27 Feb 2010 |
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By Samira Gutoc , YMPN (27-Feb-2010) The 3rd Mindanao Young Leaders Parliament (MYLP) will convene on MArch 5-7 at Grand Regal, Davao City .I was invited to host a Mindanao Presidentiables' Forum on March 16 in Davao City as well. There's also an invitation from Anak Mindanao to attend the Bangsamoro Commemoration of Jabidah Massacre in Corregidor where a marker is placed at the airfield to remember the soldiers who died in 1968 just before the declaration of martial law. Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Founding Chairman Nur MISUARI and lone 1968 survivor JIbin ARULA are invited guests. I received a Petition from a Palawan NGO leader on “Stop Mining Pawalan Forests.” It states, “Palawan is part of the Man and Biosphere Reserve program of UNESCO and hosts 49 animals and 56 botanical species found in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. MacroAsia mining corporation and Celestial Nickel Mining Exploration Corporation (currently being operated by Ipilan Nickel Corporation) have been given rights over the land of indigenous Palawan communities, some of whom have very little contact with the outside world. These mining concessions are even within the Core and Restricted Zones, which should be protected by the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan. Mining in these areas will devastate the communities and the land they rely on to survive. We are also concerned at the Provincial government's plans for thousands of hectares of biofuel plantations, especially oil palm. These will reduce local biodiversity and the indigenous people's ability to access their natural resources. The Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) is building roads in the Bulanjao range (a biodiversity hotspot), which are causing environmental damage such as landslides, soil erosion and deforestation of watersheds. This is threatening the health and livelihood of both Palawan indigenous communities and lowland farmers.” The documentary: PALAWAN: VOICES FROM THE "LOST FRONTIER" is now available online, here is the link: http://www.vimeo.com/9714011 . I had resumed my viewing of American Idol. They're a cute mix, an eclectic, multi-cultural batch. I am placing one of my bets on the 17-year old belter. For those who haven't yet done so, may I ask you to sign the online petition for Palawan: http://www.petitiononline.com/PA2010/petition.html An international delegation of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) will be in Manila on March 8 to conduct a pre-election assessment. NDI would be meeting with leaders who are articulate on the political and electoral environment of Mindanao, particularly in the ARMM. Senatoriable ADEL Tamano's face is prominently plastered along EDSA in BELO-supported advertisements. While Teofisto Guingona JR (TG) is prominently the lone Mindanawan up the surveys for senatoriables.
February 25 – In one of the most election violent-prone areas, one gubernatorial candidate, two of the six candidates for Congressmen in the first district in Lanao del Sur and only one of the four candidates for the second district attended the signing of covenant of Peace that was held in the Mindanao State University. The Covenant of Peace conducted by the Joint security control center of Lanao del Sur was made to ensure an honest, orderly and peaceful elections. DAVAO CITY - The power situation in Mindanao has reached “red alert” status as the generation deficit posted its biggest single day rise to 358 megawatts. The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the power deficiency is expected to worsen in the coming days as the El Niño phenomenon continues to wreak havoc across the country, destroying crops and drying up water sources for hydroelectric plants, particularly Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur and Pulangi River in Bukidnon. Mindanao's generation deficiency of 358 MW represented a sharp spike from the previous 183 MW. Mindanao is highly dependent on hydroelectric plants for its power needs. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) acting Gov. Ansaruddin Adiong appointed a Maguindanaon businessman as acting provincial governor of Maguindanao, replacing acting Vice Gov. Narimon Ambolodto who was earlier designated as acting provincial governor. Gani Biruar, husband of Bai Anisa Alonto-Biruar, ARMM regional secretary for social welfare and development, started functioning as acting head of Maguindanao province after he took his oath of office before Regional Trial Court 15 Judge Ismael Bansawan. The Al-Amanah Islamic Bank launches its Makati Branch with a simple get-together on March 24 at Orient Mansions, Salcedo Village. DILG-ARMM Secretary Rashid Lucman expressed the need to support ARMM in promoting good governance stories which are abundant in the negatively-portrayed region
Congratulations to the INSPIRED YOUNG OPTIMISTS GUILD (IYOG) , Jalil and future SAG Youth Volunteers of Mindanao State University (MSU) for successfully organizing a Reading Campaign on Climate Change in Mindanao State University and Jessie for the campus leg in Davao City. Advance Happy Women's Month this March to all grandmothers, mothers, daughters and all the hard-working single ladies out there! I welcome feedback. Do email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you to the emails from Laguna, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. |
