Farirah

August 3rd, 2008, 01:57 PM

Matanong lang:

Diba ang di kasali sa new proposed Bangsamoro now ay ang buong Caraga, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon and down to Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental in the south? Am I right?

MtApoStandard

August 3rd, 2008, 02:19 PM

Matanong lang:

Diba ang di kasali sa new proposed Bangsamoro now ay ang buong Caraga, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon and down to Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental in the south? Am I right?
its very long to type down unsa mga lugar inbetween sa bukidnon ug compostela valley:D

new proposed Bangsamoro now- was it made public?

Farirah

August 3rd, 2008, 02:28 PM

its very long to type down unsa mga lugar inbetween sa bukidnon ug compostela valley:D

new proposed Bangsamoro now- was it made public?

Regarding sa new proposal Bangsamoro, I just heard it from one AM station. Kaya I asked a question here if ever totoo ba yan.

MtApoStandard

August 3rd, 2008, 02:34 PM

Regarding sa new proposal Bangsamoro, I just heard it from one AM station. Kaya I asked a question here if ever totoo ba yan.
i know your not sure about it. ijust want to know where/how you got infos to identify those provinces

dinabaw

August 3rd, 2008, 02:36 PM

no truth about it, it's Palawan and some barangays in Cotabato & Zambo Sibugay they want to include.

Farirah

August 3rd, 2008, 02:41 PM

no truth about it, it's Palawan and some barangays in Cotabato & Zambo Sibugay they want to include.

Good to know! Kahit ako naman na di masyado nakikialam sa mga issues regarding their new proposal, di ko nga gusto na halos lahat ng provinces and even cities sa Mindanao ay kunin nila. Sino ba ang may gusto?

Anyway, thanks a lot!

Alingatong

August 3rd, 2008, 02:45 PM

The affected areas claimed under ancestral domain which has raised concern among Mindanao leaders are the present geographic state of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the towns of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangcal in Lanao del Norte.

Also being claimed are (Region 9) Isabela City, Basilan with all of its 45 barangays; Zamboanga City (eight barangays, including the villages of Zone III and IV where the seat of the city government is located, the commercial district, Metropolitan Immaculate Cathedral, and the residence of Mayor Lobregat); Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur (eight barangays); Zamboanga Sibugay Mabuhay (five barangays); (Region 10) Lanao del Norte – Bacolod town (four), Iligan City (eight), Kauswagan (12), Kolambugan (six), Linamon town (eight), Magsaysay (24), Maigo (one), Tubod (one) and the whole of Matungao, Pantao Ragat, Poona Piagapo, Salvador, Sapad and Sultan Naga Dimaporo towns.
Others are Kalilangan, Bukidnon (one barangay); (Region 12) all areas of Cotabato City; North Cotabato – Alamada town (six), Aleosan (seven), Banisilan (18), Carmen (17), whole of Kabacan, M’lang (three), Matalam (12), Midsayap (19), Pigkawayan (20), all of Pikit, President Roxas (one), Tulunan (7); Sultan Kudarat – Bagumbayan (all), Columbio (all), Esperanza (all), Isulan (three), Kalamansig (all), Lambayong (all), Lebak (all), Lutayan (all), Palimbang (all), Pres. Quirino (all), Sen. Ninoy Aquino (all); Palawan – Balabac (all), and Bataraza (all).

The MOA also stipulates that the MILF’s BJE shall have jurisdiction over the management, conservation, development and protection of all natural resources, living, and non-living, within the internal waters extending to the 14-kilometer radius within the coastlines of the BJE.

It also included territorial waters which shall stretch beyond the internal waters of the Republic of the Philippines’ baseline, southeast and southwest of mainland Mindanao.

MtApoStandard

August 3rd, 2008, 02:54 PM

i thought these are areas known to some opposing leaders of affected areas(prior knowledge) before the "landmark deal" but no body knew which ones of these areas(and maybe more)have been agreed or compromised on the negotiating table other than government/panel and the other side

Alingatong

August 3rd, 2008, 03:03 PM

Inking deal with Muslim rebels not compromise of sovereignty

MANILA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Philippine presidential adviser on the peace process Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Sunday said the government is not compromising the Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity in pushing for a landmark deal with the country's largest Muslim rebel group -- Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The government and rebel negotiators are expected to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in Malaysia Tuesday to expand the current six-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the South and to grant it more political and economic powers.

The new autonomous region, named Bangasamoro homeland, is supposedly to have its own basic laws, its own police and internal security force and its own system of banking and finance, civil service, education and legislative and electoral system, among others for over 4 million Muslims in the region.

Earlier reports said that under the MoA, "a defined territory" and "system of governance suitable and acceptable to the Bangasamoro as a distinct dominant people" will be established.

"Even if we accede territory to the new ARMM or the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, the generic name, we are not giving away sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines," Esperontold reporters.

"There is nothing wrong giving the Bangsamoro homeland its own security force," he said, adding that this was actually given in the peace agreement signed by the government with MILF's predecessor the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) in 1996.

Under the proposed agreement, a plebiscite would be held if over 700 villages would be included in the Bangsamoro homeland, Esperon said.

Meanwhile, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told local media that the group is ready to sign the agreement after almost ten years of negotiations with the government for a final peace agreement.

The 12,000-member MILF has been launching a bloody guerilla war since 1978 to strive for an independent Muslim in the southern Mindanao region. Local reports said that the more than three decades of rebellion has claimed over 120,000 people's lives.

news.xinhuanet.com (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/03/content_8930998.htm)

BOB-bXu

August 3rd, 2008, 03:03 PM

I dont like now how manila government treat us here in Mindanao....by just a stroke of a pen on an executive order....they can allign provinces for their purported geopolitical divisions.....by an ink...Zamboanga City lost its regional title....by a piece of paper Cotabato City too lost its seat in Suthern Mindanao region to become the seat of ARMM...now, by hideous deals...they can take away a big swathe of areas including two of our important cities to be included in this celluloid bangsamoro land .!!

we are vulnerable...

MtApoStandard

August 3rd, 2008, 03:17 PM

expanded powers but not soverignty definitely. though still a risk giving in bec of human nature of their culture to ask for more and resort to violence if refused the next time and on to that cycle. i hope no more group will evolve after the compromised deal with them. milf/mnlf

BOB-bXu

August 3rd, 2008, 03:20 PM

exacto Apo...you gave a finger...they will later ask for the hand...you give the hand...and then you will eventually lose all your entire arm...

MtApoStandard

August 3rd, 2008, 03:25 PM

MtApoStandard

August 3rd, 2008, 03:27 PM

exacto Apo...you gave a finger...they will later ask for the hand...you give the hand...and then you will eventually lose all your entire arm...
theyre out to islamise thre world. i think manila now has more muslim pop than sulo, basilan

sandman.ink

August 3rd, 2008, 07:01 PM

kasali pala ang Palawan? what the hell is wrong with the gov't? they are bending over to the whims of the rebels...

that's why you never deal with terrorists (as they are considered by the international community)...we should never make deals with terrorists. you give them a hand, they ask for your entire arm...and what happens next? another armed group rise, sow terror and ask for an autonomous region?

dapat before an individual/group is given responsibility, dapat maprove muna niya/nila that they deserve it (kaya nga puro papogi before every elections)...
subalit, ano ba ang past history ng MILF? burn villages? kill women and children? yan ba ang tipo ng leaders ang gusto natin bigyan ng leadership for a huge chunk of Mindanao?

scarletwitch.wanda

August 4th, 2008, 03:38 AM

Surigao Sur-Davao Oriental Coastal Road Project Updates
http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/news/img/08/SONA.jpg
DPWH Region 13 Director Romeo S. Momo briefs DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. and Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut on the status of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road Project, one of the SONA strategic road projects of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Mindanao.
http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/news/img/08/SURIGAO.jpg
DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. together with Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut and Region 13 Director Romeo S. Momo inspect the progress of works on the Tandag-Marihatag Section of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road Project in Surigao del Sur
http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/news/img/08/MINDANAO.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8749/bravohs4.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8749/bravohs4.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8749/bravohs4.gif (http://imageshack.us)

MtApoStandard

August 4th, 2008, 04:14 AM

Monday, August 04, 2008
DA vows to transform Mindanao as RP's orchard

AGRICULTURE Secretary Arthur C. Yap revealed the agency's vision to transform Mindanao as the country's future "orchard" and agribusiness capital.

Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo

In his written message delivered by Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup during the 1st Mindanao Fruit Industry Council (Minfruit) Market Encounter held recently at the Green Heights Business and Convention Center in Buhangin, Davao City, Yap urged participants to join hands with the government in fulfilling the lofty vision of making Mindanao the country's leader in fruit production and other agribusiness ventures.

He further sought for renewal of partnerships to ensure that agribusiness investments continue to pour into Mindanao, particularly in the fruit industry.

To achieve this objective, Department of Agriculture (DA) has committed to ensure rapid modernization of agriculture and fisheries in the island-region by continuously investing in rural infrastructure, post-harvest facilities, credit facilitation, research, development and extension, and market linkage initiatives.

Yap also vowed to deliver within the year Extended Hot Water Treatment tanks for the Davao del Sur Mango Association in Digos City and General Santos-Sarangani Fruit Cooperative in General Santos City to boost mango exports to the vast Chinese market.

Other marketing support activities initiated by DA includes bilateral and multilateral negotiations to expand further exports to traditional markets and open up new ones, such as the Netherlands, South Korea, the Middle East, Hawaii, and Guam.

In answer to Mindanaon fruit growers' concern regarding transport cost, Yap told the growers to take advantage of the RoRo System which operates numerous routes to and from Mindanao.

Aside from this, Yap also assured the fruit growers that DA is continuously campaigning for increased fruit consumption among the Filipinos.

The 1st Minfruit Market Encounter was organized by Minfruit Council, in coordination with DA-High Value Commercial Crops Program and Growth with Equity for Mindanao.

It was attended by fruit growers from all over Mindanao and fruit buyers from as far as Iloilo, Cebu and Manila.

Some of the highlights of the activity included the signing of the memorandum of agreement between Agricultural Nurture Inc. (ANI) and various fruit growers' cooperatives under the Minfruit council, wherein ANI commits to buy banana and mango fruits from said cooperatives at a certain agreed price.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2008/08/04/bus/da.vows.to.transform.mindanao.as.rp.s.orchard.html

scarletwitch.wanda

August 4th, 2008, 04:22 AM

Only SC can stop deal now

RP, MILF set to sign pact in Malaysia
By Leila Salaverria, DJ Yap, Nikko Dizon, Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:45:00 08/04/2008

MANILA, Philippines—It’s all systems go for the signing on Tuesday of an agreement which critics say will pave the way for the creation of a new state out of a proposed expanded Bangsamoro homeland.

Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and his Malaysian counterpart Rais Yatim are expected to witness the signing in Kuala Lumpur of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“It’s a go,” said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s peace adviser, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., unless the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order, which some Mindanao officials were seeking.

“It’s all systems go for the signing of the agreement on Aug. 5,” MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu also told Agence France Presse by phone from his base in Mindanao. “Our men on the ground want to see peace in Mindanao, and we have been talking for a long time already.”

Esperon, former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that after the signing, the government would launch an “all-out consultation” preparatory to the holding of a plebiscite in one year.

The MOA grants an expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) its own basic law, an internal security force, a system of banking and finance, civil service, education and legislative institutions, full authority to develop and dispose of minerals and natural resources.

The government of the proposed MILF-controlled area would also have the power to send trade missions overseas and to enter into international arrangements, according to a draft of the agreement obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

Adel Tamano, spokesperson of the United Opposition, said that under the MOA, the President had “effectively ceded part of the territory of the Philippines to the MILF.”

Tamano cited Section 3 on concepts and principles of the MOA, which states that “ancestral domain does not form part of the Philippines’ public domain.”

“Obviously, GMA (Ms Arroyo) is not empowered to give up any part of our country to any group, only the Filipino people can do that in their sovereign capacity and only via amending the Constitution,” he said.

Declaration of independence

Tamano warned that the signing of the MOA would grant the MILF the “status of belligerency” and could open the door for a declaration of independence.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita dismissed claims that the MOA would violate the Constitution and constitute an impeachable offense against Ms Arroyo. He said the MOA was just one of three major undertakings in the peace agenda, the others being security and economic issues.

“There is no final agreement yet,” Ermita said in a phone interview.

The signing of the MOA will pave the way for the resumption of formal peace negotiations and from there, both panels will firm up a “comprehensive compact” of the final peace agreement, he said.

Referring to the petition in the Supreme Court seeking to stop the Kuala Lumpur signing, Esperon said government lawyers “will argue that the power of negotiations is with the executive branch.”

Enabling law required

Both Ermita and Esperon contended that the MOA was a “preliminary agreement” and pointed to provisions there stating that nothing would be executory unless there was a law enabling its implementation and everything must be done within the legal framework.
Ermita said this meant that any agreement between the government and the MILF had to be in accordance with the Constitution.

Both Ermita and Esperon stressed that the MOA called for the holding of a plebiscite in order to expand the Moro homeland.

“Any plebiscite will be pursuant only to an enabling law enacted by Congress,” Esperon said. “We are not giving away Mindanao.”

He also said the MOA only “defines the rights over the land” and thus, “it was not saying we will confiscate or revoke all land titles.”

Not impeachable

“That’s why I don’t see anyone can say that there is a violation and this would be an impeachable offense,” Ermita said, dismissing claims that the President was using the peace pact with the MILF to amend the Constitution so as to extend her term.

“I think we are extending our imagination too much,” said Ermita, who also expressed hopes that Congress would postpone the ARMM election scheduled for Aug. 11 as part of a “big confidence-building measure.”

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez also said that the MOA would undergo “constitutional processes,” including the requirement of an enabling law before it could be implemented.

“If Congress will pass something else, then the MOA will not hold. It’s up to Congress,” he said. “There are no shortcuts being taken here.”

Gonzalez also branded as “inaccurate” the news reports that a new state would be created under the MOA on ancestral domain.

No deal on secession

“What’s being given is an enlarged autonomous region. Never in the discussions have we agreed to secession,” he said. “There is no such thing as peace at any price. But we will give a chance to peace because peace is better than shooting,” he said.

The proposed ancestral domain, to be governed by the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE), is the last remaining hurdle for a final political settlement that is expected to end the four decades-old insurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives. This would include plans for the future of the MILF’s 12,000 fighters, many of whom have said they will not disarm.

Esperon also dismissed suggestions that the MOA amounted to making the proposed Moro homeland a state.

“In the highest form, it could be a state within a state, if it comes to that,” Esperon said. But he added that only a constitutional amendment would allow this to happen if there was a shift to the federal form of government.

“But if our lawyers will say that the BJE will be under an expanded ARMM that will be enough, then we don’t have to have an amendment in the Constitution,” Esperon said.

Aside from the current ARMM provinces of Sulu, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, and city of Marawi, the proposed Moro region would include six municipalities in Lanao del Norte and hundreds of barangays (villages) in Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, which voted to become part of the ARMM in 2001.

The proposed MOA also provides for the inclusion of the Bangsamoro’s “ancestral domain” in Mindanao, Palawan and Sulu.

Copies of the draft MOA were distributed to retired generals during a forum on July 24 in Camp Aguinaldo and made available to the Inquirer.

Shared authority

Under the MOA, the Philippine government and the BJE are to exercise “shared authority and responsibility” over the Bangsamoro homeland.

The details of the structure of shared governance will be defined in the “comprehensive compact.” A multinational third party will be jointly invited by the government and the BJE to observe and monitor the actual implementation of the “comprehensive compact.”

Peace negotiations between the government and the MILF have been stalled on the contentious issue of ancestral domain since December 2007.

Only on July 25, informal talks aimed at getting the peace negotiations back on track broke down in Kuala Lumpur, with the MILF panel accusing the other side of trying to “undo” provisions in the “breakthrough” agreement forged on July 16.

The MILF said the meeting had been intended to finalize the text of the draft agreement on ancestral domain, but that the government panel led by retired Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia wanted certain settled issues reopened.

On July 27, the government and MILF panels led by Garcia and MILF’s Mohagher Iqbal, respectively, initialed the final draft of the agreement on ancestral domain, Malacañang said. With a report from Agence France-Presse

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080804-152468/Only-SC-can-stop-deal-now

GearX

August 4th, 2008, 06:09 AM

Christians Being Agitated To Fight Muslim Ancestral Domain Deal In Mindanao (http://zamboangajournal.blogspot.com/)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 4, 2008) – Christian residents in southern Philippine city of Zamboanga are being agitated to protest the inclusion of several Muslim enclaves here in a proposed Islamic homeland in Mindanao.

Local Catholic priests in their homily Sunday also urged residents to join a protest rally on Monday. In their homily, the priests said two villages largely populated by Christians would be included in the proposed Muslim homeland demanded by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which is negotiating peace with Manila.

Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat also criticized Manila for including several Muslim villages here to be part of the MILF ancestral domain, including two villages where the century-old City Hall and the Fort Pilar, an open-air Catholic shrine are situated.

Lobregat, who was invited Saturday night at a Lion’s Club convention here, spoke lengthily about his opposition to the ancestral domain and the inclusion of Christian villages in the proposed Muslim homeland. He said residents had twice rejected plebiscites in the past to include the city in the Muslim autonomous region.

Government and rebel peace negotiators have reached a deal on the ancestral domain and would sign the agreement on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur which is brokering the seven-year old talks aimed at ending more than four decades of Muslim secessionist wars in Mindanao.

President Gloria Arroyo's peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon said there is need to amend the Constitution to allow referendum on areas under the ancestral domain that would make up the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity.

Esperon also denied Lobregat’s claim and said only Sacol Island, about 18 nautical miles, is included in the ancestral domain. “Only Sacol is included in the ancestral domain and islanders would be given a chance whether to be part of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity or not,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said: “Included in the proposed plebiscite are the villages in Sacol Island and none in mainland Zamboanga City. We should hear the voice of the people of Sacol, which is populated by Muslims. Any plebiscite will be pursuant only to an enabling law which will be enacted by Congress.”

Sacol is one of 25 island communities largely populated by poor Muslims, mostly fishermen and seaweed farmers. Many Muslim enclaves in Zamboanga have little or no development projects at all and villagers rely mostly on foreign aid for its water and electricity sources, despite the city’s more than P2 billion savings in banks.

US government agencies such as the USAID, AMORE and GEM and the US military have been very active in providing Muslim villages in Zamboanga City with various infrastructure projects, medical missions and solar-power technology that provides electricity to homes, among others.

Cell phone text messages were also spreading about the inclusion of Zamboanga City in the Muslim ancestral domain. One text message urged citizens to resist the ancestral domain and to join Monday’s protest rally.

Many commercial stores here, mostly owned by influential Chinese businessmen and supporters of Lobregat, said they will all close at 11 a.m. on Monday to protest the inclusion of the villages to the ancestral domain. Even some journalists, who are supposed to stay neutral, have joined calls to resist the ancestral domain.

Lobregat said many Muslim village leaders are also opposed to the inclusion of their communities to the Bangsamoro homeland. However, most of these leaders are also the mayor’s allies and supporters.

But many Muslims here said they wanted to be part of the Bangsamoro homeland and are supporting the MILF peace talks. Many Muslim residents in Zamboanga City said they are discriminated by Christians. Others claimed many department stores owned by Chinese businessmen here do not hire Muslims, but Christians.

Muslim groups and peace advocates in Zamboanga City are supporting the peace talks and favored the ancestral domain. Ancestral domain is the single most important and, arguably, the thorniest issue before government and rebel peace negotiators can reach a political settlement.
Zamboanga was the former capital of the Moro province and part of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.

Aside from Zamboanga City, the ancestral domain included the whole of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which is comprise of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Lanao, and Maguindanao provinces and Marawi City, and also some areas in Zamboanga Peninsula, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces in Mindanao where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes. And Palawan Island near Mindanao.

The Bangsamoro Juridical Entity will also have sufficient control over economic resources and a structure of governance in all its territories that will allow Muslims to govern themselves in ways that are consonant with their culture and with minimal interference from Manila.

Lawrence Cruz, the mayor of Iligan City in Lanao province, said he will also hold a protest rally on Monday. Deputy Governor Emmanuel Pinol, of North Cotabato, said he will oppose any attempt to include his province to the Muslim homeland.

Pinol has asked the Supreme Court to stop the government and rebel peace negotiators from signing the agreement on the ancestral domain. Lobregat and Cruz said they would also petition the High Court to stop the signing.

The MILF on Sunday appealed to Christians and Muslims in Mindanao to promote trust, understanding and cooperation and not hatred and mistrust. The rebel group previously said it will not sign any peace deal with the Arroyo government unless its demand for self-determination is granted. Last year, peace talks were also stalled after government negotiators reneged on the ancestral domain deal.

Arroyo opened peace talks with the MILF in 2001 after deposing President Joseph Estrada in a bloodless revolution. But despite the peace talks, sporadic fighting between rebels and soldiers still continue in Mindanao with both sides accusing each other of violating a fragile truce accord.

Peace negotiators last month also signed an agreement in Kuala Lumpur that will empower the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity to build, develop and maintain its own institutions, inclusive of civil service, electoral, financial and banking, education, legislation, legal, economic, police and internal security force, judicial system and correctional institutions necessary for developing a progressive Muslim society. (Mindanao Examiner)

dinabaw

August 4th, 2008, 07:03 AM

guys guys wag tayong pabigla2 ,same old story lang yang issue na yan , hindi papasa yan sa Congreso at 100% ako na hindi mananalo yan sa plebisito

kung na remember nniyo noong pag buo ng ARMM mas malawak pa dyan ang hinihingi nila , hindi lang naman MILF ang mga muslim dito eh paano na yung mga MNLF at ARMM factions?

imo our gov't knows how to play the cards :)

sandman.ink

August 4th, 2008, 07:10 AM

dinabaw

August 4th, 2008, 07:12 AM

The Wolfman

August 4th, 2008, 07:16 AM

Wow this is bad... Parang nagulat ako dito. This is like carving out a new state down there. Realyl bad, I hope they don't include the Christians areas there since there might be conflicts when they impose their islamic laws on christian populace. And including palawan?

This deal is sketchy, what is Gloria up to? This might divide the country.

Animo

August 4th, 2008, 08:03 AM

kung yang mga politician natin ay hindi puro mga grand standing at mga sakim sa kapangyarihan , dapat federalismo na tayo , tapos na sana ang problema!

ngayon yawyaw ng yawyaw sila , Federalism is the only solution to this Bangsamoro issues.

Cha-cha! Federalismo baby! :yes:

Bangsamoro state?
By Anol Mongaya (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/08/04/oped/anol.mongaya.html)

MALACAÑANG bright boys finally produced a proposal that should make charter change a reality before the 2010 elections: the creation of a Bangsa-moro state.

On one hand, the creation of a Bangsamoro state will realize an age-old dream of the Moro peoples. After all, though Spain crippled the Sulu Sultanate’s ability to conduct slave raids in Visayas and Luzon, they failed to conquer the Moro state. The Filipino people, to the eyes of our Moro brothers, lived in lands conquered and oppressed by Spain for three centuries. The Philippine revolution of 1896 against Spanish oppression was a revolution of the Christianized inhabitants of the archipelago.

They believe the Moro peoples were only subdued during the American period with the help of Filipinos.

Today, the creation of a Bangsamoro shall realize their dream for a state but at the same time preserve the territorial integrity of the Philippines. For the rest of the country, the creation of the Bangsamoro should resolve the long drawn-out war waged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and undermine the extremist Abu Sayyaf. This should free precious resources from destructive military campaigns to productive economic programs.

On the other hand, we cannot proceed with the creation of a Bangsamoro state without changing the Philippine Constitution.

Now, if we proceed with the cha-cha, will this not open the Pandora’s Box that will include such evils as removal of term limits for incumbents?

***

Should the coming elections of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) be postponed because of this development in the peace talks?

Sen. Mar Roxas, in an e-mailed statement, puts it this way: “The elections should push through regardless of the peace talks to strengthen ARMM voters’ belief in the electoral process. The credibility of elections in ARMM has always been doubted because of repeated incidents of goon politics, cheating, and violence against voters and poll workers, particularly public school teachers who man the election precincts.”

under_superior

August 4th, 2008, 08:38 AM

i really felt for zamboanga. its image as "bastion of christianity"(monicker to my mind only based on what i learned about the place). will be dragged to might be losing its identity "non islamic city image".

na... anu pa man. hehe. wala na talaga mangyayari sa bansa natin kung puro na lang padalos dalos ang mga laws/ orders.

under_superior

August 4th, 2008, 08:39 AM

dinabaw

August 4th, 2008, 08:41 AM

yes you're right, once surrendered, they will govern that particular area...

na, i agree daat tlaga ang gs2 ng tao ang masusunod....

no one is surrendering anything

an ex. again parang paquiao vs. diaz figth first may pre arrangement yan, like anong timbang ang kanilang lalabanan , globes na gagamitin at ang venue. eh ang labanan naman talaga sinong matindi ang kamao :lol:

under_superior

August 4th, 2008, 08:48 AM

no one is surrendering anything

an ex. again parang paquiao vs. diaz figth first may pre arrangement yan, like anong timbang ang kanilang lalabanan , globes na gagamitin at ang venue. eh ang labanan naman talaga sinong matindi ang kamao :lol:

yes, nobody will, but by the power of the president, we'll be forced to surrender it. hhee

GearX

August 4th, 2008, 09:46 AM

'No loss of RP territory in Moro homeland accord' (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=127241)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/abs/20080727_milf.jpg
By ISAGANI DE CASTRO, JR.
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newbreak

The Philippines will not lose any territory or sovereignty in the agreement on a new Moro homeland that will be signed August 5 in Malaysia, a top Arroyo adviser said.

Ret. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, presidential adviser on the peace process, told ANC that the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) will also go through democratic processes:

- First, it will require an enabling law from Congress on the holding of a plebiscite within a year after the agreement is signed; and,

- Second, residents of nearly 730 villages will then be asked in a plebiscite whether they want to join an expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and only those villages where majority of voters choose to join will be included in the expanded ARMM.

"Let’s be clear that any territory that will be added to the present ARMM will only be because of a plebiscite or after a plebiscite that could only be conducted after Congress has enacted an enabling law to do it," Esperon said.

"There is no surrender of territory here. That is why we are providing for a plebiscite, which is consulting the people if we have to put some additional geographic areas into what is now the ARMM," he told ANC’s Crossroads. "So, there’s no talk here of territory loss or sovereignty loss."

Not yet final

Esperon also pointed out that the MOA-AD is not yet the final peace agreement since it will still lead to negotiations on the comprehensive compact or the final peace agreement.

"The MOA is a preliminary agreement before we go to the final peace talks or the formal peace talks. Therefore, it is not the final agreement that should bind us to all the agreements," he said.

Esperon said the MOA-AD is "not the final document for the peace process."

"It is a preliminary document, together with the ceasefire arrangements, the rehabilitation and construction provisions, and now the MOA-AD. These are the preliminaries before we go to the formal peace talks," he said.

Esperon said these and other provisions in the MOA-AD comply with the 1987 Constitution.

"In fact, one of the provisions, a major provision of the MOA is that all provisions must conform with the Constitution or the legal framework of the land," he said.

No property confiscation

On the provisions on exploitation and use of natural resources in the expanded ARMM, Esperon said the MOA-AD will not lead to transfer of properties or land titles from Christians to the Moro people.

"There’s nothing to fear here. It is not confiscatory as some people would now want to tell the people in Zamboanga or Cotabato. No lands will be given to the Moslems, titles will be respected, licenses will be respected," he said.

Zamboanga city, provincial and district representatives asked the Supreme Court on Monday to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the signing of the MOA-AD since they were not consulted. They said they have twice voted not to join the ARMM, one in 1989 and 2001. If the signing pushes through Tuesday, they asked the SC to declare the MOA-AD null and void.

On the issue of lack of consultations, Esperon said the period for consultations and public information and education on MOA-AD has already started and that more information will be disclosed after the signing.

"As soon as we get that signed, we can start all these consultations and all the debate, and I believe that by going through this, we can have a better position and better results for the peace process," he said. "I’m willing to go there again and discuss it again, consult with them."

Esperon also confirmed that he has already given unofficial copies to local officials of North Cotabato and the Zamboanga provinces.

He denied the government has being dictatorial in its approach to the peace process as some politicians said.

"This is not ramming peace through the throat of the people of North Cotabato. We are all for peace. If I fought in Cotabato, it is because we wanted peace in Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao," Esperon said.

No separate state

Meanwhile, Michael Mastura, a member of the MILF negotiating panel told ANC’s Dateline Philippines Monday that the MOA-AD will not lead to the creation of a separate state.

"There is one line which says that it cannot go against the Republic," Mastura, a former member of Congress, said.

Mastura stressed there is still time to discuss controversial questions on the MOA-AD since the final peace agreement has not yet been signed.

"This is not the stage that will solve all these many questions that are raised now before the public. Because there is a last and final stage, which is the negotiation of the comprehensive compact," he said. "I would appeal to those who are opposing now, or those who put a doubt that the real issues will be faced in the comprehensive compact after the signing of the MOA."

He said this is why the ancestral domain accord is only a memorandum.

"It’s a memorandum only of agreement for ancestral domain because the framework agreement, although it [MOA-AD] can stand on its own, needs also a transition process that will be contained in the negotiation of the compact agreement. So let us wait for that stage and we can go public and we can debate."

Belligerency status

Former Senate President and Liberal Party chief Franklin Drilon said Sunday that the proposed MOA-AD clearly violates the 1987 Constitution because it grants the so-called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) a status of belligerency, which is a step closer to granting it international recognition as a separate and independent state.

"It will reportedly authorize the BJE to sign trade pacts, friendship treaties and other international agreements with foreign countries and send representatives to ASEAN and the United Nations," he said.

Moreover, Drilon said that the Terms of Reference cites the UN Charter, the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which only sovereign states can be party to.

He explained that the proposed agreement unconstitutionally surrenders Philippine government authority over exploitation of natural resources, such as oil exploration, as the Bangsamoro territory no longer forms part of the national public domain.

"You cannot divide sovereignty, which the MOA provides for when it allows BJE to exercise shared authority and responsibility with the Philippine government over the Bangsamoro homeland," he pointed out.

The former justice secretary also said while he had always supported the peace process in Mindanao, as a lawyer and a liberal democrat, he would see to it that any Mindanao peace agreement should be within the boundaries of the present Constitution.

"This MOA goes beyond the constitutional parameters and boundaries, which provides only for autonomous regions. I am for the granting of full and genuine authority to the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but the process should not violate the Constitution," Drilon said.

May lead to independence

Other analysts have also expressed concern over the MOA-AD.

In a recent panel discussion on the MOA-AD organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Cotabato-based Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), Fr. Eliseo Mercado, a former member of the government negotiating panel, said that if the Arroyo government fails to implement the ancestral domain accord, it gives the MILF reason to declare independence.

Mercado said the essence of the agreement on ancestral domain is not on the expansion of the Moro homeland but on its concept.

"This is the first time that I’ve seen a document as such. You have all the elements of a state," he said. "That entitles the Bangsamoro to a self-declaration [of independence]. Because it’s all there: you’ve been recognized, you have territory, you have self-determination, your ancestral domain is your birthright, it’s not part of the public domain."

Camilo Montesa, a lawyer and policy adviser of the think-tank IAG, agreed with Mercado, saying the MOA already contains the elements of the state—government, people, territory, and "concedes international recognition."

Mercado praised the MILF negotiators for doing a good job pushing their agenda in the peace talks through the MOA on ancestral domain.

Mercado said the MOA is not just a "symbolic recognition" of the Moro people and state but "a real recognition."

He said the government may have agreed to grant this as "restitution of historical injustices" against the Moro people or it could be a "formula for peace and development."

dinabaw

August 4th, 2008, 09:50 AM

^^ see ! if your territory/ baranggay lost in the plebsicite it means they are for the Bangsamoro , that we will respect & should be respected .

GearX

August 4th, 2008, 10:00 AM

I have only one clarification...are the people in the said barangays e.g. Rogongon in Iligan the only one who would participate in the plebiscite or would it be the entire city? :ohno: kasi if it's the barangays, possibly these are largely muslim areas...same with Zamboanga City's. I believe the barangays mentioned are those which are pre-dominantly muslim areas, if I'm not mistaken.

MtApoStandard

August 4th, 2008, 10:04 AM

The Memorandum of Agreement is all about ceding some pre-identified ancestral lands to the MILF, right?

Would this have the automatic effect of placing these ancestral lands under the jurisdiction of ARMM?

Kasi it cannot be done without first consulting the affected population through a plebiscite.
from the view of my limited understanding that only relied on confusing reports, leaders of zamboanga, iligan and cotabato have prior knowledge of grp panels proposal for expanded territory to give in pieces of their provinces in the name of ancestral domain. any leader i guess could treat it as cause for serious concern. now that a compromised deal is done where both panels agreed in form of ?moa, a more serius concern are the provisions under these were not disclosed until this day of formal signing in malaysia. to me, your second question is a possibilty, bec nobody knew the specifics of the deal("landmark") agreed on the negotiation table

MtApoStandard

August 4th, 2008, 10:18 AM

'No loss of RP territory in Moro homeland accord' (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=127241)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/abs/20080727_milf.jpg
By ISAGANI DE CASTRO, JR.
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newbreak

Not yet final

Esperon also pointed out that the MOA-AD is not yet the final peace agreement since it will still lead to negotiations on the comprehensive compact or the final peace agreement.

"The MOA is a preliminary agreement before we go to the final peace talks or the formal peace talks. Therefore, it is not the final agreement that should bind us to all the agreements," he said.

Esperon said the MOA-AD is "not the final document for the peace process."

"It is a preliminary document, together with the ceasefire arrangements, the rehabilitation and construction provisions, and now the MOA-AD. These are the preliminaries before we go to the formal peace talks," he said.

Esperon said these and other provisions in the MOA-AD comply with the 1987 Constitution.

"In fact, one of the provisions, a major provision of the MOA is that all provisions must conform with the Constitution or the legal framework of the land," he said.

No property confiscation

On the provisions on exploitation and use of natural resources in the expanded ARMM, Esperon said the MOA-AD will not lead to transfer of properties or land titles from Christians to the Moro people.

"There’s nothing to fear here. It is not confiscatory as some people would now want to tell the people in Zamboanga or Cotabato. No lands will be given to the Moslems, titles will be respected, licenses will be respected," he said.

Zamboanga city, provincial and district representatives asked the Supreme Court on Monday to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the signing of the MOA-AD since they were not consulted. They said they have twice voted not to join the ARMM, one in 1989 and 2001. If the signing pushes through Tuesday, they asked the SC to declare the MOA-AD null and void.

On the issue of lack of consultations, Esperon said the period for consultations and public information and education on MOA-AD has already started and that more information will be disclosed after the signing.

"As soon as we get that signed, we can start all these consultations and all the debate, and I believe that by going through this, we can have a better position and better results for the peace process," he said. "I’m willing to go there again and discuss it again, consult with them."

Esperon also confirmed that he has already given unofficial copies to local officials of North Cotabato and the Zamboanga provinces.

He denied the government has being dictatorial in its approach to the peace process as some politicians said.

"This is not ramming peace through the throat of the people of North Cotabato. We are all for peace. If I fought in Cotabato, it is because we wanted peace in Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao," Esperon said.

No separate state

Meanwhile, Michael Mastura, a member of the MILF negotiating panel told ANC’s Dateline Philippines Monday that the MOA-AD will not lead to the creation of a separate state.

"There is one line which says that it cannot go against the Republic," Mastura, a former member of Congress, said.

Mastura stressed there is still time to discuss controversial questions on the MOA-AD since the final peace agreement has not yet been signed.

"This is not the stage that will solve all these many questions that are raised now before the public. Because there is a last and final stage, which is the negotiation of the comprehensive compact," he said. "I would appeal to those who are opposing now, or those who put a doubt that the real issues will be faced in the comprehensive compact after the signing of the MOA."

He said this is why the ancestral domain accord is only a memorandum.

"It’s a memorandum only of agreement for ancestral domain because the framework agreement, although it [MOA-AD] can stand on its own, needs also a transition process that will be contained in the negotiation of the compact agreement. So let us wait for that stage and we can go public and we can debate."

Belligerency status

Former Senate President and Liberal Party chief Franklin Drilon said Sunday that the proposed MOA-AD clearly violates the 1987 Constitution because it grants the so-called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) a status of belligerency, which is a step closer to granting it international recognition as a separate and independent state.

"It will reportedly authorize the BJE to sign trade pacts, friendship treaties and other international agreements with foreign countries and send representatives to ASEAN and the United Nations," he said.

Moreover, Drilon said that the Terms of Reference cites the UN Charter, the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which only sovereign states can be party to.

He explained that the proposed agreement unconstitutionally surrenders Philippine government authority over exploitation of natural resources, such as oil exploration, as the Bangsamoro territory no longer forms part of the national public domain.

"You cannot divide sovereignty, which the MOA provides for when it allows BJE to exercise shared authority and responsibility with the Philippine government over the Bangsamoro homeland," he pointed out.

The former justice secretary also said while he had always supported the peace process in Mindanao, as a lawyer and a liberal democrat, he would see to it that any Mindanao peace agreement should be within the boundaries of the present Constitution.

"This MOA goes beyond the constitutional parameters and boundaries, which provides only for autonomous regions. I am for the granting of full and genuine authority to the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but the process should not violate the Constitution," Drilon said.

May lead to independence

Other analysts have also expressed concern over the MOA-AD.

In a recent panel discussion on the MOA-AD organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Cotabato-based Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), Fr. Eliseo Mercado, a former member of the government negotiating panel, said that if the Arroyo government fails to implement the ancestral domain accord, it gives the MILF reason to declare independence.

Mercado said the essence of the agreement on ancestral domain is not on the expansion of the Moro homeland but on its concept.

"This is the first time that I’ve seen a document as such. You have all the elements of a state," he said. "That entitles the Bangsamoro to a self-declaration [of independence]. Because it’s all there: you’ve been recognized, you have territory, you have self-determination, your ancestral domain is your birthright, it’s not part of the public domain."

Camilo Montesa, a lawyer and policy adviser of the think-tank IAG, agreed with Mercado, saying the MOA already contains the elements of the state—government, people, territory, and "concedes international recognition."

Mercado praised the MILF negotiators for doing a good job pushing their agenda in the peace talks through the MOA on ancestral domain.

Mercado said the MOA is not just a "symbolic recognition" of the Moro people and state but "a real recognition."

He said the government may have agreed to grant this as "restitution of historical injustices" against the Moro people or it could be a "formula for peace and development."
issuing statements like these i suppose be treated with sensitivity. and not just anytime anywhere. might be recieved with confusion by milf panel you dont know have high hopes and confidence moa will end in finality a lasting peaceful settlement. their trust on governemnt and its sincerity should always be treated sensitively and always at the forefront in every dealings specially with the media. imo

MtApoStandard

August 4th, 2008, 10:23 AM

NOT JUST MIGHT it really would,
if ever na ma sign ang contract.....
a "landmark deal" is done. the purpose of their meeting in malaysia today is the formal signing of moa

dinabaw

August 4th, 2008, 10:24 AM

they are forced to divulged this statement due to the clamor of the people on the agreement.

MtApoStandard

August 4th, 2008, 10:27 AM

they are forced to divulged this statement due to the clamor of the people .
only court order could do that i guess dinabaw. i dont know about legalities. i have no money to pay expert opinion of atty penghok:D

dinabaw

August 4th, 2008, 10:32 AM

well it was published ( back pages) & not really a secret agreement , i guess the contention was when they added some details in the original agreement which irked some people w/out devulging the content of it.

MtApoStandard

August 4th, 2008, 07:12 PM

i suppose its the general term of reference which is mailny anchord on the context of existing agreement which is known to the oppositors. but the content of other references that covers an expanded autonomy were kept from the public. im guessing, public consultation will be undertaken at the stage of comprehensive peace agreement. that i think prior to submitting in a plebiscite/referendum

Animo

August 4th, 2008, 08:02 PM

BANGKOK, THAILAND - The Philippine government was due to sign Tuesday a landmark accord with an Islamic rebel group that would create an expanded Muslim homeland on the southern island of Mindanao. But in an unexpected setback, the Philippine Supreme Court on Monday blocked the signing and ordered a court hearing on Aug. 15 into claims that the proposed deal was unconstitutional.

The pact had been expected to pave the way for the two sides to ink a comprehensive peace deal to end a decades-old insurgency that has stunted economic development on resource-rich Mindanao and incubated lethal terrorist networks across Southeast Asia. The eleventh-hour judicial intervention jolted negotiators from both sides, who had traveled to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, for Tuesday's signing ceremony.

"I don't know what will happen next," Mohaqher Iqbal, the chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), told Reuters.

Opponents had charged that the pact was "ill-advised" and potentially unconstitutional as it involved territorial concessions in Mindanao. Aides to President Gloria Arroyo deny this, saying lawmakers will be asked to legislate on any final legal settlement with the MILF.

The pact on territorial claims would have been the third signed between the two sides since 2003. Following Tuesday's planned signing, negotiators were preparing to start work on a final binding document that could be ready within a year, says Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. "The national government is doing everything possible to come to a final agreement," he says.

Local Christians protest

The proposed Muslim homeland would have control over the exploitation of minerals and other natural resources within its jurisdiction, according to a draft copy of the accord. Its executives could conduct overseas trade missions. It would also run its own security force, which is designed to absorb the bulk of MILF fighters. They numbered around 11,000 at their peak but have dwindled since a 2001 cease-fire.

Such concessions are bitterly opposed by Christian landowners and politicians who fear land grabs and have petitioned the Supreme Court to block the pact. Thousands of Christians in Zamboanga, a city in southwest Mindanao, rallied on Monday against the deal, Reuters reported.

A wave of government-backed migration since the 1940s has seen Christian settlers acquire land in Mindanao that previously belonged to Muslims.

Tensions over land helped fuel a 1972 uprising by the Moro National Liberation Front that claimed 120,000 lives over four years. In 1977, the MILF broke away from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to pursue an explicit Islamic-based agenda, including sending volunteers to Afghanistan to fight Soviet occupation.

Deal may have good ripple effects

For the US government, a durable peace accord would be vindication of its diplomatic and aid initiatives on Mindanao, including a decision after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US not to designate the MILF as a terrorist group.

In February, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney traveled to Mindanao to meet the MILF's chairman. The US and other major donors have pledged to ramp up aid to sweeten any peace deal.

By crafting a compromise on historic territorial claims, the Philippines can offer a lesson for other countries such as Nepal, Indonesia, and Thailand trying to quell separatist violence, says Steven Rood, country director of the Asia Foundation. "The MILF can provide something of an example to other similar insurgency movements, and the government in Manila can provide an example to other governments trying to keep the [peace] process moving forward," he says.

Many competing interests

Adding to the complexity of the current talks, a 1996 peace deal between the Philippine government and MNLF carved out an autonomous region in Mindanao that covers four provinces.

The MILF wants to absorb that region into a new, larger jurisdiction, subject to local referendums. Some former MNLF leaders have objected to the dilution of their power base.

The MILF claims 712 additional districts on behalf of the Bangsamoro people. Christian politicians object to the creation of these autonomous districts within their provinces.

In recent months, low-level violence has flared in MILF strongholds. MILF leaders deny sanctioning attacks on civilians but warned of rising frustrations within their ranks. That's a pressure tactic the MILF often uses, analysts say.

"The prospect of a return to full-scale war is fairly remote. Neither side can sustain it," says Scott Harrison, executive director of Pacific Strategies and Assessments, a consultancy in Manila.

The peace talks come as Mindanao gears up for elections on Aug. 11 in the existing autonomous region known as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Last week, Ms. Arroyo asked lawmakers to postpone the elections, but met stiff opposition in the Senate. The administration said electing ARMM officials to three-year terms would complicate the creation of a new jurisdiction. MILF leaders have played down the impact on their peace talks.

Separately, Arroyo's opponents in Congress claim that amending the Constitution to cement an MILF peace accord could be used to also extend the president's term that ends in 2010.

The Philippines only allows presidents to hold office for one six-year term. Arroyo took power in 2001 after President Joseph Estrada was forced to step down, then won an election in 2004 that was dogged by fraud complaints.

Peace efforts with the MILF

1977: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forms to secure an independent Muslim region on the Philippine island of Mindanao.
August 2001: After decades of intermittent fighting, President Gloria Arroyo opens peace talks and signs a new cease-fire agreement.
March 2003: A bomb in Davao, the Philippines’ second-largest city, kills 38. The MILF is accused of the attack but denies responsibility, weakening peace talks.
January 2005: MILF fighters attack government troops, ending the cease-fire and beginning a rash of heavy fighting.
July 2006: A new cease-fire is signed. Peace talks resume.
July 2007: The government’s offer to recognize the right for self-determination for Muslims in Mindanao is undermined after MILF fighters are involved in killing 14 soldiers and kidnapping a priest.
July 2008: Peace talks resume. The MILF and the government agree to sign a deal on Aug. 5 that will establish a homeland for Muslims in Mindanao.
Aug. 4, 2008: The Supreme Court blocks the deal, calling instead for an Aug. 15 hearing for both sides to present their cases.

Source: News reports, BBC (http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0805/p06s01-woap.html)

scarletwitch.wanda

August 5th, 2008, 03:21 AM

Lumad leaders want no part in Bangsamoro deal

By Ryan Rosauro
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 05:48:00 08/05/2008

DAVAO CITY—Some 140 leaders of indigenous communities in Mindanao have urged the government to exclude their ancestral lands in an expanded Bangsamoro territory.

During a three-day conference here that closed on Friday, the leaders said that they were never consulted in the negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the constitution of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).
A resounding “Yes!” echoed when the question was asked during the discussions: “Do we all agree here not to include our remaining ancestral territories in the Bangsamoro homeland?”

Timuay Fernando Mudai, a Subanen leader in the Zamboanga Peninsula, said the lumad, or indigenous peoples, deeply respected the Moros’ “rightful claim to ancestral domain” but stressed that “they should also respect ours.”

He said that based on Subanen oral tradition, parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula, which covers Zamboanga City and the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay, never belonged to either the Sulu or the Maguindanao sultanate but to the Subanen.

Distinct culture

Clashes erupted when the Maguindanao sultanate attempted to conquer Subanen regions, Mudai said.

Mudai explained that the thriving Moro communities in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay provinces were a result of trade and migration “and not because they are the original settlers in these areas.”

The lumad leaders expressed concern that if their communities were made part of the Bangsamoro homeland, they would not be able to achieve political, cultural and socioeconomic independence.

“Our Moro brothers must understand that we have a culture distinct from the Bangsamoro identity,” said Apu Marcial Daul, an Arumanun-Manobo leader.

Even Muslim Higaonons that inhabit the mountains along the border of Iligan City, Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon, and the Muslim Subanens in Zamboanga del Norte—both of which are called Kolibugan—identify themselves with their tribal origins.

Oppose encroachments

The lumad leaders demanded that their ancestral domains be delineated and titled based on existing laws so that these would not fall within the proposed BJE.

Daul warned the indigenous leaders “not to see the MILF as enemy.”

“Let us not distance ourselves from them, rather engage them in discussion. But let us oppose greater encroachments in our ancestral domain,” Daul said.

The lumad leaders spelled out their position on the BJE for the first time in July 2006 during the First Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Summit held in Lantapan, Bukidnon.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080805-152709/Lumad-leaders-want-no-part-in-Bangsamoro-deal

dinabaw

August 5th, 2008, 04:48 AM

Cha-cha may be needed for peace pact – Palace

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

A Palace official admitted yesterday that the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain and a final peace accord with secessionist Muslim rebels might require constitutional amendments.

“Yes, may I say very clearly, a way forward in the negotiations could be amendments to the Constitution,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said in response to a question from Sen. Loren Legarda at a Senate hearing.

“Amendments to the Constitution can very well just focus on the very specific issue of responding to whatever commitments we will have in the negotiations that will come,” Dureza said.

The need for constitutional amendments is also stipulated in a brief on the MOA provided to the media by a member of the peace panel.

“The ongoing negotiations focus on the substance of governance, rather than the form of government. In terms of substance, we know that amendments to some provisions of the Constitution (probably Article X on Local Government and Article XII on national economy and patrimony) may be necessary to give full effect to our agreement,” it said.

Dureza explained that the MOA will require an enabling law first for the conduct of the plebiscite and later on amendments to the Constitution.

“Let me go first to the bigger picture very quickly, the executive department goes into the negotiations. And in implementing that negotiation will require the Congress to come in with the enabling law,” he said.

Dureza said the executive department had consulted various legal experts on the matter, including constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas.

“So a constitutional amendment is a possibility and may I state that this is one of the long work we did together with Fr. Bernas,” he said.

“We were looking at the public imaging of what many people would naughtily say that we are using the peace negotiations and agreement as entry point into lengthening the term of office of the President by going through a constitutional amendment,” Dureza said.

Cha-cha after 2010

Sen. Richard Gordon said that although he is in favor of changes in the Constitution, he wants them to happen after the 2010 elections.

“My position has never changed, that these issues should be discussed in 2010 so as to give the public a greater picture on this,” he said.

But he stressed he was amenable to amending “just a specific” provision in the Constitution to let the peace process move forward.

But Sen. Joker Arroyo warned the public against tinkering with the Constitution. “If they open the Constitution, then anything goes. The moment you open it, it is open for any amendments,” Arroyo said.

In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Malaysia may well be advised that the MOA “is flawed and will face constitutional and legal challenges in the Senate and in the courts. Forewarned is forearmed.”

Don’t stray from Charter

Pro-administration Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said the MOA should concentrate on providing the Bangsamoro people an autonomous region for the agreement to meet the constitutional requirements.

“The Constitution allows specifically the autonomous regions, but it also gives a limited list of the powers of the national government that may be delegated to the autonomous region,” she said.

“In effect, the MOA of the Bangsamoro is creating an autonomous region. What we have to do is look at the list and see whether the administration in negotiating the MOA has exceeded the list,” Santiago said in an interview.

Santiago added that as long as there is no abdication of national sovereignty or territorial integrity, that MOA will be consistent with the Constitution. “In the first place, the basic question to ask is does the MOA give the Bangsamoro homeland as a juridical entity the power to secede because it looks very much like a federal arrangement. That is allowed by the Constitution,” she said.

Pact inutile sans Charter change

Senior House members insist the 1987 Constitution is still over and above the MOA and that the pact is inutile until the Constitution is amended.

Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II clarified that a clause in the MOA cites the need for a constitutional amendment before the MOA can take effect.

“As I understand it, there is a clause in the agreement which states that the agreement will take effect only after it becomes legal, meaning after the Constitution is amended,” he said.

“If the Constitution will not be amended, the agreement will just be a useless piece of paper. There will not be a violation of the Constitution here because it will not take effect unless the Constitution is changed,” Gonzales, a law professor, added.

Opposition Rep. Mujiv Hataman of Anak Mindanao made the same observation, and called on critics of the pact not to “muddle the issue.”

“The issue of ancestral domain will pass through the constitutional and legal processes.”

“It means that it will go to the Senate and House of Representatives to amend RA 9054 or the Organic Act and later subject to plebiscite for people’s approval,” the militant party-list congressman said.

But Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon sees the proposed MOA as an “attack on the Philippine Constitution.”

“The agreement attacks the constitutional provisions on Philippine national territory, the legislative and judicial branches of government and other institutions established by the Constitution,” he said.

Rep. Satur Ocampo said he supports the MOA, but warned the government against using the accord to justify Charter change.

“We’ll oppose any move to use the pact to pave the way for Charter change that will perpetuate Mrs. Arroyo’s continued stay in power beyond 2010 and remove the remaining nationalist and protectionist provisions of the Constitution,” Ocampo said.

He scored the US and other “foreign powers,” for exerting “undue influence on the peace negotiations in order to promote their economic and political interests in the region.” – With Marvin Sy, Delon Porcalla

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080804156

TONZI

August 5th, 2008, 05:52 AM

shaKEIRa

August 5th, 2008, 08:45 AM

para atang natahimik... ano na ang nangyari?

sandman.ink

August 5th, 2008, 08:59 AM

para atang natahimik... ano na ang nangyari?

na-TKO...I mean TRO as of the moment ng SC

scarletwitch.wanda

August 5th, 2008, 10:38 AM

na-TKO...I mean TRO as of the moment ng SC

Hay...may na lang.....:):):):)

sandman.ink

August 5th, 2008, 10:46 AM

Hay...may na lang.....:):):):)

MILF says it's a done deal though, even with the TRO. the next few weeks or months would be interesting to observe what happens with the rest of Mindanao...

dark_knight_detectve

August 5th, 2008, 12:30 PM

SC stops gov't-MILF land deal (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080804154&type=2)
By Mike Frialde
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Supreme Court stopped yesterday the signing of a territorial agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) even as the Arroyo administration parried accusations that it was giving up the country’s sovereignty in exchange for a peace pact with the secessionist group.

The SC, after a session of the entire court, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain, scheduled today in Malaysia.

The unanimous SC decision was in response to consolidated petitions filed by the provincial government of North Cotabato and the city government of Zamboanga.

In addition to the TRO, the SC also ordered the Office of the Solicitor General to submit copies of the final draft of the MOA to the SC and to the petitioners on or before Aug. 8. The SC set the oral arguments on Aug. 15.

“To prevent the violation of certain rights of the people, the Court decided to issue a TRO. Again this is not a decision on the merit, this is just a TRO to maintain the status quo,” Midas Marquez, SC spokesman, said. He said the 15 justices of the SC unanimously approved the issuance of the TRO.

“There will be no signing. I got a call from the (Supreme) Court,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said.

In Kuala Lumpur, peace process adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said he was both “personally embarrassed and disappointed” over the TRO even as he called for sobriety from all concerned.

He said the TRO should not be considered as a “permanent bar to the peace process.”

“We will try to make the best out of this trip. As long as both sides want this we can hope for the best,” Esperon said at the Kuala Lumpur airport last night shortly after arriving from Manila.

The deal was meant to widen an existing autonomous region for Muslims in Mindanao and give them political and economic powers, including control over mineral wealth in an area rich in nickel, gold, gas and oil.

“I don’t know what will happen next,” Mohaqher Iqbal, the MILF’s chief peace negotiator, told Reuters.

Politicians in Mindanao, mostly Roman Catholics, are against the signing of the MOA, arguing that they had not been consulted, and that the deal will carve up Mindanao into Muslim enclaves.

“Do not build a Berlin Wall among the people in Mindanao,” Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat told a crowd of around 10,000 people.

Protesters carrying placards saying “MILF go home” also staged rallies in Iligan.

Rep. Erico Fabian, one of those who petitioned against the deal, said the SC ruling was “very good news for our people down south.”

Fabian warned that the draft accord with the MILF “is a very emotional issue. This might revive old wounds, leading to renewed fighting.”

The agreement was meant to formally reopen peace talks to end nearly 40 years of conflict that has reportedly killed more than 120,000 people, displaced two million, and stunted growth in the region.

Analysts are skeptical about whether the territorial deal will ever leave the drawing board, given its implementation is dependent on a comprehensive peace deal.

Both the MILF and the government have committed to agree to a final deal by November 2009 but deadlines have consistently been missed in over a decade of talks, punctuated by violent conflict.

Setback

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the SC decision was a setback to the peace negotiations with the government and that they would still have to decide their next move.

“It’s a setback but we will let the panels decide on whatever measures they want to take to address this recent development,” Kabalu said in a phone interview.

He stressed that the MILF remains committed to the peace process.

“We are not going to issue any reaction yet on the development. Our group will let emotions subside first and react only after a meeting of the MILF central committee,” said Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Alexander Yano said the military is prepared for any backlash to the SC order.

“We are closely monitoring the developments, planning contingencies and appropriately taking action to ensure that law prevails and peace reigns in the region,” he said.

“We continue to call upon the stakeholders to remain calm and reasonable while allowing peace mechanisms to work and resolve contentious issues,” he said.

TRO praised

Senators welcomed yesterday the SC’s issuance of the TRO on the signing of the MOA.

“We welcome the timely intervention of the Supreme Court. While we are all in favor of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, a peace agreement that has far-reaching implications in the lives of millions affected by the armed conflict cannot be shrouded in near secrecy if it is to have any chance of success. The haste to sign the agreement without the benefit of a wider participation of all stakeholders will only do greater harm than good,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan said.

“The people should be grateful for the High Court’s quick and decisive intervention in this issue,” Sen. Pia Cayetano said.

“I hope that the Arroyo government learns from this experience by exercising more transparency and circumspection. It should start by opening the GRP-MILF agreement to full scrutiny by the Supreme Court, Congress, the local government units and people of Mindanao, and other concerned sectors,” Cayetano said.

“The MILF might think that the agreement they will forge in a foreign land tomorrow, negotiated under cover of shadows, without consulting all the concerned publics, will stand the test of time. It will not,” Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.

“From where I sit, as a member of the Senate and as a leader of the opposition, let me tell our Muslim brothers this: bide your time. Do not forge an agreement with this leadership, because it will not be honored by those who would follow her,” he said.

He also noted that several of the areas covered by the agreement are bailiwicks of the political opposition.

“The government seemed to have conveniently identified these areas based on their political inclination during the past elections,” he said.

“It is bad enough that our social and economic situation has worsened into the margins of extreme poverty. It would be worse for all of us and our collective future if we allow treason to sneak into a national commitment,” Lacson said.

“Instead of creating peace in Mindanao, the agreement may trigger another conflict not between government troops and the MILF rebels but among different groups, whether Moro or Christians, whose rights can be affected by the agreement,” Sen. Francis Escudero said at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel media forum.

At the same forum, former Senate president Franklin Drilon said there were suspicions that the Arroyo administration was using the peace process in its fresh bid to amend the 1987 Constitution and extend the term of Mrs. Arroyo beyond 2010.

“There is another agenda, the peace process is just being used,” Drilon said.

For his part, United Opposition spokesperson Adel Tamano said the government should look for long-term solutions to the conflict “in a manner that is transparent, constitutional and inclusive.”

“This is a victory for us. We are happy that the Supreme Court has granted our petition and we are prepared for the oral arguments on Aug. 15,” North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol said.

“This is an important lesson for government peace panels, that on matters that affect people’s rights, they must be consulted first,” he said.

“We expect harassment from MILF with the issuance of TRO but we are prepared,” Piñol said.

Former President Joseph Estrada said Mrs. Arroyo’s pushing for the MOA is tantamount to treason.

“We all desire peace in Mindanao but it must not be obtained at the expense of our territorial integrity, and certainly not by methods that desire transparency and are in apparent haste,” Estrada said.

Independent state

The MOA sets the stage for the creation of an independent Muslim state in Mindanao, Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. said last night.

In a privilege speech, Locsin told his colleagues that under the agreement, a state called Bangsamoro Homeland would be created.

“This new state shall have new-minted citizens called Bangsamoros, not Filipinos. It shall have a defined land territory such as the bold sea-faring Muslims in the Philippines never had in their entire history,” he said.

He said the envisioned independent Muslim state “shall have the power to choose any form of government, even theocracy, though more likely anarchy as in Afghanistan.”

“It shall have its own police force, civil bureaucracy, financial system, personal and family, commercial and political laws, and an educational system teaching even undemocratic political values along with intolerant religious ideas,” he said.

It would also exercise “absolute political powers without any of the civilized limitations in the Bill of Rights, such as equal protection of the laws, due process, and the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments such as stoning to death a woman taken in or just suspected of adultery,” he added.

These could be the reasons why Malacañang kept the agreement from the people and their elected representatives, he stressed.

Locsin, chair of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reform, also warned that the approval of the bill postponing the Aug. 11 ARMM elections “will be taken to mean our tacit consent or outright rejection of an agreement that gives away part of our country to an armed movement that may treat its inhabitants with the brutality that has long characterized its actions – regardless of race or creed.”

“For we stand here today, not for Christians nor for Muslims, but for all law-abiding Filipinos who do not wish to be put under the iron rule of those who have not only lived by the gun but, by the craven posture of the GRP panel, triumphed with the gun in this agreement,” he said.

“Join me then in voting NO to what you do not know,” he urged his colleagues. - With James Mananghaya, John Unson, Roel Pareño, Paolo Romero, Jaime Laude, Edith Regalado, Jose Rodel Clapano, Evelyn Macairan, Jess Diaz, Christina Mendez, AP

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dark_knight_detectve

August 5th, 2008, 12:32 PM

Highlights of MOA between government, MILF (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080804164&type=2)
By James Mananghaya
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain whose signing today was ordered stopped by the Supreme Court would authorize the so-called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) to negotiate directly with foreign governments and set up its own police force.

Aside from expanded territory, the BJE under the MOA will also be given control over natural resources found within 15 kilometers from the shoreline of BJE territories.

Beyond 15 kilometers, control over key resources like oil and minerals will be shared 75-25 between the BJE and the government.

According to the MOA, the core of the BJE covers the present geographic area of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, including the municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte that voted for inclusion in the ARMM during the 2001 plebiscite.

The MOA said a plebiscite would be held to decide the possible inclusion of 735 barangays in Isabela City in Basilan, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao Norte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga Sibugay and Palawan.

Under the MOA, the BJE will also establish a system of governance suitable and acceptable to the people under its jurisdiction.

“The parties agree that the BJE shall be empowered to build, develop and maintain its own institutions, inclusive of civil service, electoral, financial and banking, education, legislation, legal, economic, and police and internal security force, judicial system and correctional institutions, necessary for developing a progressive Bangsamoro society, the details of which shall be discussed in the negotiation of the Comprehensive Compact,” the MOA said.

The MOA said the BJE is free to enter into any economic cooperation and trade relations with foreign countries, provided that these alliances will not put the Philippines in conflict with other nations.

“Without prejudice to the right of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity to enter into agreement and environmental cooperation with any friendly country affecting its jurisdiction, it shall include the option to establish and open Bangsamoro trade missions in foreign countries with which it has economic cooperation agreements and the elements bearing in mind the mutual benefits derived from Philippine archipelagic status and security,” the MOA said.

It also stated that the Philippine government shall “take necessary steps to ensure the BJE’s participation in international meetings and events such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other specialized agencies of the United Nations.”

“This shall entitle the BJE’s participation in Philippine official missions and delegations that are engaged in the negotiation of border agreements and protocols for environmental protection, equitable sharing of incomes and revenues, in the areas of sea, seabed, and inland seas or bodies of water adjacent to or between islands forming part of the ancestral domain, in addition to those of fishing rights,” according to the MOA.

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dark_knight_detectve

August 5th, 2008, 01:07 PM

Zambo residents rejoice over TRO (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080804165&type=2)
By Roel Pareño
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Local officials and residents here were relieved and euphoric after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“We are relieved, a TRO has been issued,” a jubilant Mayor Celso Lobregat said, announcing the development.

Lobregat said the TRO will prevent the government and MILF panels from forging the accord.

“We are happy with this development as this will allow us to know what is really being agreed upon by the two panels because the agreement is not clear to us,” Lobregat said.

News of the issuance of the TRO spread like wildfire as telephone calls and text messages were made and sent from all corners of this southern port city and the nearby cities of Isabela and Iligan.

The city mayor immediately announced the latest development to the public through radio stations here to alleviate the anxieties caused by the inclusion of the city into the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) of the MILF.

Lobregat, however, said they will continue their fight to spare not only their city but also other places affected by the ancestral domain demand.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, who has been giving him bad news, “now said he is bringing good news that the TRO was granted,” Lobregat said.

Local officials here, however, appealed to the people to stay vigilant regarding the peace negotiations and possible reprisal from groups who oppose the TRO.

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dark_knight_detectve

August 5th, 2008, 01:17 PM

Mindanao People Power (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008080457&type=2)

Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Ipinalabas kahapon ng Supreme Court ang isang temporary restraining order na pu*mipigil sa paglagda sa memorandum of agree*ment ng pamahalaan at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front na magpa* palawak sa teritoryo ng mga minoryang Muslim sa Mindanao.

Ginawa ng Mataas na Hukuman ang hak*bang kasunod ng ban*ta ng mga Kristiyano sa Mindanao na mag*daraos sila ng mala*wakang kilos-protesta tulad ng people power para hadlangan ang kasunduan.

Sinabi ng tagapag*salita ng Mataas na Hukuman na si Midas Marquez na unanimous ang naging de*sis*yon ng mga mahis*trado pagkatapos ng kanilang en banc session kahapon.

Itinakda ang oral argument sa kaso sa Agosto 15.

Kabilang sa hu*mingi ng TRO sina North Co*tabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan, Vice Governor Emma*nuel Piñol, Zam*boanga City Ma*yor Celso Lobregat, Rep. Ma. Isabelle Cli*maco ng 1st district ng Zam*boanga at Erico Basilio Fabion ng ika*lawang distrito.

Libu-libong mga re*sidente at opisyal ng Zamboanga ang nag*sipagprotesta laban sa MOA kahapon.

Sa panayam kay Zamboanga City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Lurimer Detran, tina*tayang aabot sa 8,000 hanggang 10,000 ka*tao ang nakilahok sa kilos protesta sa lung*sod bago magtanghali.

Marami ring mga tindahan at ibang ne*gosyo ang nagsara para makiisa sa kilos-protesta.

Tinututulan ng mga residente ng Zam*boanga Peninsula na mapabilang ang ilan nilang mga barangay sa pinalawak na Bangsa*moro Juridical

Takda sanang mag*tungo ngayong Martes sa Malaysia ang mga negosyador ng pama*halaan at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front para lagdaan ang ka*sunduan na tutukoy sa teritoryong hahawakan ng MILF.

Sa kasunduan, may isasamang 712 ba*rangay para palawakin ang sakop ng autonomous region bagaman kailangan itong idaan sa plebesito.

Tinutulan naman ito ng mga katolikong pu*litiko dahil magpapa*siklab anila ito sa pa*nibagong sectarian violence o away ng iba’t ibang sektor. Idi*nagdag nila na haha*rangin nila ang plano ng pamaha*laan na mapagtibay ang ka*sun*duan.

Ilang senador ang nagbabala na, sa halip na kapayapaan ang idudulot ng kasun*duan, posibleng pag-ugatan pa ito ng pag*danak ng dugo at People Power sa Min*danao. (Gemma Garcia, Joy Cantos, Rudy Andal at Malou Escudero)

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Animo

August 5th, 2008, 07:01 PM

INSIDE CEBU By Bobit S. Avila (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?&aid=2008080529&type=2&)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008

If there was anything sorely lacking in the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) it was the issue on federalism, where many Filipinos, especially those living in the South, truly believe could usher in new political change in this country. But all of a sudden, we hear of this new development: a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to create an independent Bangsamoro state in Mindanao. Of course we would like to know what kind of animal is “hidden” in this MOA.

If the Arroyo administration is creating a separate Islamic state, then we’d like to know whether it is “Balkanizing” the Philippines or not? If it is a federal state that President Arroyo is creating… we would like to know why we in Cebu and in the rest of the country who are espousing a federal state, are not allowed to be federal.

That one-page ad by Zamboanga City entitled, “Yes to Peace, No to Zamboanga City’s Inclusion in the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity” signed by Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat and many other signatories, tells us that this initiative was done without consultation with the areas affected by this MOA. This is why many people are questioning this MOA and we can only hope that the Supreme Court would put a stop to this fragmenting of the Philippines. As The Philippine STAR editorial last Monday pointed out clearly, why is there a big rush to sign this deal?

History taught us that Zamboangueños refused to be under Moro rule, hence they fought all the Moro invaders for centuries, and even adopted the Spanish language (it’s called Chabacano) and Christianity. If this deal pushes through, you can say that this administration sold out Zamboanga City and believe me, it won’t be the end of trouble in Mindanao. If they are not careful, it may rekindle old rivalries between Islam and Christianity.

Incidentally, this new controversy on the MOA with the MILF is happening just when the whole nation is rocked with another corruption scandal; this time it is an exposé by no less than Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr. that a certain Francis de Borja, who says he is a friend of the Lopez family, tried to bribe him with P10 million on the GSIS-Meralco row. As we’ve all know, De Borja had a hunch that Justice Sabio would “squeal” on him, so he went on the offensive in the media (of course, he had an exclusive interview on ABS-CBN) to say that Justice Sabio asked for a P50-million bribe.

This latest allegation of corruption only validates what we’ve already heard through the grapevine that the judiciary is no different from any other government agency and is full of corrupt judges, justices and clerks of court. If he were alive today, my mentor Sir Max Soliven would have had a field day writing about those so-called “rogues in robes.” Indeed, 22 years after the Filipino people booted out the corrupt conjugal Marcos Dictatorship (where a then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court held an umbrella for the First Lady) this country has changed only for the worse!

In the past, we’ve heard a lot of juicy rumors about decisions made by lower court judges or justices of the Court of Appeals that didn’t seem to follow a legal pattern, like taking the line of previous Supreme Court decisions. That many judges or the CA can go either way in presenting some kind of legal wisdom to a corrupt decision gives us an idea of how morally bankrupt many judges and justices are. This brings many to ask, is justice in this country really for sale? What else can we say, but this is true!

When this scandal was publicized, everyone wanted to know who this Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr. is. Taking the cue from Ateneo Professor Emeritus Fr. Joaquin Bernas S.J. who vouched for Justice Sabio’s integrity, I do not doubt this at all; he is a rarity in the CA. But he is dealing with the forces of darkness and the evil one has now tried to tarnish his image.

Two years ago, Cebuanos proudly hosted the ASEAN Leaders Summit and we did our best to put our best foot forward and made Metro Cebu so spotless and beautiful. About the only thing that marred that hosting was the infamous lamppost scam. It has been two years and it seems that this case has been put on the freezer by the Office of the Ombudsman. But even if that deal was aboveboard… I would still say that it was disadvantageous to the government because today, 95 percent of all the lampposts are totally out of commission. Last Sunday evening, I noticed that only a few posts are lighted. Yet no one has been tried for this scam. As usual, justice delayed Philippine-style and the crooks are out scot-free to make crooked deals again!

For e-mail responses to this article, write to vsbobita@mozcom.com. Bobit Avila’s columns can also be accessed through www.philstar.com. He also hosts a weekly talkshow, “Straight from the Sky,” shown every Monday, 8 p.m., only in Metro Cebu on Channel 15 of SkyCable.

Danny19

August 5th, 2008, 08:51 PM

Hey what does he mean in this article "Cebu is willing to be independent??????" I think you cant compare the backround of the moros with the cebuanos! So why is Cebu willing to get out of the RP? What's going on in this country??? When cebu is federal negros wants to be seperate state? OMG I think they want to see the phils breaking into pieces like the Fr. Yugoslavia!!! I think its very risky to to grant the moros such a big self rule with such a big land area, but its more understandable than to grant cebu or negros an independent state!

arianespace

August 6th, 2008, 12:00 AM

http://images.inquirer.net/media/networkindex/images/pic-08060342480839.jpg

War is coming

MR. EXPOSE (http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20080806com4.html)
Amb. Ernesto Maceda

08/06/2008

Finally, the public read the terms of the MILF-GRP agreement on ancestral domain to be signed in Malaysia Monday morning when the Philippine Daily Inquirer published the agreement in full. Fortunately, the Supreme Court issued a TRO to stop the signing.

It became quite clear that GMA and her officials kept the negotiations secret and refused to give copies of the draft agreement to interested leaders and stakeholders of Mindanao because it was patently unconstitutional, extremely generous to the MILF and highly objectionable to any rational thinking Filipino.

As analyzed by many experts, it means the creation of a separate Bangsamoro state with the Philippine “central government” ceding territory and territorial waters, surrendering control of natural resources with the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) getting 75 percent of all proceeds from oil, mines, forest, fisheries and other rich natural resources, including air rights. That’s in stark contrast to her obstinate refusal to give up P70 billion in VAT revenues on oil to benefit the whole country.

It means gerrymandering six towns and 700 barangays including those in traditional Christian areas like Zamboanga City and Iligan, not to mention Cotabato City.

Fast track the situation to five years after the agreement comes into force. You will have a Bangsamoro state with a well equipped armed force of at least 30,000 funded by the 75 percent share of income from natural resources and from assistance from the United States and oil rich Middle East states that have given it recognition.

Will the Bangsamoro civilian and military leaders be satisfied with their present territory? Consider the fact that under the Tripoli agreement, they claim the whole of Mindanao as their ancestral lands. Definitely, they will move aggressively toward expanding their territory. To begin with, pity the Christians of Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and especially Cotabato City which they insist on keeping as their capital even if it is not part of ARMM. Simply put, they will run them out of town. Kidnapping of businessmen, teachers and priests will escalate.

And the 700 barangays now included in ARMM which certainly would have a Bangsamoro armed detachment, would it be improbable if they will start to encroach and control neighboring barangays? No, it will most likely happen. Even now when a peace agreement is agreed upon, MILF rebels are raiding and killing Christians in Midsayap, Aleosan and Libungan in North Cotabato, and in Basilan.

The MILF-GRP agreement will mean the 90 percent of the Christian population will go to war to protect their hard earned land, houses and businesses.

The MILF-GRP agreement will not result in peace. On the contrary, it will mean war all over Mindanao with the unhappy circumstance that you will have Prime Minister Gloria Arroyo backing the Bangsamoro forces against her friends and relatives in Iligan, Davao and Cotabato.

You will have the 90 percent of Christian population in Mindanao planning to declare themselves as a separate Republic too, under President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Vicente “Donkoy” Emano. You will have the people of the “Central government” suffering more food shortages and food prices going up because you have to import food from rich Mindanao. Local industries will close because everything will be smuggled into the Bangsamoro territory worse than Subic or Port Irene.

GMA has committed not only treason but certainly a gross violation of her oath to do justice to every man.

By doing justice to 5 million Muslims she is committing an injustice to 85 million Filipinos.

Sad, but that is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Let’s hope and pray that the Supreme Court will side with the people over that of its patron, GMA. And make the TRO permanent.

More implications. Former Senate President Franklin Drilon and Makati Mayor Jojo Binay argued with much logic that if the Bangsamoro independent state is allowed to come into being, other ethnic minorities in the country can agitate for the same. The Igorots of Benguet can claim that Baguio is their ancestral domain, the Kalingas, the Apayaonons, the Ibanags and Hilogots can claim the whole of Region II or the Cagayan Valley. The Itnegs of Abra can claim the Cordillera Region.

And how about the Aetas of Zambales and the Mangyans of Mindoro? They too, would have a right to claim several towns including mountains in their traditional areas.

And yes, the Cebuano can claim Republic of Cebu too!

BOB-bXu

August 6th, 2008, 06:18 AM

BOB-bXu

August 6th, 2008, 06:21 AM

kronology

August 6th, 2008, 06:33 AM

http://images.inquirer.net/media/networkindex/images/pic-08060342480839.jpg

look how big this celluloid BangsaMoro Land will be..

stretching from a few municipalities in Davao Region...to Northern Mindanao...to Southern Mindanao and Western Mindanao...and even Palawan...:ohno:

^^yup! yup! pero ung yellow patches are those land where there are milf camps or foothold. it doesnt mean na kasali xa sa MOA

dinabaw

August 6th, 2008, 06:39 AM

A few points to ponder lang:

1. Is the MILF the sole entity to morally represent Muslims?

2. Does the MILF have the ascendancy to represent the thousands of lumads who are not Muslims and yet who are MORE entitled to these lands under the clause of ANCESTRY?

3. Does the MILF have the capacity to lead this territory under the provisions of legality? (MILF cohorts with banditry in the previous reports are just too big to forget)

That's the question i've been asking too, their are the Misuari faction , The ARMM faction etc. AFAIK they are not in good terms . imo this MOA is just to satisfy the 'rebels' para bang sige i lista ninyo ang hinaing ninyo but that doesn't mean it will automatically entitled them to govern in the said agreements.

sad thing is i guess they are the one recognized by the Malaysian Panel thru Ed Kabalu etal.

habagatcentral1

August 6th, 2008, 06:39 AM

Ang tanong, bakit biglaan ito? Maraming nabigla sa panukala na ito....

dinabaw

August 6th, 2008, 06:42 AM

http://images.inquirer.net/media/networkindex/images/pic-08060342480839.jpg

look how big this celluloid BangsaMoro Land will be..

stretching from a few municipalities in Davao Region...to Northern Mindanao...to Southern Mindanao and Western Mindanao...and even Palawan...:ohno:

with that kind of geograpical arrangement they have a hard time governing it. :lol: so funny they even include comval

dinabaw

August 6th, 2008, 06:47 AM

Ang tanong, bakit biglaan ito? Maraming nabigla sa panukala na ito....

hindi naman biglaan yan matagal na yang peace panel , ilang meeting na yan dito at sa malaysia, ngayon lang nag sulputan yang mga 'concerned' kuno, pag may controversial na issue ayun nag papatalbugan , it's like the Hanjin bldg. in Subic :ohno: i don't think those mayors & govenrnors affected in the aggrement was'nt consulted they have their own representative to see the progress of the peace process.

BOB-bXu

August 6th, 2008, 06:51 AM

That's the question i've been asking too, their are the Misuari faction , The ARMM faction etc. AFAIK they are not in good terms . imo this MOA is just to satisfy the 'rebels' para bang sige i lista ninyo ang hinaing ninyo but that doesn't mean it will automatically entitled them to govern in the said agreements.

sad thing is i guess they are the one recognized by the Malaysian Panel thru Ed Kabalu etal.

by political affiliation...BangsaMoro "citizens" have several affinities and factions

by traditions...BangsaMoro "citizens" have several cultural divisions

by clan groupings...there are morbid clannish divisions....even in morbid family wars that extends geographical boundaries...

ALL to be governed by power hungry bastards...who seek rule under the camouflage of Islamic peace...

This is not Allah wanted to happen

BOB-bXu

August 6th, 2008, 06:53 AM

That's the question i've been asking too, their are the Misuari faction , The ARMM faction etc. AFAIK they are not in good terms . imo this MOA is just to satisfy the 'rebels' para bang sige i lista ninyo ang hinaing ninyo but that doesn't mean it will automatically entitled them to govern in the said agreements.

sad thing is i guess they are the one recognized by the Malaysian Panel thru Ed Kabalu etal.

op Kors....the Malaysians would be dying to broker for this dastardly deal by their MILF friends and ignoramus manila based technocrats...

by legalizing the helm under MILF rule....the long claims of the Sultanate of Sulu to SABAH Malaysia will be finally extinguished.....as the Malaysians will no longer be dealing with Sulu Sultanate and the Philippine government BUT to the MILF friends...

dinabaw

August 6th, 2008, 07:37 AM

^^ well for me naman Sabah is out of the question ,time changed nation are not persuaded by claims of other nation ,it's a question how the people living in the territory are taking cared of & I don't think the people of Sabah wants to be subjected to the Philippine government that can't even manage it's own territory. It's a futile attempt to reclaim Sabah . and I think our panel is not stupid enough to be persuaded by the Malaysian gov't. to favor the MILF.

Sleepwalker

August 6th, 2008, 07:51 AM

Having a Bangsamoro Federal State is maybe a better approach...But having a Bangsamoro State with a deal that lessens the power of Philippine government over it is a very idiotic idea.:bash:

Peng Hok

August 6th, 2008, 07:51 AM

with that kind of geograpical arrangement they have a hard time governing it. :lol: so funny they even include comval

Maybe because ComVal and Davao Oriental host the Kalagan Tribe. :dunno:

Sleepwalker

August 6th, 2008, 07:54 AM

sandman.ink

August 6th, 2008, 08:05 AM

Maybe because ComVal and Davao Oriental host the Kalagan Tribe. :dunno:

dahil lang yan sa gold (tama b?)...mautak din ang MILF..hahahaha...

sandman.ink

August 6th, 2008, 08:08 AM

To all SSC people who are more inclined about laws...Is there any way that the common populace could oppose to the signing of this deal? AFAIK, it is only the TRO released by Supreme Court that halted the signing of this deal....Perhaps, we could petition the Supreme Court to make the TRO permanent.

I think, majority of us, Filipinos, don't agree with this deal.

ang solution ng pipol of the philippines will happen in the year 2010. vote for a leader opposed sa MILF deal na yan. hehehe...

sino kaya...here are the 2010 presedentiables:
1. Noli De Castro
2. Erap Estrada (No, not again!)
3. Manny Villar
4. Loren Legarda
5. Ping Lacson
6. Chiz Escudero

pag si Noli nanalo, not sure kse haven't heard him comment on the subject.
Pag si Erap, sigurado bubombahin ang MILF - galit si Erap sa kanila...S&D sila dati under his admin, seek & destroy.

Sleepwalker

August 6th, 2008, 08:10 AM

dahil lang yan sa gold (tama b?)...mautak din ang MILF..hahahaha...

Bulls***t talaga yang MILF na yan...Bakit kaya di matapos tapos yang group na yan...

Peng Hok

August 6th, 2008, 08:13 AM

To all SSC people who are more inclined about laws...Is there any way that the common populace could oppose to the signing of this deal? AFAIK, it is only the TRO released by Supreme Court that halted the signing of this deal....Perhaps, we could petition the Supreme Court to make the TRO permanent.

I think, majority of us, Filipinos, don't agree with this deal.

Caveat: This opinion does not come from a person who is more inclined with the law. :D

The easiest way for the common people to oppose this move of the government is to vote "NO" in the plebiscite to be called for the purpose.

As adverted to by Sec. Dureza, the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement is not the final step that would confer control over the identified areas to the MILF. Rather, the Congress is supposed to pass an enabling law for the proposed cession of territory, without prejudice to prior consultation from the inhabitants of the affected areas through a plebiscite.

Peng Hok

August 6th, 2008, 08:15 AM

dahil lang yan sa gold (tama b?)...mautak din ang MILF..hahahaha...

Possibly. But we could only speculate.

Sleepwalker

August 6th, 2008, 08:19 AM

Caveat: This opinion does not come from a person who is more inclined with the law. :D

The easiest way for the common people to oppose this move of the government is to vote "NO" in the plebiscite to be called for the purpose.

As adverted to by Sec. Dureza, the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement is not the final step that would confer control over the identified areas to the MILF. Rather, the Congress is supposed to pass an enabling law for the proposed cession of territory, without prejudice to prior consultation from the inhabitants of the affected areas through a plebiscite.

Salamat sa idea, Boss... :)

Pero sana, kahit sa Memorandum of Agreement pa lang, itigil na.

Actually, i am not really against the idea of breaking away from the centralized Philippine government, however, knowing na medyo salbahe talaga yang mga MILF, parang di maganda na ibigay na lang nang ganyan ganyan ang part of Mindanao.

Ang tagal naman ma-implement nang federalism...Tsk..tsk..

Peng Hok

August 6th, 2008, 08:28 AM

Salamat sa idea, Boss... :)

Pero sana, kahit sa Memorandum of Agreement pa lang, itigil na.

Actually, i am not really against the idea of breaking away from the centralized Philippine government, however, knowing na medyo salbahe talaga yang mga MILF, parang di maganda na ibigay na lang nang ganyan ganyan ang part of Mindanao.

Ang tagal naman ma-implement nang federalism...Tsk..tsk..

Ah yes. Dapat sa MOA pa lang, nag isip na sana sila. I know that most of these people who comprise the GRP panel are lawyers, or are at least familiar with the law. They should have known that a simple contract CANNOT operate to divest the country of its sovereignty over an identified territory.

Yes, they may have justified that the signing of the MOA is not the operative act. Pero paano ba naman yan nila ma-eexplain sa common tao na hindi nakapag aral ng law?

sandman.ink

August 6th, 2008, 08:32 AM

Sleepwalker

August 6th, 2008, 08:35 AM

Ah yes. Dapat sa MOA pa lang, nag isip na sana sila. I know that most of these people who comprise the GRP panel are lawyers, or are at least familiar with the law. They should have known that a simple contract CANNOT operate to divest the country of its sovereignty over an identified territory.

Yes, they may have justified that the signing of the MOA is not the operative act. Pero paano ba naman yan nila ma-eexplain sa common tao na hindi nakapag aral ng law?

Oo nga...Ako nga, kinabahan na dyan sa MOA na yan...Di ba, parang first base na yang MOA? Kung walang MOA, eventually patay na ang deal na yan.

Sana kinuha muna nila ang pulso nang bayan through polls or survey man lang.

If they think that deal is the absolute solution on the conflict in part of Mindanao, i think, they should have done that long time ago...At least, those who were sacrificed during the battles are still alive now.

Peng Hok

August 6th, 2008, 09:24 AM

^^
Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit may MOA pa. I mean, if the intention really is to cede a portion of the national territory, it need not be preceded by a MOA. Kaya nga legal luminaries opine that the MOA is unconstitutional. Contracts which contravene the law are null and void.

dinabaw

August 6th, 2008, 03:37 PM

di kaya MOA means Mall of Asia? baka gusto lang ng MILF pumunta sa biggest mall in Asia lol

para naman ma break ang seriousness

huwag na muna nating isipin mga repapeps sina ED Kabalu ay mga karaang tao ,they don't represent the young and dynamic muslims :)

arianespace

August 6th, 2008, 03:53 PM

^^
this is my one cent worth answer to all your questions. And I guess every Mindanaoan would agree with me.

If the ARMM government could proved to me that during the last 15 years of its existence as an independent entity, it managed to uplift the life of its people, improved the economy of its controlled territory, and provided sufficient infrastructure project and development comparable to other regions in Mindanao, then I would declare openly that its worth joining their cause. After all, they received more money per capita than other regions in Mindanao, aside from the fact that they also received foreign grants from Middle East countries.

SHOW ME THIS AND I WILL JOIN YOUR CAUSE!

If you are from Mindanao as I am and have been living inside the ARMM territories, tell me that you are better off now than your neighboring provinces. If not, tell me where the money went? In Misuari's time the government gave him 40 Billion Pesos during his tenure, including foreign grants. COA reports liquidation of only 5% of the total amount. A report was made to the Saudi Government that a mosque was build out of its foreign grant and that highways were build from that money. When a representative of King Faad visited the region, he was awed on the four standing structure that is worth $30 million dollars. Its not even worthy to be called a monument much more a mosque. And Misuari's dream of 6 lane highway for Jolo was nowhere in sight. I would be happy to see a circumferential road instead. But that too is nowhere in sight. Now tell me where are the rest of the money supposed to be for uplifting the life of the bangsamoro people. If all of them were given a share, they could have been all millionaires by now. So tell me?

Ibex

August 6th, 2008, 04:07 PM