LANAO DEL SUR – As part of the June celebration of the Philippine Environmental Month (Proclamation No. 237, s. 1988), the Office of MP Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. conducted a Tree Planting Program through the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy at Lanao Agricultural College, Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur last June 2, 2022. This project was availed through the 2021 Transitional Development Impact Fund.

Messages of support were given by Lanao Agricultural College Superintendent Jasmine Asum Kurangking, Sultan Dumalondong Mayor Jamel ‘Miah’ Kurangking, PLGU ENR Officer Forester Pili Papandayan, Provincial Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Officer (PENREO) Asmarie M. Labao, MPA, and MP Mitmug’s Chief of Staff Al Amira Alonto-Mitmug.

Superintendent Kurangking welcomed everyone to the event and explained that tree planting programs are regularly participated in by graduating students toward the end of every year.

Labao shared their office’s programs and initiatives and emphasized, “A diyon di mambandingan so ka-importante o kalindinga tano siko environment tano, Ranao tano, kalindinga tano siko gilupa tano, kalindinga tano siko forest resources. So theg tano a, ‘Ang programang pangkalikasan ay programa ng pangkalahatan’.” He also added, “Alhamdulillah, panalamatan ami so Team MP Ras Mitmug a isa skanyan ko Members sa Parliament a very supportive sa environment.” [This is where we discuss the importance of protecting the environment, our Lake Lanao, how we preserve our land as well as our forest resources. As we  said, ‘Environmental programs are programs for all’.” He also added, “All praises to Allah, we would like to thank the Team MP Ras Mitmug as one of the Members of the Parliament who is an environment enthusiast.”]

Chief of Staff Alonto-Mitmug has commended the Lanao Agricultural College for their annual tree planting program, and stated that the Minority Bloc of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority also filed Parliament Bill No. 106, requiring all graduating students within the Bangsamoro region to plant two trees, currently pending. Their other initiatives such as site visitation of new species Begonia Bangsamoro and the online campaign of Bangsamoro endangered species, were all in line with MP Mitmug’s environmental protection advocacy. She also explained that Atty. Mitmug was the only Member of Parliament who selected programs under MENRE for the 2021 Transitional Development Impact Fund.

Also present in the event were other PLGU and MENRE representatives. PAO VI Nahara Biruar was also present from the Office of MP Mitmug.

The highlight of the event was the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between MENRE-Lanao del Sur and PLGU-ENRO, witnessed by the Office of MP Mitmug. After the signing, the students, faculty, guests, and officials proceeded to the site within campus for the tree-planting proper.

The tree planting project included 250 seedlings of Molave tree (Vitex parviflora), 200 seedlings of Golden tree (Cassia fistula L.), 250 seedlings of Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), 100 seedlings of Mahogany tree, and 100 seedlings of Mortality tree, for a total of 900 seedlings.

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.

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

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.