Duterte signs Bangsamoro law

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Thursday said he has signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Speaking in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Mr. Duterte said in Visayans, “The BBL has been signed, but I’m still going back (to Davao City) because I have a ceremony with (Moro Islamic Liberation Front leaders Ghazali) Jaafar and (Al-Haj) Murad (Ebrahim).”

Mr. Duterte, however, was contradicted that afternoon by his spokesman, Harry L. Roque, Jr., and aide, Christopher T. Go., who both said the President has not yet signed the autonomy law creating the Bangsamoro Region in Mindanao.

“As of 5:43 p.m., BOL has not yet been signed by the President,” Mr. Roque said in a text message to reporters.

Mr. Duterte in his remarks also said: “And also I’d like to talk to (Moro National Liberation Front leader) Nur ([Misuari)], so that we can have it by the end of the year. I can create also just like an autonomy for him if that’s what he wants, and pending the federal system implementation he can just wait for it if he (Nur) trusts me.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Duterte signs Bangsamoro Organic Law

The law replaces the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the new Bangsamoro region with greater fiscal and political autonomy

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the landmark Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on Thursday, July 26.

"This is to announce that the President has just signed the BOL into law," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a message to reporters on Thursday.

The signing came 8 days after the bicameral conference committee (bicam) finalized the bill following days of heated discussions. Duterte had certified the bill as urgent, paving the way for the speedy passage of the measure in Congress.

The Senate was the first to ratify the bicam report on the measure, ahead of Duterte's 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 23.

The House of Representatives failed to push through with the measure's ratification on Monday, however, due to the leadership showdown that saw former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo replacing Pantaleon Alvarez as House Speaker.

The House was only able to ratify the bicam report on Tuesday, July 24, and then the measure was sent to Malacañang for Duterte's signature.

The law replaces the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which would have greater fiscal autonomy, a regional government, parliament, and justice system.

The region would be composed of the current ARMM – Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur – pending a regional plebiscite.

Also included in the Bangsamoro region are 6 municipalities of Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays of Cotabato, provided that the province and their municipalities, respectively, vote to lose jurisdiction over them. These areas previously voted to be included in the ARMM, but their mother units voted against it. (READ: Duterte ends BBL impasse: Mother LGUs' vote needed for inclusion in Bangsamoro)

The chartered cities of Cotabato and Isabela would also be excluded, subject to the approval of their respective registered voters in the plebiscite.

The law has an opt-in provision, allowing areas adjacent to the region to join the Bangsamoro, with a petition of at least 10% of their voters.

The law is the culmination of a peace deal signed between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and past administrations. Former president Benigno Aquino III had wanted it passed before he stepped down, but a botched police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in 2015 derailed its passage. (READ: After Bangsamoro law, a bright yet bumpy path to peace)

Parliament, wealth, justice

The law will pave the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro government, headed by a chief minister and a ceremonial leader called a Wali.

There would also be a parliament composed of 80 members – 50% party representatives, 40% district representatives, and 10% sectoral representatives, including two reserved seats for "non-Moro indigenous peoples and settler communities."

Despite having its own government, the Bangsamoro would not have its own military and police force, as these would still be under the national government. (READ: Bicam adopts Senate provision vs Bangsamoro firearms purchase)

The region would have its own judicial system based on the unique cultural and historical heritage of the Bangsamoro. (READ: Bicam approves creation of Shari'ah High Court in Bangsamoro)

The law grants 75-25 wealth sharing between the Bangsamoro and national governments – higher than the current 70-30 scheme under the ARMM law. This means 75% of the national internal revenue collection would go to the Bangsamoro, and 25% to the central government.

An annual block grant, pegged at a 5% share of the national internal revenue or some P59 billion, would also be automatically appropriated to the region without any conditions.

The Bangsamoro region would also primarily oversee all inland bodies of water, except for those that produce energy for other areas outside its jurisdiction. Energy-producing bodies of water, like Lake Lanao, would instead be co-managed by the region together with the Department of Energy. – with a report from Pia Ranada

While Kapuso claims ratings leadership, ABS-CBN stays on top in June

More Filipinos turned to ABS-CBN for news and information and values-laden stories as the TV network hit an average audience share of 45 percent versus GMA’s 32 percent last month, according to data from Kantar Media.

The Kapamilya network won in both rural and urban homes, particularly in Metro Manila with an average audience share of 43percent, compared to GMA’s 29 percent. ABS-CBN likewise led in Total Luzon with 41 percent versus GMA’s 36 percent; in Total Visayas with 54 percent, compared to GMA’s 24 percent; and in Total Mindanao with 53 percent, while GMA only got 26 percent.

Multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population.

FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (42.6 percent) held the top spot for the whole month of June, followed by Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids.

Also part of the top 10 are Bagani, Since I Found You, TWBA, Bandila, Asintado, Araw Gabi, The Blood Sisters, TV Patrol, MMK, Home Sweetie Home, Wansapanataym, It’s Showtime (Saturday), Ipaglaban Mo and Rated K.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN also led across all time blocks, particularly the primetime block as it garnered an average audience share of 48 percent, or 15-point lead against GMA’s 33 percent. The primetime block is the most important time of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investments in to reach more consumers effectively.

The Kapamilya network also ruled the morning block (6 a.m. to 12 nn) with an average audience share of 39 percent versus GMA’s 29 percent; the noontime block (12 noon to 3:00 p.m.) with 47 percent, compared to GMA’s 31 percent; and the afternoon block (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with 44 percent, beating GMA’s 36 percent.

Naturally, the Kapuso network challenges these data with their own from the ratings provider they use (NUTAM) and insistently claims it has overtaken the Kapamilya network as the country’s no. 1 broadcast network.

Between the two companies, GMA’s has historically highlighted its performance in heavily populated areas, in particular, urban Luzon and mega Manila.

In Urban Luzon, GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 46.4 percent, more than ABS-CBN’s 32.6 percent.

In Mega Manila, it cornered a share of 48.1 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 29.5 percent.

More Kapuso shows also made it to the list of top-rating programs in NUTAM with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) securing its spot as the most watched Kapuso program nationwide.

Joining KMJS were Pepito Manaloto, Kambal, Karibal, 24 Oras, Magpakailanman, The Cure, Inday Will Always Love You, 24 Oras Weekend, and newly-launched program Amazing Earth.

Also included in the list were Lip Sync Battle Philippines, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, GMA Blockbusters, Imbestigador, Wowowin, Sunday Pinasaya, Bubble Gang, Saksi, Eat Bulaga, Tadhana, The Stepdaughters and Contessa.

Booster of US and RP brands

Numbers don’t lie. Data, in fact, tell startling truths about a population niche in the United States whose profile may be low, but whose income leads most populations: Filipinos.

 A median household income of $81,929 puts Filipinos near the top among all American consumers (only South Asians, Jewish Americans, and Taiwanese Americans are ahead, the US Census Bureau reports), while the current median household income for the US is $53,657. A median family income of $65,910 still makes America one of the world’s leaders in this category. But this number pales in comparison to the median family income of Filipinos in New York: a jaw-dropping $92,486. In the city with the most billionaires in the world, this figure ranks New York-based Filipinos as first or second among all population groups in the US.

Filipinos’ purchasing power is not lost on marketers at major American brands. Their stake in the Filipino consumer segment can clearly be seen at Fiesta In America Expo and Consumer Show. The event will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on Aug. 11 and 12 as the biggest expo and cultural show of its kind on the east coast. Its home for the past 18 years, New Jersey’s Meadowlands Exposition Center in the city of Secaucus, is one of the most prestigious convention sites in the American northeast region.

Fiesta In America’s blend of consumer show and concert attracts a two-day audience of more than 5,000 Filipinos and multicultural consumers from New York, New Jersey and five peripheral states.

According to Daphne Kwok, vice president, Multicultural Leadership, at the 37 million-member American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), “Our partnership with Fiesta in America has been very exciting and we look forward to creating more innovative ways on how we can share AARP’s resources with [this] population.”

For Meriterese Racanelli, MS, Food Scientist, Nutritionist and Chef at Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic food company, “It was a joy to work with Fiesta In America. The talent and entertainment are outstanding!”
Nemesio Kinsora, an executive at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s foremost health management organization (HMO), cited the event’s niche-marketing value. “Fiesta In America gave us the chance to connect with the Filipino community on a large scale.”

In the Philippines, a diverse spectrum of Filipino industries is drawn to the buying power of Filipinos in the east coast of the US who attend Fiesta In America, and whose median household income far exceeds that of their kababayan in California. These business participants include some of the most respected names in Philippine real estate; small to medium-size manufacturers of handicraft, packaged food, shoes and apparel, holiday and home décor, and a myriad other products; Philippine Airlines; as well as the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board.

“Our two-day event is uniquely located at the junction of Filipino culture and U.S. diversity marketing,” said Nanding Mendez, founder and CEO of not-for-profit Fiesta In America.

“For our historic 20thyear, the concert headliners are Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Ogie Alcasid, and love team of Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona.

For more information, log on to www.fiestainamerica.com

Palace: Duterte yet to sign BOL

By Argyll Cyrus Geducos

Malacañang clarified that President Duterte is yet to sign the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which creates the Bangsamoro government and grants it fiscal autonomy.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after Duterte said in a speech that the law has already been signed following its ratification in Congress this week.

In a text message, Roque said that the measure was still with Executive Secretary (ES) Salvador Medialdea.

“As of an hour ago, hindi pa (not yet) and still with ES,” Roque said Thursday afternoon.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go also confirmed that Duterte is yet to sign the BOL.

In his speech in Ipip, Zamboanga Sibugay Thursday afternoon, Duterte said that the measure has been finally signed and that he will meet with Moro leaders for a ceremony.

“The BBL has been signed, but I’m still going back because I have a ceremony with Jaafar and Murad,” Duterte said in mixed English and Bisaya. He was referring to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief Murad Ebrahim and MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.

“And also I’d like to talk to Nur so that we can have it by the end of the year,” he added, referring to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari.

Duterte was supposed to sign the BOL during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, however, the plan did not happen after the House of Representatives failed to ratify the measure due to a leadership standoff.

In his speech, Duterte vowed that after the bill’s ratification, he will sign the BOL within 48 hours but after making sure that it will not put other people at a disadvantage.

“I make this solemn commitment that this administration will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to chart their own destiny within the Constitutional framework of our country,” he said.

“Give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify the law. Babasahin ko pa bago ko pipirmahan. Baka may isiningit kayo diyan na hindi maganda para sa — para sa ibang tao (You may have put something there that may not be good for other people),” he added.

Sign language interpreters aid Duterte’s SONA

Local news networks ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), GMA, TV5, and PTV4 recently tapped Filipino Sign Language (FSL) interpreters for the Third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

PNASLI President John Baliza and Benilde SDEAS Dean Nicky Templo Perez for ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), and DZMM.

To be able to fully deliver the President’s speech to the country’s Deaf community, the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, together with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf and the Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters (PNASLI), lent the helping hands of its skilled and steadfast Deaf and hearing coordinators, partners, and associates to interpret the SONA through FSL.

To be able to fully deliver the President’s speech to the country’s Deaf community, the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, together with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf and the Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters (PNASLI), lent the helping hands of its skilled and steadfast Deaf and hearing coordinators, partners, and associates to interpret the SONA through FSL.

Sign Language interpreters include SDEAS Dean Nicky Templo-Perez and John Baliza for ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) and DZMM; Jojo Esposa and Joi Villareal for GMA; Jun Sevilla and Rjay Soriano Jr. for TV5; and Naty Natividad and Febe Sevilla for PTV 4.