COTABATO CITY - Maguindanao (2nd District) Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu has filed a bill that seeks to divide the province into two through the creation of “Maguindanao North province.”
House Bill 3054 seeks to create the new province form the towns that comprise Maguindanao’s first congressional district: Barira, Buldon, Datu Odin Sinuat (Dinaig), Kabuntalan, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Upi, Sultan Mastura, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat and Northern Kabuntalan.
Mangudadatu, the former Maguindanao governor, said he filed his bill on Monday afternoon (August 5).
The current undivided province Maguindanao has 36 towns, with Shariff Aguak municipality in the second district chosen by new Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu as administrative capital.
In his 30-page bill, Mangudadatu proposed that the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat becomes the Maguindanao North province’s capital.
Lawyer Kirby Abdullah, Mangudadatu’s chief of staff, said the lawmaker believes the creation of a new province will provide economic and political empowerment to all Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples in the 11 towns.
Mangudadatu said creating a new province could also compliment the normalization process following the full implementation of the government peace deal with Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The Philippine News Agency tried to reach Maguindanao (1st District) Rep. Ronne Sinsuat for comments but to no avail.
On September 7, 2006, the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) approved a proposal to create Shariff Kabunsuan province composed of the 11 towns in Maguindanao’s first congressional district.
However, the Supreme Court declared the proposal null and void stating that only Congress can create a province. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1077115
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Romualdez: Still ‘premature’ to comment on fate of ABS-CBN franchise
House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on Tuesday said it is still “premature” to affirm if the lower chamber would commit to process the proposal on the legislated franchise of ABS-CBN Corp.
This is because, according to Romualdez, the House of Representatives is still organizing its committees.
“We have not actually gotten to that point yet… While we’re busy reorganizing we haven’t gotten to the point yet of actually sifting through all the bills that were read out for first reading or for referral,” the Leyte representative said in a press conference when asked if the House leadership has already committed to process the franchise bill of the radio-television network.
“But as time goes by, we shall update you on that pero I believe it’s premature to comment on that at this early stage. Soon enough we will know,” he added.
INQUIRER.net has reached House legislative franchises panel chair, Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz Alvarez, for comment but he has yet to issue a remark as of posting time.
House Bill No. 676, which seeks to renew the network’s franchise for another 25 years, was referred to the legislative franchises committee last July 23. ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire on March 30, 2020.
The 17th Congress’ version of the proposed law remained pending at the committee on legislative franchises since November 16, 2016. The panel did not act on the bill until the previous Congress adjourned sine die.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly launched threats against media outfits critical of his administration like the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN, the broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the online news site Rappler. He even threatened to block the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, accusing the network of estafa for allegedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier said he believes the President would approved the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN once it’s approved by Congress.
https://business.inquirer.net/276252/romualdez-still-premature-to-comment-on-fate-of-abs-cbn-franchise
This is because, according to Romualdez, the House of Representatives is still organizing its committees.
“We have not actually gotten to that point yet… While we’re busy reorganizing we haven’t gotten to the point yet of actually sifting through all the bills that were read out for first reading or for referral,” the Leyte representative said in a press conference when asked if the House leadership has already committed to process the franchise bill of the radio-television network.
“But as time goes by, we shall update you on that pero I believe it’s premature to comment on that at this early stage. Soon enough we will know,” he added.
INQUIRER.net has reached House legislative franchises panel chair, Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz Alvarez, for comment but he has yet to issue a remark as of posting time.
House Bill No. 676, which seeks to renew the network’s franchise for another 25 years, was referred to the legislative franchises committee last July 23. ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire on March 30, 2020.
The 17th Congress’ version of the proposed law remained pending at the committee on legislative franchises since November 16, 2016. The panel did not act on the bill until the previous Congress adjourned sine die.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly launched threats against media outfits critical of his administration like the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN, the broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the online news site Rappler. He even threatened to block the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, accusing the network of estafa for allegedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier said he believes the President would approved the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN once it’s approved by Congress.
https://business.inquirer.net/276252/romualdez-still-premature-to-comment-on-fate-of-abs-cbn-franchise
House aspires for zero veto on the 2020 budget
House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a press conference on Tuesday that the House of Representatives is determined to closely coordinate with the Senate and the Executive branch to achieve zero veto in the 18th Congress, especially on the 2020 National Budget.
Deputy Majority Leader Wilter “Sharky” Palma and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla were also present during the briefing.
Majority Leader Romualdez underscored that targeting zero veto does not intend to withhold the prerogative of the President on the legislative process, but to promote better coordination between both chambers and between the Legislative and Executive branches.
He shared that this was agreed upon by the House and Senate leaders in their small group Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Monday.
“Through the leadership of the Speaker, we joined the small delegation of LEDAC at the Malacañang palace for the furtherance [of] better synergies, better coordination, better efficiencies so that there would be fewer differences and conflicts between the Houses and the Executive,” he said.
Majority Leader Romualdez noted that the chamber will meet regularly with the Senate and the Executive in an effort to avoid copious disagreements on the budget and steer clear from any delays on its approval.
"Maganda yung kasunduan natin, excited din kami na magmi-meet more often. Pag parati kayong nag-uusap, the chances of miscommunication or misunderstanding ay nababawasan,” Majority Leader Romualdez said.
He then maintained that the House is targeting the passage of the 2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) before October 5 or prior to their session break.
While the House leaders have not yet scheduled a meeting with Secretary Wendel Avisado of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Romualdez expressed that they are looking forward to seeing him soon on August 16 or a week after that.
August 16 is the set schedule for the submission of the 2020 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the House.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader pointed out that “Kung may budget, dapat may pagkukunan din. We’ll [work on] revenue-generating measures, as well, to fund the budget for the much needed programs and projects of this administration.”
He, however, explained that the approval of these bills, which were prioritized by the President in his 2019 State of the Nation Address (SONA), will be accelerated in accordance with Section 48 of the House Rules.
It states that: “In case of bills or resolutions that are identified as priority measures of the House, which were previously filed in the immediately preceding Congress and have been approved on 3rd reading, the same may be disposed of as matters already reported upon the approval of majority of the Members of the committee present, there being a quorum. The committee secretary shall immediately prepare the necessary committee reports on said measures for inclusion in the Calendar of Business.”
“Those [priority measures] may be fast-tracked through the Committees. Definitely, they don’t have to go through the whole process from square one,” said Romualdez.| Molie Gonzales, News and Documentation Section-Press and Public Affairs Bureau/ House of Representatives of the Philippines
http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=11652
Deputy Majority Leader Wilter “Sharky” Palma and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla were also present during the briefing.
Majority Leader Romualdez underscored that targeting zero veto does not intend to withhold the prerogative of the President on the legislative process, but to promote better coordination between both chambers and between the Legislative and Executive branches.
He shared that this was agreed upon by the House and Senate leaders in their small group Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Monday.
“Through the leadership of the Speaker, we joined the small delegation of LEDAC at the Malacañang palace for the furtherance [of] better synergies, better coordination, better efficiencies so that there would be fewer differences and conflicts between the Houses and the Executive,” he said.
Majority Leader Romualdez noted that the chamber will meet regularly with the Senate and the Executive in an effort to avoid copious disagreements on the budget and steer clear from any delays on its approval.
"Maganda yung kasunduan natin, excited din kami na magmi-meet more often. Pag parati kayong nag-uusap, the chances of miscommunication or misunderstanding ay nababawasan,” Majority Leader Romualdez said.
He then maintained that the House is targeting the passage of the 2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) before October 5 or prior to their session break.
While the House leaders have not yet scheduled a meeting with Secretary Wendel Avisado of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Romualdez expressed that they are looking forward to seeing him soon on August 16 or a week after that.
August 16 is the set schedule for the submission of the 2020 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the House.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader pointed out that “Kung may budget, dapat may pagkukunan din. We’ll [work on] revenue-generating measures, as well, to fund the budget for the much needed programs and projects of this administration.”
He, however, explained that the approval of these bills, which were prioritized by the President in his 2019 State of the Nation Address (SONA), will be accelerated in accordance with Section 48 of the House Rules.
It states that: “In case of bills or resolutions that are identified as priority measures of the House, which were previously filed in the immediately preceding Congress and have been approved on 3rd reading, the same may be disposed of as matters already reported upon the approval of majority of the Members of the committee present, there being a quorum. The committee secretary shall immediately prepare the necessary committee reports on said measures for inclusion in the Calendar of Business.”
“Those [priority measures] may be fast-tracked through the Committees. Definitely, they don’t have to go through the whole process from square one,” said Romualdez.| Molie Gonzales, News and Documentation Section-Press and Public Affairs Bureau/ House of Representatives of the Philippines
http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=11652
Former governor seeks partition of Maguindanao province
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu (Maguindanao, 2nd District) on Monday filed a bill proposing the creation of "Maguindanao North," a new province comprised of the 11 towns in the first district of Maguindanao.
Under the proposal—which must hurdle Congress, get the president's signature, and be ratified in a plebiscite—Maguindanao province will retain the 25 towns in its second legislative district.
The 30-page draft bill also recommendeds Datu Odin Sinsuat town as the capital of the proposed Maguindanao North province, according to Mangudadatu’s chief of staff, lawyer Kirby Abdullah.
Mangudadatu was governor of Maguindanao for three consecutive terms from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2019. He now sits as congressman of the second district.
He told reporters in an online exchange that the creation of the proposed province can help boost economic and political development in the first district and also help the ongoing peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a peace agreement with the government in 2014.
The headquarters of the MILF, whose chairman, Hadji Ahod Ebrahim, is now chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Mindanao, is located in Barangay Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat.
Short-lived Shariff Kabunsuan province
Rep. Bai Sandra Sema (Maguindanao, 1st District) filed a similar but not identical bill to create a Maguindanao North province during the 17th Congress. The capital of the proposed new province could have been Datu Odin Sinsuat, the capital of the former province of Shariff Kabunsuan.
In 2006, the regional assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao created Shariff Kabunsuan province, which was composed of the 11 towns that Mangudadatu proposes to form Maguindanao North, Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201.
It was ratified in a plebiscite and existed until July 2008, when the Supreme Court ruled that its creation was unconstitutional. The court held that only Congress can create new provinces and cities because it has the constitutional authority to create legislative districts.
In April, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law splitting Palawan into three distinct and independent provinces to be known as Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur — which will be the mother province.
The split has yet to be ratified in a plebiscite, which is scheduled for 2020.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/08/06/1941078/former-governor-seeks-partition-maguindanao-province
Under the proposal—which must hurdle Congress, get the president's signature, and be ratified in a plebiscite—Maguindanao province will retain the 25 towns in its second legislative district.
The 30-page draft bill also recommendeds Datu Odin Sinsuat town as the capital of the proposed Maguindanao North province, according to Mangudadatu’s chief of staff, lawyer Kirby Abdullah.
Mangudadatu was governor of Maguindanao for three consecutive terms from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2019. He now sits as congressman of the second district.
He told reporters in an online exchange that the creation of the proposed province can help boost economic and political development in the first district and also help the ongoing peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a peace agreement with the government in 2014.
The headquarters of the MILF, whose chairman, Hadji Ahod Ebrahim, is now chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Mindanao, is located in Barangay Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat.
Short-lived Shariff Kabunsuan province
Rep. Bai Sandra Sema (Maguindanao, 1st District) filed a similar but not identical bill to create a Maguindanao North province during the 17th Congress. The capital of the proposed new province could have been Datu Odin Sinsuat, the capital of the former province of Shariff Kabunsuan.
In 2006, the regional assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao created Shariff Kabunsuan province, which was composed of the 11 towns that Mangudadatu proposes to form Maguindanao North, Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201.
It was ratified in a plebiscite and existed until July 2008, when the Supreme Court ruled that its creation was unconstitutional. The court held that only Congress can create new provinces and cities because it has the constitutional authority to create legislative districts.
In April, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law splitting Palawan into three distinct and independent provinces to be known as Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur — which will be the mother province.
The split has yet to be ratified in a plebiscite, which is scheduled for 2020.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/08/06/1941078/former-governor-seeks-partition-maguindanao-province
Solon wants Maguindanao divided into two provinces
By Ali Macabalang
COTABATO CITY – Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu (2nd district, Maguindanao) is reviving a proposal for the division of Maguindanao into two provinces in what his supporters described as a bold step to fully turn the province into “MagandaNow.”
Mangudadatu filed on Monday House Bill 3054 grouping all 11 towns in the first district to constitute “Magguindanao North” with Sultan Kudarat town as provincial seat.
Maguindanao presently has 36 towns, 11 of which constitute the province’s first Congressional district. The 11 towns include Parang, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Sultan Kudarat municipalities, which are the most populated and vote-richest in the province. They have a total population of 821,475 as of 2015.
Under Rep. Mangudadatu’s 30-page draft bill, the province’s 25 other towns comprising presently the second district will constitute the mother province – Maguindanao. The 25 towns, including the present Buluan capital town, have a total population of 651,896 as of 2015.
Former 1st District Rep. Bai Sandra Sema, before the lapse last June 30 of her three-elective terms, had filed a bill for the creation of her 11-town turf into a separate province. Her bill, however, did not gain priority deliberation in the 17th Congress.
Former Muslim Mindanao legislative Speaker Ronnie Sinsuat, who succeeded Sema via the 2019 midterm elections, is reportedly supportive of the splitting of Maguindanao into two provinces.
Months before the 2019 midterm polls, then Gov. Mangudadatu, Speaker Sinsuat and former Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tocao Mastura had formed a political alliance, and agreed on common agenda – to create another province out of Maguindanao.
Mangudadadtu earlier told The Manila Bulletin that upon his assumption as lawmaker, he would push for the creation of Maguindanao North to fortify focal efforts in steering “smaller provinces” towards greater heights.
He hinted that dividing Maguindanao can help flesh out the Duterte government’s vision in bringing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at par with developed regions in the country. Maguindanao is BARMM’s most populated and vote-richest component province.
Political-wise, splitting Maguindanao can also help ease the usual intense political intramurals over provincial and congressional positions among politicians from the 1st and 2nd districts, Mangudadatu’s supporters said.
They said Mangudadatu’s proposal may also put an end finally to the decades-old tug-of-war between politicians in the first and second districts over the legal issue of the “official provincial seat.”
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/08/06/solon-wants-maguindanao-divided-into-two-provinces/
COTABATO CITY – Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu (2nd district, Maguindanao) is reviving a proposal for the division of Maguindanao into two provinces in what his supporters described as a bold step to fully turn the province into “MagandaNow.”
Mangudadatu filed on Monday House Bill 3054 grouping all 11 towns in the first district to constitute “Magguindanao North” with Sultan Kudarat town as provincial seat.
Maguindanao presently has 36 towns, 11 of which constitute the province’s first Congressional district. The 11 towns include Parang, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Sultan Kudarat municipalities, which are the most populated and vote-richest in the province. They have a total population of 821,475 as of 2015.
Under Rep. Mangudadatu’s 30-page draft bill, the province’s 25 other towns comprising presently the second district will constitute the mother province – Maguindanao. The 25 towns, including the present Buluan capital town, have a total population of 651,896 as of 2015.
Former 1st District Rep. Bai Sandra Sema, before the lapse last June 30 of her three-elective terms, had filed a bill for the creation of her 11-town turf into a separate province. Her bill, however, did not gain priority deliberation in the 17th Congress.
Former Muslim Mindanao legislative Speaker Ronnie Sinsuat, who succeeded Sema via the 2019 midterm elections, is reportedly supportive of the splitting of Maguindanao into two provinces.
Months before the 2019 midterm polls, then Gov. Mangudadatu, Speaker Sinsuat and former Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tocao Mastura had formed a political alliance, and agreed on common agenda – to create another province out of Maguindanao.
Mangudadadtu earlier told The Manila Bulletin that upon his assumption as lawmaker, he would push for the creation of Maguindanao North to fortify focal efforts in steering “smaller provinces” towards greater heights.
He hinted that dividing Maguindanao can help flesh out the Duterte government’s vision in bringing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at par with developed regions in the country. Maguindanao is BARMM’s most populated and vote-richest component province.
Political-wise, splitting Maguindanao can also help ease the usual intense political intramurals over provincial and congressional positions among politicians from the 1st and 2nd districts, Mangudadatu’s supporters said.
They said Mangudadatu’s proposal may also put an end finally to the decades-old tug-of-war between politicians in the first and second districts over the legal issue of the “official provincial seat.”
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/08/06/solon-wants-maguindanao-divided-into-two-provinces/
Regions Briefs: Aug. 6, 2019
NFA buys fewer palay in Pampanga
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) bought only 2 percent of palay (unmilled rice) supplies in Pampanga during the recent cropping season because of lack of warehouses in the province.
The NFA provincial manager, Julieta Aurora Orias, on Monday said the agency was buying palay at P20 per kilogram from cooperatives.
The NFA is buying palay until next year, Orias said, without giving the budget earmarked for that.
Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda asked the provincial board to approve the lending of provincial government-owned facilities in Porac, Floridablanca and San Simon towns, which the NFA could use as warehouses.
She said four grain dryers given by the Department of Agriculture could be stationed in warehouses so farmers could lower the cost of drying palay.
UK cautions its citizens against sea travel in PH
“We are looking for ways to help our farmers as the national government implements the rice tariffication law,” she said.
Cheap, imported rice has filled the markets, and traders have lowered farm gate prices to the disadvantage of local growers. —Tonette Orejas
Sto. Tomas cityhood vote set for Sept. 7
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set for Sept. 7 the plebiscite to ratify the conversion of Sto. Tomas town in Batangas province into a component city.
Gerard Laresma, municipal information officer, said the cityhood bid was apt, considering the rapidly growing population of Sto. Tomas.
“Our growth rate is at 4 percent annually. That’s even higher than the national growth rate,” Laresma said, attributing the increase to migration of workers into the town’s industrial zones.
On October 5, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11086, which converted Sto. Tomas into a component city.
The Comelec was supposed to hold the plebiscite 90 days after the law was enacted but rescheduled it to give way to the May 13 elections. —Maricar Cinco
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1150516/regions-briefs-aug-6-2019
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) bought only 2 percent of palay (unmilled rice) supplies in Pampanga during the recent cropping season because of lack of warehouses in the province.
The NFA provincial manager, Julieta Aurora Orias, on Monday said the agency was buying palay at P20 per kilogram from cooperatives.
The NFA is buying palay until next year, Orias said, without giving the budget earmarked for that.
Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda asked the provincial board to approve the lending of provincial government-owned facilities in Porac, Floridablanca and San Simon towns, which the NFA could use as warehouses.
She said four grain dryers given by the Department of Agriculture could be stationed in warehouses so farmers could lower the cost of drying palay.
UK cautions its citizens against sea travel in PH
“We are looking for ways to help our farmers as the national government implements the rice tariffication law,” she said.
Cheap, imported rice has filled the markets, and traders have lowered farm gate prices to the disadvantage of local growers. —Tonette Orejas
Sto. Tomas cityhood vote set for Sept. 7
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set for Sept. 7 the plebiscite to ratify the conversion of Sto. Tomas town in Batangas province into a component city.
Gerard Laresma, municipal information officer, said the cityhood bid was apt, considering the rapidly growing population of Sto. Tomas.
“Our growth rate is at 4 percent annually. That’s even higher than the national growth rate,” Laresma said, attributing the increase to migration of workers into the town’s industrial zones.
On October 5, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11086, which converted Sto. Tomas into a component city.
The Comelec was supposed to hold the plebiscite 90 days after the law was enacted but rescheduled it to give way to the May 13 elections. —Maricar Cinco
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1150516/regions-briefs-aug-6-2019
Q Channel 11 Sked (August 5-11, 2019)
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