Category: Updates

MP Mitmug distributes financial assistance to solo parents and senior citizens

BTA Feature Lanao del Sur Legis News Updates No Comments

LANAO DEL SUR – The Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader MP Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr., distributed financial assistance to beneficiaries in Brgy. Sagonsongan, Marawi City and Brgy. Mapantao, Lumba Bayabao, on March 25 and 30, 2022, respectively. 

Sixty-three beneficiaries (solo parents) in Brgy. Sagonsongan, Marawi City each received ₱2,000, while 50 beneficiaries (solo parents and senior citizens) in Brgy. Mapantao, Lumba Bayabao each received ₱2,500.

MP Mitmug extends his thanks to the local officials of said barangays for their assistance in the identification of the beneficiaries and the orderly distribution.

The financial assistance is part of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s Bangsamoro Parliament Program (BPP), which was approved during last year’s budget deliberations. BPP consists of (1) Community Upliftment and Financial Assistance, (2) Community-Driven Legislation, and (3) Special Activities Advocating and Championing Bangsamoro Culture & Communities. The Office of MP Mitmug implements these programs through regular coordination with local government units, monthly conduct of public consultations and focus group discussions, and collaboration with partner organizations.

MP Mitmug holds stakeholders dialogue meeting on housing

BTA Feature Legis Members of Parliament News Updates No Comments

COTABATO CITY – The Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader MP Rasol Mitmug, Jr., held a Stakeholders Dialogue on Housing at Pagana Kutawato Restaurant today, April 6, 2022.

Various homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and urban poor representatives were present to air their concerns and queries to the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD). MP Mitmug introduced MHSD Minister Hamid Barra and facilitated the open dialogue.

The urban poor population in Cotabato City consists of both Muslims and Christians and only a portion have received housing through national-funded programs. Atty. Anwar Malang, convenor for the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and long-time advocate for the urban poor community, summarized their immediate concerns:

(1)  Request for socialized housing (either through housing infrastructure or purchase of private lots)

(2)  Livelihood (if they would be relocated to other areas)

(3)  Loss of their homes due to road-widening projects

(4)  Lack of access to clean water

(5)  Lack of road access (those living in swampy/ rural areas)

Aside from giving updates on the Ministry’s ongoing programs, Minister Barra relayed that the programs would be inclusive to all Bangsamoro residents. He encouraged the organizations to submit their respective concerns and proposals as these could also be pursued with international development partners, aside from the programs of the BARMM government.

Director-General Esmael Ebrahim also assured them that the Ministry would be pursuing a larger budget for the next fiscal year (2023). Ebrahim explained that as much as the Ministry would like to fast-track the implementation of said projects, they still had to comply with government procedures such as the inspection of the land and securing permits and clearances from the local government units, which would require time.

At the closing, MP Mitmug expressed his thanks to the Ministry for taking the time to respond to the concerns of the HOAs and to the organizations present for the productive discussion. Mitmug informed them his office would extend assistance in endorsing their proposals to the Ministry and to the Parliament, if need be. Some of the organizations that were present included: Pagbabago HOA, Samaka HOA, Inc., Divine Mercy Organization, St. Joseph HOA, and Tanghal Bridge HOA. Also in attendance from MHSD were Director-General Esmael Ebrahim and Chief of Staff Ajeeb Barra.

MP Mitmug turns over digital duplicators in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao under TDIF

Feature Lanao del Sur Members of Parliament News Updates No Comments

MARAWI CITY – The Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. distributed a total of 12 digital duplicators to various municipalities in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao availed through the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) under the 2020 Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) last February 22, 2022.

The recipients are as follows:
1. Municipality of Kapatagan
2. Municipality of Marantao
3. Municipality of Taraka
4. Sultan Malungun National High School, Municipality of Maguing
5. Municipality of Lumba Bayabao,
6. Brgy. Sagonsongan, Marawi City
7. Municipality of Parang, Maguindanao

Each duplicator set (Kyocera Ecosys multi-functional printer) included four boxes of ink. The provision of digital duplicators is part of the Bangsamoro Government’s response to the online distance learning set-up. Teachers may now make use of the duplicators for the reproduction of students’ modules.

The said municipalities expressed their thanks and gratitude to MP Ras Mitmug for extending support in the service for Bangsamoro Education. This is in fulfillment of one of his advocacies in uplifting the Education in the Bangsamoro Region. By the will of Allah, no Bangsamoro child will be left behind.

MP Mitmug conducts FGD on proposed BLGC in Lanao

BOL BTA Lanao del Sur Legis News Updates No Comments

MARAWI CITY – The Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader of the Bangsamoro Parliament, Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr., conducted a focus group discussion on BTA Bill No. 58, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code at Sarabi Cuisine and Café, MSU-Main Campus, Marawi City, last February 14.

One of the objectives of the program was to consult constituents of various backgrounds and expertise for the potential betterment of the said code. Fifteen resource persons were present during the one-day focus group discussion, each raising various concerns on the provisions of the bill. After the presentation of the salient provisions (the same presentation given by the Committee on Local Government), each participant was given five minutes to share their policy stance and recommendations.

Shariah Councilor Mala emphasized, “Kailangan dn na kabgan tano dn sa equal privilege so mga madrasah tano, sa lagid dn o kapmb’gantano sa equal opportunity siiko mga iskwelaan tano… why not i-incorporate tabo sagyanan a local school board so mga Madrasah tano?” [We need to give equal privileges to our madrasah/madaris, the same equal opportunities provided to our schools. Why don’t we incorporate the madaris in our local school boards?] This was in reference to the BLGC provision on local school boards which makes no mention of Madaris Division Superintendents or Assistant Madaris Division Superintendents in the membership of local school boards.

The Bangsamoro Education Code (BAA No. 18), which was passed into law in May 2021, provided for the inclusion of Madaris in the Bangsamoro Education System (Section 5, Coverage).

In the draft BLGC, part of the local school boards’ function is to, “Determine, in accordance with the criteria set by the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, the annual supplementary budgetary needs for the operation and maintenance of public schools within the province, city or municipality, as the case may be, and the supplementary local cost of meeting such needs, which shall be reflected in the form of an annual school board budget corresponding to its share in the proceeds of the special levy on real property constituting the Special Education fund and such other sources of revenue as this Code and other laws or ordinances may provide.”

The BEC’s inclusion of the public Madaris system into the Bangsamoro Education System reflects in Section 167, which states that: “Public schools/Madaris and other public educational institutions shall be funded from public funds” and in Section 170: “The Bangsamoro Government, in collaboration with the National Government, shall extend financial aid and assistance to public schools and public madrasah established and maintained by local governments, including barangay high schools.”

Several queries and concerns were also raised over the anti-dynasty provision in the BLGC and the rampant practice of nepotism in the region. MP Mitmug assured the participants that all of these would be forwarded to the Committee on Local Government for proper documentation and their appropriate response.

Legal Education Board Commissioner Alexander D. Dumpa commended MP Mitmug’s office for the qualitative approach to gain a more in-depth understanding of the social issues or challenges that should be addressed in the drafting of said code.

MP Mitmug expressed his gratitude for the active participation of the resource persons and expressed his hope that others would continue to participate in future continuations of their office’s public consultations on the BLGC. This was the first implementation of the Bangsamoro Parliament Program, which was approved in last year’s budget deliberations. The BPP consists of Community Upliftment and Financial Assistance, Community Driven Legislation, and Special Activities Advocating and Championing Bangsamoro Culture and Communities. Mitmug assured that for the remainder of his term, more consultations and constituency outreach would be conducted.

Others present at the activity were stakeholders representing the youth, legal, religious, academe, and civil society organizations, namely: former ARMM Regional Vice Governor Haroun Alrashid A. Lucman, Jr., Mohammad Nasser C. Abbas, Atty. Ating D. Diacat, Sh.L, DPA, Macaumbao U. Baunto, JD, Dr. Abdul Hanan M. Tago, Dr. Tirmizy E. Abdullah, Ansary Masacal, CPA, Sharief Ismael D. Macabando, CPA, Kince Alhansah Panondiongan, JD, Honorable Anwar Galo-Lamping, Mohammad Ryan Radia, Nurul-Izza Sangcopan and Norhanidah D. Macatoon. Minority Floor Leader Atty. Laisa Alamia and Deputy Minority Floor Leader Engr. Baintan Ampatuan were also present via Zoom.

Aside from printed copies of the draft BLGC, all participants received a flash drive which included relevant documents on the BLGC, published ebooks of the Office of MP Mitmug, and instructions on how to use the Bangsamoro Codes Consultation Portal. Chief of Staff Al Amira Alonto reminded the participants that policy papers on the BLGC would still be received by the Priority Codes Secretariat until March 25, 2022.

‘Mental health care should be a reality’, says MP Mitmug as bill enters second reading

BOL BTA Legis Members of Parliament Message Updates No Comments

Full text of MP Rasol Mitmug’s SPONSORSHIP SPEECH ON BILL 147 OR THE BANGSAMORO MENTAL HEALTH ACT OF 2021 delivered last November 25, 2021:

Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, honorable members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, ladies and gentlemen, Assalamu alaikum Warahmatullahi taala Wabarakatuh. Good afternoon to all.

We are pleased that the bill, Bangsamoro Mental Health Act of 2021, has now entered the second reading. We thank the members of the parliament who co-authored with us in this measure.

Mental Health is as important as physiological health. This statement, more than ever, reflects the challenges that we encounter as we face this pandemic. Mental health is a rapidly growing concern and we are giving attention to this matter as we address various health needs of our communities in the Bangsamoro. Daily we struggle with stress and anxiety which make mental health concerns serious matter. Stigma on mental illness should never be a hindrance in responding to this critical crisis.

Remember that in this uncertain moments to be kind to yourself, be kind to your mind. But what does it really mean?  Mr. Speaker, we sponsor this bill because all sectors, including employees, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected by the pandemic. Such effect has been magnified for those with pre-existing mental health issues, they have to suffer more than most because their access to medication is disrupted by the pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, when the pandemic broke out, this representation, together with the Health Organization for Mindanao (HOM), created an online platform which aims to respond to the common mental health needs of communities. Modules and materials have been improved to focus more on Islamic Mental Health (IMH) and are readily available on the IMH website and facebook page. When asked about our motivation for giving attention to mental health, we recounted our local experiences during the Yolanda disaster, Marawi conflict and Mamasapano encounter. The communities directly affected by these crises experienced depressive symptoms and other mental health concerns but less attention was given to that matter. Taking care of mental health can be easily overlooked, hence, efforts concerning mental health in the region should be initiated and supported.

While challenges on mental health is a growing health concern in the region, it is timely that the Bangsamoro region is still on its transition period, thus, codes are still being drafted. Particularly, measures on mental health can still be incorporated by the BTA members which can safeguard the general welfare of BARMM constituents should another pandemic and even other forms of disaster affecting mental health arise. Mental health care should be a reality. Hence, the very essence of this bill.

During the World Health Assembly in May 2021, governments from around the world recognized the need to scale up quality mental health services at all levels. And some countries have found new ways of providing mental health care to their populations. Our new normal entails a lot of adjustments in our lifestyles, our work schedules, and our children’s schooling. But our new normal should also include major improvements in our public health system and policies and in how we protect our health, both body and mind.

As an autonomous government, it is thus proper for the Bangsamoro region to establish its own Bangsamoro Council for Mental Health, which will be responsible for recommending programs, projects, and policies for the mental health and well-being of the Bangsamoro people. As the region’s inter-agency body on mental health, they will be better capacitated to implement the recommendations mentioned earlier. We also call for educational institutions to adopt a social, emotional and ethical learning approach that integrates the trauma-informed approach increases, and as disasters are expected to increase even more given the worrisome climate change.

In view of the foregoing, the support of all the Members of the Parliament for the prompt passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

Thank you, my dear colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

The bill was filed in the BTA parliament on November 2, 2021 with MP Rasol Mitmug, Jr. as main author.

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