Wednesday, March 10, 2021
How Persistent Are You In Prayer?
Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me. John 11:41-42
How many times must you pray the same prayer and ask God to do the same thing before He hears you? Once, twice, or day after day until you get what you are asking for? Tough question, right? There are times when something bothers you and you pray about it. Nothing seems to happen so you pray again, and again. Or, may you give up entirely, thinking you don’t know the right words; or you think, “This may work for others but not for me!”
Jesus, anticipating that this would be one of the issues of concern for us, told a story about a widow who lived in a certain town where there was a judge who cared neither for God nor for people. Luke, the physician, records it in the passage found in our Bible in Luke 18.
Someone took advantage of this widow Jesus told us about, so she went to a judge and asked for justice. For some time, he was indifferent and refused to deal with the situation. Day after day, the woman came back with the same request. Finally the judge relented. He said, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming!” (Luke 18:4-5).
Jesus prefaced the story saying that the disciples “…ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). You may say, “OK, should we, like the widow, keep on knocking on heaven’s door until we get an answer?”
First, let me point out a couple of things which you need to know. The picture of the judge who is indifferent and guilty of catering to the rich and famous isn’t a true picture of our heavenly Father, who has no respect for persons whatsoever. Money and prestige don’t open the door to the throne room of heaven. Furthermore, I think it can fairly be said, “God is on the side of the little widow, the insignificant person who is denied justice and fairness in life today.”
The picture of the widow who has to try–with great difficulty–to get justice out of a corrupt system isn’t really a valid illustration of how prayer works. The New Testament says clearly that prayer is based on the relationship of a child with the father. Make a note of Galatians 4, which tells us that we are adopted by our heavenly Father and become His children through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Now, let’s go back to that original question, “How many times must you ask God to do something before you know He has heard you?” Let me ask you a second question, “When you were a child, how many times did you have to ask your father for something before he responded to you?” Once you got his attention, he answered you, right? Always gave you what you wanted, right? No, sometimes he loved you too much to give you what you asked for.
There are times when you need to prevail in prayer, asking God to do what you feel is His will. You sense that you have connected with heaven, but you don’t yet have the answer. From that point on, you don’t need to keep on asking the same thing, but begin to thank Him in advance for His answer and wait patiently for Him to do what you have asked. Jesus put it, “…your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). When you know He’s heard, you eventually get a clear answer. It really happens.
Resource reading: 1 John 5:13-15
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/how-persistent-are-you-in-prayer/
Maguindanao may soon be divided into 2 provinces
Once President Rodrigo Duterte signs the law, the two new provinces will be called Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur
The Senate approved on final reading on Tuesday, March 9, the bill seeking to divide Maguindanao – part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – into two provinces.
The Senate adopted the bill that the House of Representatives passed on June 1, 2020. The measure will be up for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature.
Once the law is signed, the two new provinces will be called Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, which were originally proposed to be called Northern Maguindanao and Southern Maguindanao.
Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Upi, Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura. Its seat of government will be Datu Odin Sinsuat.
Maguindanao del Sur will be composed of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, South Upi, Talayan and Talitay. Its seat of government will be Buluan.
Maguindanao has a population of 1,173,933, according to the 2015 census. It has an average annual income of P714.56 million.
In a press release, Senate committee on local government chairman Francis Tolentino said that due to Maguindanao's size, it had become a challenge for the provincial government "to provide basic services like public health care, education, and transportation to the most remote villages."
Dividing it into two provinces with more leaders and workers would make the two local governments "more responsive to the needs of their respective constituents," he said.
House Bill No. 6413 was sponsored in the Senate by Tolentino and co-sponsored by senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Ramon Revilla Jr, Joel Villanueva, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III. – Rappler.com
https://www.rappler.com/nation/maguindanao-may-soon-be-divided-into-provinces
Palawan plebiscite: Manual counting revisited and Covid-proofing exercise
“Pumapayag ka ba na hatiin ang probinsya ng Palawan sa tatlong (3) probinsya na papangalanang: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental at Palawan del Sur alinsunod sa Batas Republika Bilang 11259?”
CITIZENS of voting age in 23 municipalities in the province of Palawan will troop to voting precincts on March 13, 2021 as provided for in Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10687 to respond to the above question if they agree or not to splitting their province into three. Residents of Puerto Princesa City will not participate in the plebiscite.
Under the same Comelec resolution, voting will be manual, using write-in ballots, meaning voters will write down their responses to the question. A voter will write a “Yes” or “Oo” if he or she agrees to split the province into three, or the voter will write down a “No” or “Hindi” if he or she does not want the province to be split into three. Simple, right? But the results of the voting will impact heavily on the future of Palawan and its residents.
The counting of votes will be done manually and in public after the close of voting on Plebiscite Day. The reading of the ballots and recording of the votes in the tally board and the plebiscite returns will be done in full view of watchers and interested members of the public. The members of the electoral board, called PlebCom for purposes of the plebiscite, are to position themselves in a manner that provides an unimpeded view of the ballot being read and the recording of the vote in the tally board and the plebiscite returns.
In other words, the reading, recording and counting of votes will be done in full transparency with watchers, observers and interested parties understanding the process.
Not like the automated election system where the reading, recording and counting of votes is done by a black box called a vote counting machine, leaving watchers, observers and interested parties not able to see the process.
It has been argued that transparency measures have been put in place. And, of course, it can always be argued that the reading, recording and counting of the plebiscite votes is a lot simpler since it involves the reading of a “Yes” or “No” vote than having to read at least 30 names on a ballot during the national and local elections.
The counterargument, however, is that transparency measures are not the same as transparency, and that the reading, recording and counting of votes is done inside the minute circuits of the vote counting machine, hidden from view. Moreover, only a few technically skilled individuals understand how the machines are programmed. This raises doubt in the minds of watchers and observers. Was the vote properly read? Was it properly recorded? Was it properly counted?
To erase these doubts, there has been a call for an alternative automated election system, or a hybrid election system, that features manual voting, computer-assisted counting of votes, electronic transmission of results, and automated canvassing and consolidation.
A manual count of the votes is participatory in nature. It allows watchers and observers to raise questions on how a particular ballot is appreciated by the chairman of the electoral board, previously known as board of election inspectors or BEI. After all, participation is one feature of a democratic exercise like elections.
The plebiscite was supposed to have been held on the second Monday of May 2020 in accordance with Republic Act 11259, or “An Act Dividing the Province of Palawan Into Three (3) Provinces, namely: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur.” but was postponed due to quarantine measures implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The plebiscite will serve as a preparatory exercise for the 2022 national and local elections in the likely event that the current pandemic conditions go beyond the second Monday of May 2022.
Health and safety protocols have been prescribed in the Comelec Resolution No. 10687 during the different stages of the plebiscite, starting from the information campaign, preparation of the voting precincts, voting on plebiscite day, counting of the votes, and canvassing and consolidation of vote results by the municipal plebiscite board of canvassers and the provincial plebiscite board of canvassers.
For instance, a medical personnel is to be assigned in each voting center to conduct temperature checks on voters at the entrance to the voting center. Voters registering less than 37.5 degrees Celsius will be given a clearance by the medical personnel to proceed to his voting precinct. A voter registering a temperature greater than 37.5 degrees Celsius after two readings will be escorted to the isolation polling place where he can cast his vote.
The wearing of face mask and face shield, hand sanitization, observance of physical distancing, completion of Covid-19 self-declaration form, use of foot baths, frequent disinfection of venues of plebiscite-related activities, and observance of respiratory etiquette are among the practices prescribed under the Comelec resolution.
The electoral exercises held in other countries certainly provided lessons on how to conduct the exercise amid pandemic conditions.
The Palawan plebiscite will certainly provide a view of how the 2022 national and local elections will be conducted. It also provides an opportunity to look back on the conduct of manual elections. It is important to draw lessons from the coming exercise.
Senate okays measure dividing Maguindanao into 2 provinces
The Senate on Tuesday passed on third and final reading the bill which seeks to create the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur in Mindanao.
House Bill 6413, sponsored by the chairman of the Committee on Local Government Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino, seeks to divide the present Maguindanao province to pave the way for the creation of two provinces.
Tolentino said the measure seeks to accelerate the political, social and economic development of the new provinces and ensure that government services are more accessible and more responsive to the needs of their respective constituents. On a broader perspective, the creation of more public offices as a consequence of the division will further expand the democratic space for qualified and dedicated public servants to participate in the governance of the provinces.
Once enacted into law, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the following towns: Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura.
Maguindanao del Sur will consist of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, South Upi, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan and Talitay.
Under the bill, the capital towns and seats of government of the two new provinces will be Datu Odin Sinsuat for Maguindanao del Norte and Buluan for Maguindanao del Sur.
Tolentino noted that Maguindanao has a population of 1,173,933 based on the 2015 official population count of the Philippine Statistics Authority and an estimated average annual regular income is P714.56 million as certified by the Bureau of Local Government Finance. Moreover, Tolentino pointed out that the two new provinces, likewise, comply with the minimum land area requirement of 2,000 kilometers (200,000 hectares) as certified by the Land Management Bureau.
According to Tolentino, Maguindanao is blessed with rich and abundant natural resources. Despite the existence of this vast potential, political and economic barriers persist. The size of the province remains to be a challenge for the provincial government to provide basic services like public health care, education, and transportation to the most remote villages.
In his co-sponsorship speech, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said the legislative measure is “an embodiment of the aspiration of our brothers and sisters in Maguindanao to create a new province.”
For his part, Sen. Joel Villanueva said that through this legislation he is co-sponsoring, he is one with the leaders of Maguindanao in accelerating their economic progress while ensuring lasting peace and stability for their fast-growing population, which is projected to reach 1.4 million in 2023.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri—who moved for an omnibus amendment for Northern Maguindanao and Southern Maguindanao be renamed to Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, respectively—and Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian are also co-sponsors of the bill.
The House of Representatives passed on third reading said measure on June 1, 2020.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/10/senate-okays-measure-dividing-maguindanao-into-2-provinces/
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Senate passes bills creating new Caloocan, Bulacan legislative districts
The Senate on Tuesday passed on third and final reading bills creating new legislative districts in Caloocan City and Bulacan.
The chamber passed House Bill No. 7700, which seeks to divide the first district of Caloocan City into three legislative districts.
Under the bill, the first legislative district will be composed of Barangays 1 to 4, Barangays 77 to 86 and Barangays 132 to 177.
Meanwhile, Barangays 170 to 175 and 177 to 179 will be the city’s third legislative district and 176 and 180 to 188 will be the fourth legislative district.
The Senate also approved House Bill No. 6867, which reapportions the province of Bulacan into six legislative districts.
Under the measure, each legislative district of Bulacan will be composed of the following:
First legislative district:
• Calumpit
• Hagonoy
• Paombong
• Pulilan
• Bulakan
Second legislative district:
• Balagtas
• Baliuag
• Bocaue
• Bustos
• Guiguinto
• Plaridel
• Pandi
Third legislative district:
• Angat
• Doña Remedios Trinidad
• San Ildefonso
• San Miguel
• San Rafael
Four legislative districts:
• City of Meycauayan
• Marilao
• Obando
Fifth legislative district
• Norzagaray
• Santa Maria
Senator Francis Tolentino, who sponsored the bills as chairman of the Senate local government committee, welcomed the measures’ approval.
“I share the joy of the people of Caloocan. They will finally have a stronger and firmer voice in Congress with their additional representation,” he said.
“This will likewise ensure highly-empowered local governance that is more capable of meeting the various needs of Caloocan City given that it is the fourth most populous city in the country and the third in the National Capital Region,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva, who hails from Bulacan, said the measure splitting the province into six legislative districts would help balance the needs of urban and rural residents “so that every Bulakenyo can come together to work, learn, play, and relate with one another with dignity and respect.”
The province’s reapportionment will aid in the equitable growth and better representation of the 3.3 million Filipinos residing in the 21 municipalities, three cities, and 569 barangays in the province.
“Through the reapportionment of Bulacan, I am certain that the portal going in and out of our beloved province will be wider for the seeds and fruits of progress,” Villanueva added.
Senate OKs bill creating two Maguindanao provinces
The Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill creating the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
With 22 affirmative votes, no negative votes or abstentions, senators passed House Bill No. 6413, which seeks to divide the present Maguindanao province to pave the way for the creation of two provinces.
Senator Francis Tolentino, who sponsored the bill as chairperson of the Senate local government committee, said the measure aims to accelerate the political, social, and economic development of the new provinces and ensure that government services are more accessible and more responsive to the needs of their respective constituents.
He said the creation of more public offices as a consequence of the division will further expand the democratic space for qualified and dedicated public servants to participate in the governance of the provinces.
Once enacted into law, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the following towns: Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura and Upi.
Maguindanao del Sur, meanwhile, will consist of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, South Upi, Sultan sa Barongis, Talitay and Talayan.
Under the bill, the capital towns and seats of government of the two new provinces will be Datu Odin Sinsuat for Maguindanao del Norte and Buluan for Maguindanao del Sur.
Maguindanao has a population of 1,173,933 based on the 2015 official population count of the Philippine Statistics Authority and an estimated average annual regular income is P714.56 million as certified by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Tolentino noted.
Furthermore, he said the two new provinces comply with the minimum land area requirement of 2,000 square kilometers or 200,000 hectares as certified by the Land Management Bureau.
In his co-sponsorship speech, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said the bill is “an embodiment of the aspiration of our brothers and sisters in Maguindanao to create a new province.”
Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva, another co-sponsor of the bill, expressed solidarity with Maguindanao leaders in accelerating their economic progress while ensuring lasting peace and stability for their fast growing population, which is projected to reach 1.4 million in 2023.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian are also co-sponsors of the measure.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1404975/senate-oks-bill-creating-two-maguindanao-provinces
Senate OKs bill creating two Maguindanao provinces
The Senate on Tuesday passed on the third and final reading the bill, which will create the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
House Bill No. 6413, sponsored by Senator Francis Tolentino, chair of the Committee on Local Government, seeks to divide the present Maguindanao province to pave the way for the creation of two provinces.
Tolentino said the measure seeks to accelerate the political, social, and economic development of the new provinces and ensure that government services are more accessible and more responsive to the needs of their respective constituents. From a broader perspective, the creation of more public offices as a consequence of the division will further expand the democratic space for qualified and dedicated public servants to participate in the governance of the provinces.
Once enacted into law, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the following towns: Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura.
Maguindanao del Sur will consist of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, Talitay and South Upi.
Under the bill, the capital towns and seats of government of the two new provinces will be Datu Odin Sinsuat for Maguindanao del Norte and Buluan for Maguindanao del Sur.
Tolentino noted that Maguindanao has a population of 1,173,933 based on the 2015 official population count of the Philippine Statistics Authority and an estimated average annual regular income of PHP714.56 million as certified by the Bureau of Local Government Finance.
He also said the two proposed provinces likewise comply with the minimum land area requirement of 2,000 km2 (200,000 hectares) as certified by the Land Management Bureau.
Tolentino said Maguindanao is blessed with rich and abundant natural resources. Despite the existence of this vast potential, political and economic barriers persist. The size of the province remains to be a challenge for the provincial government to provide basic services like public health care, education, and transportation to the most remote villages.
In his co-sponsorship speech, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. said the legislative measure is "an embodiment of the aspiration of our brothers and sisters in Maguindanao to create a new province".
For his part, Senator Joel Villanueva, also a co-sponsor, said he is one with the leaders of Maguindanao in accelerating their economic progress while ensuring lasting peace and stability for their fast-growing population, which is projected to reach 1.4 million in 2023.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri -- who moved for an omnibus amendment for Northern Maguindanao and Southern Maguindanao be renamed to Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, respectively, -- and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian are also co-sponsors of the bill.
The House of Representatives passed on third reading the said measure on June 1, 2020.
Senate approves on final reading proposal to divide Maguindanao
The Senate on Tuesday passed on third and final reading the bill which seeking the creation of the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur in Mindanao.
House Bill (HB) 6413, sponsored by the chairman of the Committee on Local Government Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino, seeks to divide the present Maguindanao province to pave the way for the creation of two provinces.
Tolentino said the measure seeks to accelerate the political, social, and economic development of the new provinces and ensure that government services are more accessible and more responsive to the needs of their respective constituents.
On a broader perspective, the creation of more public offices as a consequence of the division will further expand the democratic space for qualified and dedicated public servants to participate in the governance of the provinces, he explained.
Once enacted into law, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the following towns: Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura. Maguindanao del Sur will consist of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, Talitay and South Upi.
Under the bill, the capital towns and seats of government of the two new provinces will be Datu Odin Sinsuat for Maguindanao del Norte and Buluan for Maguindanao del Sur.
Tolentino noted that Maguindanao has a population of 1,173,933 based on the 2015 official population count of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and an estimated average annual regular income is P714.56 million as certified by the Bureau of Local Government Finance.
Moreover, Tolentino pointed out that the two new provinces likewise comply with the minimum land area requirement of 2,000 km2 (200,000 hectares) as certified by the Land Management Bureau.
According to Tolentino, Maguindanao is blessed with rich and abundant natural resources.
Despite the existence of this vast potential, political and economic barriers persist.
The size of the province remains to be a challenge for the provincial government to provide basic services like public health care, education, and transportation to the most remote villages.
In his co-sponsorship speech, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. said the legislative measure is “an embodiment of the aspiration of our brothers and sisters in Maguindanao to create a new province.”
For his part, Senator Joel Villanueva said that through this legislation he is co-sponsoring, he is one with the leaders of Maguindanao in accelerating their economic progress while ensuring lasting peace and stability for their fast growing population, which is projected to reach 1.4 million in 2023. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri — who moved for an omnibus amendment for Northern Maguindanao and Southern Maguindanao be renamed to Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur respectively, — and Sen. Win Gatchalian are also co-sponsors of the bill.
The House of Representatives passed on third reading said measure on June 1, 2020.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/03/09/senate-approves-on-final-reading-proposal-to-divide-maguindanao/
Senate passes bill creating the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur
The Senate on Tuesday passed on third and final reading the bill which will create the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur in Mindanao.
House Bill No. 6413, sponsored by the chairman of the Committee on Local Government Sen. Francis "Tol" Tolentino, seeks to divide the present Maguindanao province to pave the way for the creation of two provinces.
Tolentino said the measure seeks to accelerate the political, social, and economic development of the new provinces and ensure that government services are more accessible and more responsive to the needs of their respective constituents. On a broader perspective, the creation of more public offices as a consequence of the division will further expand the democratic space for qualified and dedicated public servants to participate in the governance of the provinces.
Once enacted into law, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the following towns: Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura.
Maguindanao del Sur will consist of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, Talitay and South Upi.
Under the bill, the capital towns and seats of government of the two new provinces will be Datu Odin Sinsuat for Maguindanao del Norte and Buluan for Maguindanao del Sur.
Tolentino noted that Maguindanao has a population of 1,173,933 based on the 2015 official population count of the Philippine Statistics Authority and an estimated average annual regular income is P714.56 million as certified by the Bureau of Local Government Finance. Moreover, Tolentino pointed out that the two new provinces likewise comply with the minimum land area requirement of 2,000 km2 (200,000 hectares) as certified by the Land Management Bureau.
According to Tolentino, Maguindanao is blessed with rich and abundant natural resources. Despite the existence of this vast potential, political and economic barriers persist. The size of the province remains to be a challenge for the provincial government to provide basic services like public health care, education, and transportation to the most remote villages.
In his co-sponsorship speech, Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. said the legislative measure is "an embodiment of the aspiration of our brothers and sisters in Maguindanao to create a new province."
For his part, Sen. Joel Villanueva said that through this legislation he is co-sponsoring, he is one with the leaders of Maguindanao in accelerating their economic progress while ensuring lasting peace and stability for their fast growing population, which is projected to reach 1.4 million in 2023.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri -- who moved for an omnibus amendment for Northern Maguindanao and Southern Maguindanao be renamed to Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur respectively, -- and Sen. Win Gatchalian are also co-sponsors of the bill.
The House of Representatives passed on third reading said measure on June 1, 2020.
http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2021/0309_prib1.asp
Lawmaker seeks separation of Cotabato City from Maguindanao’s 1st district
Maguindanao Rep. Datu Roonie Sinsuat Sr. has filed a measure seeking to separate Cotabato City from the first legislative district of Maguindanao.
Sinsuat said Cotabato City is formerly a part and the regional center of Region XII but due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2018, it is now part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Being an independent component city, it is not administratively subject to regulation from the provincial government of Maguindanao where it is geographically located,” said Sinsuat in House Bill 8875.
Cotabato City is regarded as the “heart of Central Mindanao”.
Under the measure, Sinsuat will continue to represent Cotabato City until the new representative has been elected.
Only 17 session days left for Congress to act on Bangsamoro transition extension
The two houses of Congress have only 17 session days from March 9 until its adjournment sine die on June 3 to act on seven bills proposing to extend the transition period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from its supposed end on June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2025.
Seven bills have been filed in Congress – five in the House and two in the Senate – seeking to extend the transition period for another three years by resetting the date of the first election of the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament to May 12, 2025 instead of May 9, 2022.
The House has held two joint committee hearings while the Senate initially set the date of its first hearing on February 24, reset it to March 3 and reset it again to March 10.
The Senate Committee hearings were postponed twice but Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri met Moro leaders twice in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Davao on February 20 and 27. Another meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, March 9 in Metro Manila, a meeting that is expected to decide the fate of the transition bills in Congress.
Between March 9 until Congress takes a break on March 27 are eight session days. Congress will resume sessions on May 17 and will have nine session days until it adjourns sine die on June 3.
“Too short”
The 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the body tasked to govern the Bangsamoro region during the three year transition period from 2019 to 2022, passed Resolution 93 on November 17 last year, urging the House of Representatives and the Senate to extend the transition period to June 30, 2025 to give the BTA “sufficient time to continue in performing its powers and functions and fulfill its mandate.”
On November 23, President Rodrigo Duterte and six of his Cabinet members met with the BARMM’s interim Chief Minister, Ahod Balawag Ebrahim and his delegation in Davao City, to discuss support for the proposed extension.
On November 26, at the House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity hearing on the status of the implementation of the Bangsamoro law, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez said President Duterte believes a three-year transition is “too short” and is asking Congress to extend the transition period until 2024 or 2025, to enable the BTA to “fulfill its mandate in a most reasonable time.”
RA 11054 or the Organic Law for the BARMM lists down the deliverables not only of the Bangsamoro transition government but also of the national government, both in the political and normalization tracks.
Between December 1 and 17, five representatives filed bills to fix the first regular election in the Bangsamoro to May 2025 instead of May 2022: Antique Rep. Loren Legarda filed House Bill 8116; Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, HB 8117; Leyte Rep. and Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, HB 8161; Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, HB 8277and Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, whose HB 8224 seeks to synchronize the first Bangsamoro election with the other elections in May 2028.
In the Senate, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III filed Senate Bill 2019 on January 25 while Senator Richard Gordon filed SB 2025 on January 27, both seeking to reset the date of the first Bangsamoro election to 2025.
CDO and Davao City meetings
The February 20 Cagayan de Oro meeting at the Xavier Estates Sports and Country Club was, according to an attendee, on the request of governors of the five-province, three-city BARMM but only Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, who is opposing extension and whose province voted against inclusion in the BARMM in 2019, and Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr., who is supporting extension, were present. Also present was Basilan Rep. and Deputy Majority Leader Mujiv Hataman who filed a resolution on January 26 seeking an inquiry, in aid of legislation “on the Bangsamoro transition and its listed accomplishments, ongoing programs, as well as existing challenges,” among others.
Hataman was governor of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao from December 2011 to February 26, 2019.
In the Davao City meeting, Zubiri and Cabinet secretaries – Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado – met with BARMM Governors as well as the BARMM leadership under interim Chief Minister Ebrahim, and Hataman. The governors present were Tan, Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Mangudadatu and Governor Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato, whose 63 villages are now part of the BARMM.
The Provincial Board of Maguindanao passed a resolution as early as October 2019 to push for an extension of the transition period until 2025. Also present in the Cagayan de Oro and Davao meetings were Mangudadatu’s husband, Suharto, governor of neighboring Sultan Kudarat province which is not part of the BARMM.
In both Cagayan and Davao meetings, photographs were posted on social media but details about what transpired during the meetings were not made public.
Hataman posted a photograph of the attendees in Davao City, flashing the peace sign which he captioned with “Bangsamoro higit sa sarili” (Bangsamoro more than self or Bangsamoro first).
Asked what their consensus was during the February 27 meeting, Hataman told MindaNews, “meeting pa ulit, May mga konting ayusin pa” (We will meet again. Some things need to be threshed out).
Hataman said an agreement could be reached soon.
That “agreement” is expected to be reached by March 9 during the “Political Leaders Meeting” convened by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process in Metro Manila. Those who attended the Davao meeting had agreed that the follow-up meeting be held “prior to the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Local Government” on SB 2019 and 2025. The Senate Committee will hold its first hearing on March 10.
Resolutions
As of March 9, only Sulu out of the five-province, three-city region, has no resolution from either the Provincial Board (Sangguniang Panlalawigan) or the League of Municipalities (LMP) Sulu chapter, supporting the extension.
The Provincial Boards of Maguindanao, Tawi-tawi and Basilan and the LMP chapters in Lanao del Sur and Tawi-tawi have passed resolutions in support of extension.
Insider Mediators, a network of Bangsamoro stakeholders on March 5 called on Congress to “fast track the amendment of Republic Act No. 11054 that would extend the transition period until 2025” while an online petition urging President Duterte to certify as urgent the transition bills has generated nearly a million signatories – 969,487 as of 10 a.m on March 9.
Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, issued a statement of support in January, as did the Christians for Peace Movement led by the Christian church leaders in Cotabato City.
Appointees
At present, the 80 members of the BTA comprising 41 nominated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and 39 nominated by the national government, are all appointed by President Duterte.
The BTA is supposed to end on June 30, 2022, when the first elected officials of the regional government shall have taken their oath of office, as mandated by RA 11054, the enabling act of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the peace agreement signed by the Philippine government and the MILF on March 27, 2014, after 17 years of negotiations.
The BARMM is the third autonomous region set-up in the predominantly Moro areas in the past four decades but it is the first, as agreed upon by the two parties, to adopt a parliamentary system within a highly-centralized Presidential system of government.
A Bangsamoro Electoral Code is supposed to govern the elections in the region. The Code has not been passed.
The Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT), an independent body set up by the Philippine government and the MILF to monitor the implementation of the CAB told a virtual press conference on December 14 that the peace process is “fundamentally on track” with the establishment of the BARMM as a “very big achievement” but noted that some elements “will require more time to complete.”
Speaking from Brussels, TPMT chair Heino Marius, said it is beyond the mandate of the TPMT to recommend an extension of the three-year transition period as that matter has to be decided upon by both parties, but asked if “more time” means “beyond June 30, 2022,” he replied “yes.”
He said the remaining challenges mentioned in their report “tend to show that the time allocated to the transition period is very tight and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has considerably complicated the picture” and as a consequence, “it has become clear that many elements which form part of the peace process,” particularly the normalization track, “will in all likelihood require time beyond May 2022.” (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)
Comelec sees low turnout in Palawan’s three-way split plebiscite
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting a low turnout during the plebiscite set this Saturday to determine whether Palawan will be split into three provinces, but this will not affect the result.
The voter turnout is not necessary for the validity of the results of the plebiscite, pointing out that only a majority vote will determine whether Palawan will become three provinces, said lawyer Gloria Ramos Petallo, the regional election officer for Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).
“Historically, the voter turnout is not that high for plebiscite. Our records show that the highest numbers of voters (turnout) during [a] plebiscite is only at 47 percent. If ever the voter turnout is low, the plebiscite result is still valid,” Petallo explained at a virtual press briefing on Monday.
The Palawan plebiscite will ratify Republic Act No. 11259 dividing Palawan into Palawan Del Norte, Palawan Del Sur and Palawan Oriental.
The voters will only be ask to cast a yes vote if they are in favor of the split and no if they are against it.
The plebiscite is set to start at 7 a.m. of March 13 and will end at 3 p.m., involving over 3,000 voting precincts across the province.
The provincial board of canvassers will convene at 6 p.m. on the same day to count the ballots.
Comelec data showed that as of October 2019, Palawan has 490,639 registered voters, with 2,959 clustered precincts and 487 voting centers. The same number of precincts and voting centers will be used for the plebiscite.
Palawan has 23 towns and one independent city, Puerto Princesa.
Mother province
Even if RA 11259 is ratified, Puerto Princesa City remains a highly urbanized city independent from Palawan province, based on Proclamation No. 1264 signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 26, 2007, and ratified in a plebiscite on July 21, 2007.
Puerto Princesa will cease to become the provincial capital and will become independent from any of the three provinces.
Under the law, Palawan Del Sur will become the mother province composed of the southern towns of Aborlan, Balabac, Bataraza, Sofronio Española, Kalayaan, Narra, Quezon and Rizal, with Brooke’s Point as its capital.
Palawan Del Norte will include the towns of Busuanga, Coron, Culion, El Nido and Linapacan, with Taytay as its capital.
Palawan Oriental will be composed of the towns of Agutaya, Araceli, Cagayancillo, Cuyo, Dumaran, Magsaysay and San Vicente, with Roxas as its capital.
—ROMAR MIRANDA INQ
22 Palawan towns get Comelec plebiscite materials
A TOTAL of 22 municipalities have already received their election paraphernalia for the upcoming plebiscite in Palawan.
In an online press briefing Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it started deploying paraphernalia ahead of the scheduled plebiscite on March 13, 2021.
Mimaropa Regional Election Director (RED) Atty. Gloria Ramos-Petallo said they wanted to ensure the materials will arrive on time in designated polling places.
Among the reasons cited by the concerned municipalities which applied for the early delivery are the considerable distance between the Office of the Municipal Treasurer and the location of the polling place, and the lack of or difficulty of means of transportation in the area.
Petallo explained the early delivery is allowed under Comelec Resolution No. 10687.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Operations and Management Unit chief June R. Rian said they started the delivery last week and as of Monday, they delivered election paraphernalia to 22 of the 23 municipalities in Palawan.
He said they will be delivering the paraphernalia to the last municipality in Palawan on Tuesday.
Over 490,000 people from Palawan, except those from Puerto Princesa City, are expected to participate in the plebiscite.
Petallo noted that, while they hope all of the eligible voters will participate in the plebiscite, historically, such exercises have a low turnout.
“Records show that the highest turnout during plebiscites is only at 47 percent,” she said.
The plebiscite aims to determine if Republic Act (RA) 11259 or the Act Dividing the Province of Palawan into three provinces will be ratified or not.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/09/22-palawan-towns-get-comelec-plebiscite-materials/