Tag: #Bangsamoro

MP Mitmug holds stakeholders dialogue meeting on housing

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.

Salam Salma: Children’s Comic Book for Bangsamoro Day

COTABATO CITY – In partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TPBPM), the Office of MP Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. is proud to present its children’s comic book entitled, “Salam Salma: Ang Kwento ng Nakaraan at Hinaharap” in commemoration of the Jabidah Massacre (March 18) and March as Bangsamoro History Month. This is the seventh publication released by MP Mitmug.

Salam Salma focuses on Salma and her experiences of prejudice, ignorance, and fear. It is an introductory read on the concept of transitional justice and reconciliation. What is TJR? The United Nations defines transitional justice as ‘the full range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempt to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation’. Simply put, TJR is the process by which the systemic and/or widespread violations of human rights are addressed and corrected.

The comic book includes a simple game which readers can print out to fold and play with others. The team behind the comic book have also worked on a Teacher’s Guide to help educators process the lessons of Bangsamoro historical injustices for younger students.

MP Mitmug hopes this will be a valuable resource for students and teachers in understanding the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination, and the importance of learning our history to combat historical revisionism.

While the digital copies are available for anyone to download, the Office of MP Mitmug hopes to distribute physical copies of Salam Salma Comic Book and the Salam Salma: Teacher’s Guide to select schools by Aprill/May.

Download link:

Salam Salma: Ang Kwento ng Nakaraan at Hinaharap | PDF

The Salam Salma: Teacher’s Guide is available upon request via e-mail.

MP Mitmug Distributes BOL, BTA Parliamentary Rules & Priority Codes Books to Libraries

The Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader MP Rasol Mitmug, Jr. distributed copies of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054), the BTA Parliamentary Rules (Resolution No. 6), the Bangsamoro Administrative Code (BAA No. 13), the Bangsamoro Civil Service Code (BAA No. 17), the Bangsamoro Education Code (BAA No. 18), and the 2019-2021 Accomplishment Report of his Office to various agencies and libraries, primary of which was the Bangsamoro Library & Archives.

“If we make all these materials (laws) easily available to the people, and help them understand their rights and the Bangsamoro government’s accountabilities to them, that will be a greater legacy we leave than the recognition of our work – to empower the Bangsamoro people,” said MP Mitmug.

Aside from the BLA, copies were also donated to the libraries of law schools across the country, partner organizations, as well as select LGUs within the Bangsamoro:

  1. Westminster Foundation for Democracy
  2. Institute for Autonomy and Governance
  3. College of Law, San Beda University (Manila)
  4. School of Law, Ateneo de Manila University (Makati City)
  5. Access Bangsamoro, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University (Quezon City)
  6. College of Law, University of the Philippines Diliman (Quezon City)
  7. School of Law, Saint Louis University (Baguio City)
  8. School of Law and Governance, University of San Carlos (Cebu)
  9. College of Law, Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City)
  10. Main Library, Mindanao State University-Marawi
  11. College of Law, Mindanao State University-Marawi
  12. Lanao Public Library (Marawi City)
  13. King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic, and Asian Studies, Mindanao State University-Marawi
  14. Ranaw Youth Parliament (Marawi City)
  15. College of Law, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
  16. College of Law, Notre Dame University (Cotabato City)
  17. College of Law, Mindanao State University-General Santos
  18. College of Law, Ateneo de Davao University (Davao City)
  19. College of Law, Ateneo de Zamboanga University (Zamboanga City)
  20. and other offices and agencies within the Bangsamoro

For others who are interested in obtaining the e-copies, these may be downloaded via MP Mitmug’s References page: https://rasmitmug.com/main/resources/references/

Read more:

Ebook launch: BOL and BAC

Ebook launch: Parliamentary Rules

Ebook launch: Bangsamoro Civil Service Code

Ebook launch: Bangsamoro Education Code

Years in Review: MP Mitmug’s service to the Bangsamoro

MP Mitmug and MTIT conduct orientation for establishment of P3.4-M coffee processing center in South Upi

The Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader, MP Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr., in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism, conducted a site visit to the Malibacao Agricultural Cooperative in South Upi, Maguindanao last February 18, 2022.

MTIT conducted the site visit to verify the area for the construction of a Coffee Processing Center, a program availed by the Office of MP Mitmug under the 2021 Transitional Development Impact Fund.

The P3.4-M center will help boost the quality and production of coffee products in Upi, Maguindanao and neighboring areas. The soon to be established processing center with equipment will also serve as learning site for coffee farmers to sustain their farming from planting, growing, harvesting, processing, fermenting, drying, sorting, roasting and quality control.

Mr. Estanislao Gepte, Head of the Board of Directors of Malibacao Cooperative and project coordinator of North Star Upi Coffee Project, together with Mr. Rizalex M. Favila, Coffee Master and Chairman of Malibacao Cooperative, led the MTIT team and staff of MP Mitmug around the farm, showing the nursery and coffee bean plantation and explaining the harvesting process.

Ms. Amina S. Karon-Mendez, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist at MTIT, oriented the officers of the 130-member cooperative regarding the requirements needed to push through with the project. “Pangarap namin na kayo ang maging model. Simulan natin sa processing center, pag nahasa na kayo especially mga kababaihan at kabataan, kayo naman ang magbibigay ng training sa iba, kayo na ang magiging expert sa coffee production,” said Mendez.

Malibacao Cooperative, located in a sprawling 40-hectare farm, processes the coffee seeds to premium quality coffee beans in partnership with North Star Upi Coffee, which was awarded 2nd place [Gourmet Agent” (Silver) award] in the “Puissant Doux” category of the 6th Coffees Roasted at Origin International Contest held in Paris 2020. The coffee farmers use a mix of Liberica and Robusta beans which is popular in the locality.

MP Mitmug, an advocate for local coffee production, has long supported native coffee products from Sulu and South Upi, Maguindanao both of which are primary coffee-producing areas in the Bangsamoro region.

 

MP Mitmug Holds FGD on the BLGC Youth and SK provisions with Lanao Youth leaders

MARAWI CITY – In line with the Bangsamoro Parliament Program, the District Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. conducted a focus group discussion on BTA Bill No. 58, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code last March 1, 2022, (Rajab 28, 1443 AH) at Infinitea, Awar St. Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

While the first consultation dealt in general with the entire BLGC, this focus group discussion focused on the youth and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) provisions of the bill.

Bin Jamel S. Dilawangun, a member of the Ranaw Youth Council, questioned the inclusion of educational attainment as qualifications for the local candidates, “What will happen to the youth who choose to go to madrasah, instead of going to (formal) school? Hindi po sila pweding ma-elect as SK Chairman or member kahit na sila ay qualified because of the qualification na dapat po ay at least Elementary or Senior High School graduate? Ang sa akin lang po is that, dapat po ay ayusin natin ang mga terminologies po na gagamitin natin para po hindi sila ma-discriminate given the fact na ang pinaglalaban natin ay Bangsamoro as a whole.”

This was in reference to Section 39 of the draft BLGC which states: “(a). – An elective local official must be a citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter in the barangay, municipality, city, or province or, in the case of a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, or Sanggunian Bayan, the district where he intends to be elected; a resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election; and at least in the college level for provincial, city, and municipal officials, at least in the junior high school level for barangay officials and the Sangguniang Kabataan chairman, and at least in the elementary level for Sangguniang Kabataan members.”

In its presentation on the salient provisions of the Code, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s Committee on Local Government explains, “This is rather a radical attempt that may be subject to constitutional challenges. However, since Sec. 2, Article X of the Constitution allows the Congress to enact a LGC which shall provide for, among others, the qualification, etc. of local officials, then we deemed it an opportunity, in the advent of the OLBARMM, mandating the Bangsamoro Government to create its own BLGC, to include a qualification on the educational attainment of elective local officials.”

The resource persons actively participated and contributed their ideas, suggestions and recommendations to the said code during the discussion, anchored on the relevant general laws and the actual experiences of the youth sector. MP Ras Mitmug delivered his welcome address via recorded message and likewise thanked the participants for their time and dedication.

Other youth representatives in the FGD included: Jamal R. Pandapatan (President of Youth ACTS), Amenoding B. Tomindug (member of the Ranaw Youth Parliament), Namera C. Ambor (Youth Development Officer, Bangsamoro Youth Commission), Hanifah Abdulwahab (youth advocate and registered social worker), Hayyan Dumaraya (Youth focal person of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party), Ahmilah G. Angad (member of the Ranao Youth Tanggol Kalikasan), Arafat M. H.Hamid (President of Saguisag A Ranaw ), and Yassin Hadji Basher (Barangay Kagawad of Bacolod II, Lumba-Bayabao).