Thursday, October 29, 2020
BTA passes Bangsamoro Administrative Code
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The 80-member Bangsamoro interim parliament has approved the proposed Regional Administrative Code essential to the setting up of an efficient autonomous government covering the five provinces of the region.
The approved Bill 60 of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority shall define the procedural principles of governance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
The Regional Administrative Code (RAC) encompasses all Bangsamoro ministries and all other non-portfolio entities under the office of BARMM’s chief minister, Ahod 'Al Haj Murad' Ebrahim.
"In one of its basic principles and policies, the Bangsamoro Administrative Code provides that the Bangsamoro Government, in pursuit of moral governance, shall maintain honesty, integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption," Ebrahim said in a post on the Bangsamoro government's website.
"This salient point speaks of our earnest desire to leave a system that adheres to the concept of amanah, where leadership and responsibilities are not just titles or positions, but more importantly a trust given by the Almighty," he added.
The bill was filed in plenary in July, prompting the parliament's Committee on Rules to form a panel headed by Member of Parliament Raissa Jajurie for public consultations on the proposed administrative code.
Aside from members of the BARMM Cabinet and employees of the BARMM ministries, consultations held in August included local government leaders and non-government organizations.
Also included in the public consultations were sectoral representatives from "the education sector, women sector, youth, farmer and fisherfolks, labor groups, non-Moro Indigenous People, settler communities, civil society organizations, Bangsamoro representatives residing outside the BARMM, and other stakeholders," the regional government said.
The panel also considered position and policy papers for its report to the Committee on Rules.
The committee approved the report on the bill on October 22 and brought it to the parliament in plenary on October 27 for interpellation and amendments.
BARMM's public information director, Andrew Alonto, said Thursday 26 members of the regional parliament voted in favor of the bill during a session Wednesday while 32 others manifested support for its passage via online Zoom. There were no negative votes nor abstentions.
"Tonight, I and my fellow members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, sitting as the interim Bangsamoro parliament, finally passed the Bangsamoro Administrative Code. This code will serve as the blueprint of the regional bureacracy. This is one of the mandated tasks of the interim government," MP Amir Mawallil said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
He also thanked Jajurie, who is deputy majority leader, for her work on the committee report and for seeing the bill brought to the parliament in plenary. "Your candor, and for always being open to the ideas of your colleagues. We may not always agree on things, but you will always have my respect," he said.
"And, lastly, to my fellow members in the Minority Bloc: You participated actively in the deliberations from the panel stage, to the committee level, all the way to the plenary session. This proves that every one of us is here because we are determined to work together for the success of this transition period." — The STAR/John Unson
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/10/29/2053141/bta-passes-bangsamoro-administrative-code
Comelec considering 2-day plebiscite in Palawan
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is now considering to hold the plebiscite in the island province of Palawan for two days.
This, as the Commission expects that the COVID-19 situation in the country will linger until next year.
“One of the things that the COMELEC is considering for Palawan is the possibility of holding the plebiscite in two days,” COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez said in a virtual media forum.
But he clarified that the matter is not a done deal yet.
“It is still being studied,” he added.
The possibility of holding a two-day plebiscite is part of the poll body’s precautionary measures to also avoid overcrowding inside polling precincts.
Jimenez said the Commission is looking into options, including dividing voters based on their surnames. They are also looking at dividing voters by gender, separating the voting days for males and females.
The poll official also said that they are also studying the feasibility of dividing voters based on their polling precinct numbers.
By virtue of Republic Act No. 11259, the poll body has been tasked to conduct a plebiscite for the division of the island province and making it Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
The plebiscite is supposed to take place last May 11 but, in a Memorandum dated April 7, the COMELEC ordered the postponement of the event because of the pandemic.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) then approved the holding of the Palawan plebiscite in the first quarter of 2021.
https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/28/comelec-considering-2-day-plebiscite-in-palawan/
Comelec eyes 2-day Palawan plebiscite
The plebiscite to ratify a law dividing Palawan into three provinces may be held for two days.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez said they are studying the feasibility of holding a two-day plebiscite to prevent crowding of people in polling precincts.
Jimenez said it is not the first time for the poll body, citing the experience for the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2019.
He clarified that the two-day plebiscite is “not a done deal yet.”
Jimenez said their other option is to divide voters based on their surnames.
He admitted that this could pose a challenge, noting that the distribution of surnames in the Philippines is “not even remotely equal.”
Jimenez said they are also looking at dividing the voters by gender and polling precinct.
Palawan will be divided into Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur under Republic Act 11259, which President Duterte signed in April 2019.
The plebiscite was supposed to be held on the second Monday of May, but was reset to the first quarter of next year due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/10/29/2052998/comelec-eyes-2-day-palawan-plebiscite
When You Want To Quit
The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. Acts 28:15
Have you had the experience of starting something...you really poured your body and soul into a cause, and then you began to wonder whether it was really worth the time and effort? We describe it as "discouragement." Webster defines it as "that which causes one to weaken."
This malady known as discouragement is a prelude to one of the most devastating of all maladies, known as "QUIT‑ITIS." If you recognize the symptoms of this virus of the heart, you can do something about it. This commentary is dedicated to all of you who are discouraged and feel like quitting, no matter where you are.
Notice, first of all, that discouragement almost always comes when you are physically fatigued. Can you honestly remember ever being discouraged when you were physically on top of life–when you were feeling at your best? Of course not! But you can recall many times when you were weary; then this enemy of progress called discouragement sets in.
Years ago, a fiery prophet by the name of Elijah met the prophets of Baal and thundered forth the judgment of God. He won single‑handedly, yet when he was tired physically as the result of the conflict, he turned and ran to the wilderness of Horeb. Discouragement turned to quit‑itis as he said, "Lord, just let me die. I am no better than the prophets before me." With Elijah you can score one for humility but zero for yielding to discouragement.
Second, notice that discouragement is extremely contagious. Charles Jones, better known as Charles Tremendous Jones, was an extremely successful businessman. In a few years he sold more insurance than many men sell in a lifetime. When Jones was asked if he ever got discouraged he replied, "Sure, I do, but I can't afford to let you know. Then we'll just discourage each other." When one man allows himself to become discouraged he will discourage everybody he comes in contact with. Remember the ten spies sent out by Joshua of old discouraged an entire nation. Discouragement is a luxury you just cannot afford.
Here is the third: Discouragement is an enemy which does battle with faith. Martin Luther defined faith as "a lively, reckless confidence in God." Faith says, "I can visualize what I want to accomplish, or I am willing to trust God for..." Discouragement cries out, "It is not worth it." Let me share several ways to deal with discouragement:
1) Recognize that it is no sin to be discouraged. Spiritual giants and other men of great accomplishments have all battled it. The sin is yielding and listening to discouragement's deadly voice which cries, "Go ahead and quit!"
2) You can deal with your discouragement by bringing it to your Heavenly Father and asking Him for new courage and strength. Do you remember when Jesus faced the temptation in the wilderness and was successful? God sent angels to minister to Him, and God still meets the one who will bring his discouragement to Him.
3) Let me remind you of the Apostle Paul, who found himself on the way to Rome where he was almost certain of execution. Paul had a long journey across the stormy Mediterranean from Caesarea in Israel to Rome. Physically he was weary when he began the journey from the port of Puteoli. As he came towards Rome, three fellow believers came to meet him and he "thanked God and took courage."
If you are struggling with this monster called discouragement, take the upward look. Thank God for what He has done and take courage. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, "We will reap in due season if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9). It is the upward look that brings courage for successful living.
Resource reading: Acts 27: 13-44
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/when-you-want-to-quit/