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Stocks drop further as market waits for catalysts

BW FILE PHOTO

PHILIPPINE SHARES dropped further on Tuesday due to a lack of positive catalysts and the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went down by 48.72 points or 0.8% to close at 6,039.72 on Tuesday, while the broader all shares index shed 18.37 points or 0.55% to end at 3,284.69.

“The local bourse dropped… as many investors are staying on the sidelines while waiting for a positive catalyst. So far, concerns regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, high interest rates, and elevated inflation continue to exert downward pressure on sentiment,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Analyst Claire T. Alviar said in a Viber message.

“The local market posted another steep downtick despite the reprieve in the US bond sell-off, which we think underscores investors’ heightened risk-off appetite,” China Bank Securities Corp. Research Associate Lance U. Soledad said in a Viber message.

Israel’s military intensified its assault on Hamas militants in Gaza, as the United States and other global powers called for aid to continue flowing into the besieged strip to prevent an already grave humanitarian crisis from worsening, Reuters reported.

Israel’s military said it had hit more than 400 militant targets in Gaza overnight and killed dozens of Hamas fighters, including three deputy battalion commanders.

Meanwhile, the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note briefly rose above 5% on Monday before quickly declining. In Asian hours, the yield was up 1 basis point to 4.848% on Tuesday.

The runup in yields on the 10-year Treasury note, seen as a safe haven in times of economic uncertainty and a benchmark for borrowing costs around the world, has been driven by investors pricing in stronger US growth as well as the need for more bonds to be issued to fund higher government spending.

Philippine shares were “dragged by mounting concerns about the state of the broader economy,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

“On the economic front, traders await latest data about the services and manufacturing sectors,” Mr. Limlingan added.

All sectoral indices dropped on Tuesday. Services fell by 19.81 points or 1.32% to 1,477.22; property shed 22.10 points or 0.85% to 2,572.41; holding firms declined by 46.37 points or 0.79% to 5,782.40; mining and oil went down by 77.64 points or 0.77% to 9,950.73; financials dropped by 6.43 points or 0.37% to 1,712.20; and industrials decreased by 25.88 points or 0.29% to 8,638.32.

Value turnover went down to P2.57 billion on Tuesday with 275.90 million shares changing hands from the P3.30 billion with 551.51 million issues seen on Monday.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 100 versus 72, while 57 shares closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling went down to P633.34 million on Tuesday from P777.62 million on Monday. — SJT with Reuters

Philippines holds more patrols after Oct. 22 collisions with Chinese ships

AN AERIAL VIEW of the BRP Sierra Madre at the contested Second Thomas Shoal on March 9, 2023. — REUTERS

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporters

THE PHILIPPINES is conducting more patrols and freedom of navigation missions in the South China Sea after collisions with Chinese ships at Second Thomas Shoal, an official said on Tuesday.

The increased sea patrols in a “limited capacity” come after authorities monitored a number of Chinese maritime militia vessels near the shoal, as well as at Scarborough Shoal and Escoda Shoal, said Jonathan M. Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Council.

“We are alarmed by the environmental degradation our coast guard ships were able to monitor in these areas,” he told the ABS-CBN news Channel.

The Philippines on Monday filed a diplomatic protest against China and summoned its envoy in Manila after Chinese ships on Sunday collided with Philippine vessels trying to deliver food and other supplies to Filipino troops at Second Thomas Shoal.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. met with security agencies to “discuss the latest violation by China in the West Philippine Sea,” the presidential palace said in a statement, referring to areas of the South China Sea within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The incident was “being taken seriously at the highest level of government,” it said, adding that the Chinese Coast Guard’s “dangerous, illegal and reckless maneuvers” had damaged a Philippine vessel.

Mr. Malaya asked China to “act responsibly” and respect and adhere to international law.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Monday said it had lodged stern representations to the Philippines over the “trespassing” of the Philippine vessels at Second Thomas Shoal.

It repeated China’s call for the Philippines to stop “causing trouble and provocation” at sea and end “groundless attacks and smearing” against China.

Meanwhile, political analysts said the Marcos government should bring China’s unlawful moves to international fora.

The government should also start creating strategic buffers including gradually diversifying trade away from Beijing, with expectations of worsening ties between them, they said.

“After filing a diplomatic protest against China, the next thing to do is to bring this issue to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum,” Gary Ador Dionisio, dean of the De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“The Philippine government should barrage the international community with China’s intentional violations of the 2016 arbitration ruling,” he said, referring to the United Nations-backed tribunal’s decision to void China’s claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea.

Raymond Powell, the South China Sea lead of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said the Philippines must sustain the gains from its transparency campaign “so that China starts to look for an off-ramp.”

“China needs to be convinced that this level of aggression is not in its national interest,” he said in an X message.

He noted that China has leverage as well, “not least of which is the dilapidated condition of the BRP Sierra Madre.”

ECONOMIC TIES
“China may believe that it simply needs to endure the reputational cost of the blockade until the outpost begins to break apart,” he said, referring to the World War II-era ship that the Philippines ran aground at Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert its sovereignty claim.

“The Philippines and its American ally will need to have contingency plans for how to handle that inevitable event.”

Tensions between the Philippines and China have worsened after the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons to block Manila’s attempt to deliver food and other supplies to BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal on Aug. 5.

Mr. Marcos last week vowed to upgrade coast guard vessels and other equipment amid rising tensions with China.

He said the coast guard would soon have 40 40-foot vessels that would help boost the country’s maritime capability.

The Philippines should have a contingency plan “to include scenarios and measures to undertake should violence erupt,” Jaime B. Naval, a University of the Philippines political science professor, said via Messenger chat.

“Not only must our government and the people see and understand the trajectory of the Chinese actions. We should prepare for their implications so we can respond appropriately,” he added.

The Philippines should start forging economic arrangements with its allies to cut import dependence on China, Don Mclain Gill, who teaches foreign relations at De La Salle University, said via Messenger chat.

“It is important for Manila to continue deepening and broadening its security and economic ties with other like-minded stakeholders in the region to complement its interests.”

Chester B. Cabalza, founder of Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation, said the Philippines should encourage claimant-countries in the South China Sea to push a code of conduct in the waterway.

Meanwhile, Japan expressed concern over the Oct. 22 collisions, reiterating its support for the 2016 arbitral ruling against China.

“Japan highly appreciates the government of the Philippines for having consistently complied with the arbitral tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China regarding the South China Sea and shown its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea,” the Embassy of Japan in Manila said in a statement.

“Japan has consistently advocated upholding the rule of law at sea and reemphasizes the importance of efforts toward a peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law,” it said. “Japan will continue working with ASEAN member-states and other global partners to ensure “free, open and peaceful seas.”

Political analysts earlier said the Philippines should tap Japan’s growing desire to help improve the security of its neighbors, noting that Tokyo’s Foreign Affairs Ministry had allotted significant resources to improve the defense capabilities of friendly neighbors.

Japan is the Philippines’ top infrastructural donor and supporter.

The Philippines got P109 billion in official development assistance from Japan from April 2021 to March 2022, the biggest among Southeast Asian beneficiaries, the Japan International Cooperation Agency said in January.

Lawmaker sues former President Duterte for grave threats

PCOO

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter

A PHILIPPINE lawmaker on Tuesday filed a criminal complaint against former President Rodrigo R. Duterte after he allegedly threatened to kill her during a TV interview this month.

The ex-President “called my name multiple times and made grave threats to kill me and made me immensely fearful for my life, safety and security,” Party-list Rep. France L. Castro said in an eight-page complaint before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Mr. Duterte, whom she called a “self-confessed murderer,” must be held accountable now that he no longer enjoys immunity from lawsuits as a private citizen, she said.

Ms. Castro was among the lawmakers who had criticized Mr. Duterte’s daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, for seeking confidential funds in the 2024 budget. The House of Representatives has since stripped her of P650 million of the funds.

Ms. Castro was accompanied by volunteer-lawyers from the Movement Against Disinformation and former and current lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc.

Harry L. Roque, Mr. Duterte’s spokesman, did not immediately reply to Viber and Facebook messages seeking comment. 

In an SMNI interview on Oct. 11, Mr. Duterte said he had told his daughter to say that she would use her proposed intelligence funds to kill Maoists in Congress including Ms. Castro.

“Your first target in your intelligence fund is France, the communists, whom you want to kill,” he said in Filipino.

At a separate news briefing, Ms. Castro attributed Mr. Duterte’s threats to her criticism of his daughter’s confidential funds.

Ms. Duterte-Carpio had sought P500 million in confidential funds for her office and another P150 million for the Education department, which she also heads. 

Ms. Castro also questioned Ms. Duterte-Carpio’s confidential funds worth P125 million that she allegedly spent in less than a month last year.

“Former President Rodrigo Duterte [has] lost his immunity from suit,” she said in Filipino. “He must be held accountable for the serious threats he made against my life.”

She accused Mr. Duterte of violating Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, which punishes offenders with up to six months of jail time and a P100,000 fine.

Felonies under the code in relation to section 6 of the Cyber-crime Prevention Act could get a penalty that is one degree higher — a jail term of up to six years with a P100,000 fine, Tony M. La Viña, who teaches law at the University of the Philippines, told the briefing.

“President Duterte has gotten away with so many things when he was president,” said Mr. La Viña, a former dean of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government. “For the first time, we’re holding former President Duterte accountable for his actions in a Philippine court.”

In the complaint, Ms. Castro said Mr. Duterte had made several statements linking her to the armed Maoist movement without evidence.

“Though factually baseless and clearly malicious, I cannot merely dismiss respondent Duterte’s red-tagging and accompanying grave threats as either figurative, joking, or otherwise benign,” she said.

The ex-president also said her secret funds would be used to revive citizen’s army training, which youth groups have opposed due to corruption and human rights violations in the past.

“The fact that Duterte and his ilk have the gall to declare open season against their perceived enemies shows that they are able to hide behind the same climate of impunity that shielded them when Duterte was President,” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said in a statement.

Southeast Asian human rights group Asian Parliamentarians for Human Rights has called out Mr. Duterte, saying his remarks “have no place in a democracy or, indeed, any civilized society.”

Philippine congressmen on Oct. 10 stripped several agencies including the Office of the Vice President and Education department of their confidential funds, transferring P1.23 billion worth of these budgets to security agencies amid worsening tensions with China.

In response, Mr. Duterte described the chamber as the “most rotten institution” in the country.

Power to examine intel funds under reform bill pushed

VICE-PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

CONGRESS should include a provision in the proposed Budget Reform Act allowing it to review confidential and intelligence funds to ensure proper use, according to a political analyst.

“The proposed legislative oversight on the use of confidential funds can be integrated in the more comprehensive Budget Reform bill that seeks to strengthen the congressional power of the purse,” Francisco A. Magno, a political science and development studies professor at De La Salle University, said in an e-mail.

The bill seeks to institutionalize a cash-based budgeting system where all authorized allocations may only be released within each fiscal year.

Opposition congressmen in February filed the proposed Intelligence and Confidential Funds Transparency Act, which seeks to create a joint committee composed of members of the House of Representatives and Senate to audit confidential and intelligence funds.

“The oversight committee shall conduct a semiannual review of the status and implementation of all programs and activities financed by intelligence and confidential funds,” the congressmen said in House Bill 7158.

A 2015 joint circular between the Budget department, state auditors and several government agencies include guidelines on the use of confidential and intelligence funds. Under the rules, agencies must submit a report on how they plan to spend the money.

But the congressmen said the circular lacks safeguards because the “documents are subjected only to the most perfunctory of audits.”

The Budget reform bill is pending at the House committee level and is among the Marcos government’s priority measures eyed for approval by December.

Mr. Magno said the bill would help “strengthen legislative authority to review and approve appropriations based on clearly defined performance information and regular reports on accomplishments.”

Terry L. Ridon, a former congressman and convenor of think tank InfraWatch PH, said audit findings could still be disclosed for accountability.

“Audit findings may be disclosed, without compromising confidential information, such as implementing redactions on specific confidential information,” he said in a Viber message.

“With the joint circular and other congressional oversight initiatives to check confidential and intelligence fund spending, these mechanisms should be sufficient enough to balance the interest of confidentiality and accountability,” he said.

He added that only law enforcement and national security agencies should be entitled to confidential and intelligence funds.

Mr. Magno said agencies with peace and security mandates, as well as local governments facing peace and order challenges, should be entitled to the fund.

Congressmen on Oct. 10 stripped several agencies including the Office of the Vice President (OVP) of their confidential funds, transferring P1.23 billion worth of these funds to security agencies amid worsening tensions with China.

Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio had sought P500 million in confidential funds for her office and another P150 million for the Education department, which she also heads.

Earlier this month, she said anyone who opposes confidential funds opposes peace. “Whoever opposes peace is an enemy of the nation.”

The OVP under Ms. Duterte-Carpio spent P125 million in confidential funds last year, according to the Commission on Audit (CoA).

“It is high time for the government to rectify this unconstitutional mode of allocating intelligence and confidential funds that are free from audit, public scrutiny and official accountability,” the congressmen said in House Bill HB 7158. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Senators pitch trade expansion with EU in Spain

BW FILE PHOTO

FILIPINO senators met their Spanish counterparts on Monday to discuss ways to strengthen trade relations between the Philippines and the European Union (EU), which Spain presides over.

In a statement, Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, who led the delegation of Philippine senators in Spain, said they met with Spanish Senate President Pedro Rollán about developing a free trade agreement between the Philippines and the EU.

“The foundations of our friendship are anchored on our shared history, our shared culture and our shared Catholic faith,” Mr. Zubiri said. “Though we are proud to be our own independent Republic, we are also grateful for our heritage and our Hispanidad.”

The Philippine delegation consisted of Senators Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, Mary Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, Maria Lourdes “Nancy” S. Binay-Angeles, Mark A. Villar, and Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano.

The senators will be in Spain until Wednesday, Mr. Zubiri’s office told reporters in a Viber message.

Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe J. Lhullier and Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Miguel U. Delgado also attended the parliamentary visit in Spain.

During the visit, Mr. Rollán said it was crucial for Spain and the Philippines to continue collaborating on trade as both countries transition out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Zubiri expressed gratitude to the EU for extending the Philippines’ participation in its Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) in July.

GSP+ allows the Philippines to enjoy zero tariffs on 6,274 products or 66% of all EU tariff lines. Some of the top Philippine GSP+ exports to the EU are crude coconut oil, vacuum cleaners, prepared or preserved tuna, hairdressing equipment, and prepared or preserved pineapple.

The agreement requires the Philippines to uphold commitments to 27 international conventions on human rights, labor, good governance, and the environment. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Manila commits to UN program

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE PHILIPPINES and the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday signed an agreement that would set goals and bolster commitments to promote human capital development, decent work, climate action and disaster resilience in the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

In a statement, the DFA said President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and National Economic Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan were also present at the signing of the 2024-2028 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the Philippines (SDCF) at the Malacañan Palace.

“This arrangement provides a good model of co-ownership, transparency and accountability for UN country programs,” Mr. Marcos said during the ceremony. “The SDCF deepens, expands, and elevates the partnership between the Philippines and the UN… It is oriented to support Philippine government policies.”

He said there was a need for the Philippines and the UN to work on crafting a “transformative agenda” that would foster growth and address inequalities.

The DFA said the framework is the first to be inked under the newly reformed UN development system, which started development in 2018. The system would help countries around the world set and achieve similar goals on decent work, climate action, and the preservation of human rights.

The framework underwent consultations with officials from the DFA, NEDA, UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González and other government stakeholders, the Philippine Foreign Affairs department said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

P539M set for climate projects

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD PHOTO

THE PEOPLE’S Survival Fund (PSF) Board, which is led by Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, approved new climate adaptation projects worth P539 million.

In a statement from the Department of Finance (DoF) on Tuesday, the PSF Board said it approved projects that will be implemented in the climate vulnerable areas of Mountain Province, City of Borongan, and Municipalities of Maramag, Cabagan, and Catanauan.

These projects include installation of drainage and early warning systems and the development of the agroforestry industry in Maramag, Bukidnon, which is worth P126.40 million. 

It also includes an irrigation project in Cabagan, Isabela. This involves the construction of three solar powered irrigation systems worth P21.28 million.

The PSF will also fund P2.63 million for a mangrove rehabilitation project in Catanauan, Quezon and P118 million for installing embankment infrastructure and reforestation for enhanced flood control of Lo-om River in Borongan City, Eastern Samar. 

The projects also include a climate field school for farmers in Mountain Province, which is worth P271.15 million.

“I commend the Board and its members for its efforts to expedite the approval of the new projects, allowing us to fully utilize the disbursement of one billion pesos allocated to the PSF,” Mr. Diokno said.

“For our part, the DoF shall continue to address the delays in the current system by improving processing time and providing sufficient resources to assist our proponents,” he added.

Established under Republic Act 10174 in 2012, the PSF is an annual fund that finances climate change adaptation programs and projects in the country.

It is intended for local government units (LGUs) and accredited local/community organizations to implement climate change adaptation projects that will better equip vulnerable communities to deal with the impacts of climate change.

The PSF Board considers several factors when approving projects.

These include the level of climate change risk and vulnerability, community participation, poverty reduction potential, cost-effectiveness, identification of likely co-benefits, responsiveness to gender-specific vulnerabilities, and availability of climate change adaptation action plan.

The PSF has an initial capitalization of P1 billion to aid LGUs and local community organizations in implementing climate change adaptation projects.

According to the DoF, the Board has funded P887.63 million of the P1 billion that has been allocated to 11 projects and six Project Development Grants, leaving only a balance of P110.36 million in the PSF. — Keisha B. Ta-asan

Body overseeing UHC approved

STOCK PHOTO | FREEPIK

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has approved the Department of Health’s proposal to create a body that will monitor how a special fund under the country’s 2019 Universal Health Care (UHC) law is spent.

“There is going to be a special health fund which is actually emphasized in the law and that’s why we created the council to watch the spending of the money,” Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said at a Palace briefing. “The implementation would be standard for all different local government units (LGUs).”

Republic Act No. 11223, the UHC Act, mandates the province-wide or city-wide health system to manage, through a special health fund, all resources intended for health expenditures, including population-based and individual-based health services, health system operating costs, capital investments, and remuneration of additional health workers and incentives for all health workers.

The law sought to expand public access to health services by enrolling all Filipinos in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) National Health Insurance Program.

It aimed to reform local health care systems and financing, with local funds being highly susceptible to reallocation to other expenditures other than healthcare prior to the law’s implementation.

Mr. Herbosa noted that the county’s 30-year-old Local Government Code tasked municipal mayors and governors to manage local health systems, while the 2019 UHC law aims to “integrate health systems” — from the local to the national levels.

He said the President knows that there are diverse implementations of national laws so he wants to create “a national standard.” “That’s where the council would be able to police or monitor how LGUs and local health systems will be spending funds or income from PhilHealth,” he said.

“Income from the other local government units and how the health system can be improved because our health systems are diverse — some are very good, some are very weak — so, depending on what their levels are, that’s how the spending will come,” he added.

Mr. Herbosa said the President also tasked them to compute “how much it would cost to have equitable healthcare.” “So, that’s the other direction that the council will be [going to],” he added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

NLEX ready for traffic surge

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

NLEX Corp. will be deploying additional manpower and implement other contingency measures for the increased traffic volume expected in relation to the upcoming 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on Monday.

“We are extremely happy to announce the early completion of the San Simon pavement raising project and Abacan Bridge safety repair. The availability of all the lanes will help improve the travel experience of every motorist plying the expressway, especially this coming long weekend,” Jose Luigi Bautista, president of NLEX, said.

NLEX, a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), said it will be deploying more than 1,500 traffic, toll and systems personnel amid the expected 10% surge in motorists.

MPTC is the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Poll deferment law stays void

PEXELS-ELEMENT DIGITAL

THE SUPREME Court (SC) has upheld its ruling that voids the law postponing the village and youth council elections from December 2022 to this month, although the actual poll exercise set on Monday is now a legal practicality.

In a statement on Tuesday, the High Court said it denied the Office of the Solicitor General’s (OSG) motion for reconsideration which said the polls’ postponement was supported by legitimate government interests to look over reforms the state could implement in the elections.

“While the power of the Congress to legislate all matters of general concern or common interest is broad and plenary… it is limited by the Constitution, either expressly or impliedly,” it said even as the copy of the ruling has yet to be uploaded to the SC website.

“As it stands now, the elections are a go by Oct. 30 and Dec. 2025 is the next one,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said in a statement commenting on the SC decision.

In October last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed into law setting the village elections, which were originally scheduled for December last year, on the last day of Monday of October 2023 and every three years thereafter.

Last June, the High Court voided the law, saying there was no compelling reason to delay the right to vote provided by the Constitution.

The court also set village and youth elections on every first Monday of December starting in 2025.

“The SC has the last say on the issue of constitutionality of laws and actions of officialdom,” Mr. Garcia said.

Meanwhile, in a resolution released to the media on Tuesday, Comelec said it would bar the proclamation of winning candidates with pending illegal campaigning and premature campaigning cases in this year’s village and youth council elections. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Bill supporting Moro farmers filed

LEVI NICODEMUS-UNSPLASH

COTABATO CITY — Nine members of the Bangsamoro parliament has filed a proposed measure that would “institutionalize and perpetuate” regional government interventions needed to empower the agriculture sector in all six provinces under its jurisdiction.

The Public Information and Communications Team of the 80-seat regional parliament announced on Tuesday that Bill 260, principally authored by Amir S. Mawallil, aims to establish a comprehensive framework for connectivity of constituent-farmers with agencies of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) that ought to provide them sustained support to boost their productivity.

If enacted into law, Bill 260 shall compel the Bangsamoro government, through its Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, to establish facets that can directly connect to farmers in need of essential support and technical services.

“Agriculture is one of the economic strengths of the autonomous region. The bill promises to build a more robust industry that can ultimately help our farmers,” Mr. Mawallil said

Regional planning officials said no less than 60 percent of BARMM’s Moro, non-Moro and indigenous residents rely on propagation of short-term crops, orchard trees and coconut palms as main sources of income.

Farmers in BARMM, covering provinces that were originally under the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that existed for 29 years, have long been ranting about lack of access to provincial and municipal offices of agencies that can help bail them out from poverty and underdevelopment.

The Bill 260 would cut the bureaucratic layers separating ministries of BARMM and the impoverished farmers and fisherfolk in coastal areas in the autonomous region and those in Bangsamoro towns along central Mindanao’s upland 220,000 hectare Liguasan Delta.

Governors Jim H. Salliman of Basilan and Mamintal A. Adiong, Jr., of Lanao del Sur, had separately assured to support the Bill 260 that Mr. Mawallil and co-authors filed at the regional parliament Monday.

Mr. Adiong said he is thankful to Mr. Mawallil and his eight colleagues in the Bangsamoro parliament, Hashemi N. Dilangalen, Hamid U. Malik, Rasol Y. Mitmug Jr., Laisa M. Alamia, Baintan A. Ampatuan, Don Mustapha A. Loong, Suharto M. Ambolodto, and Rasul E. Esmael, for cooperating in drafting Bill 260. — John Felix M. Unson

Elite Scout Rangers deployed to secure polls in Basilan

COTABATO CITY — The elite Scout Rangers have been deployed in Basilan for election security duties and other peace-building projects, a move lauded by various sectors looking forward to Monday’s village and youth council polls.

“Their presence is important to the joint peace and security programs of the Philippine Army, the Basilan Provincial Peace and Order Council, and the local government units in this province,” Brig. Gen. Alvin V Luzon, commander of the Army’s 101st Brigade, told reporters via text message on Tuesday.

He and representatives of various sectors were present during Monday’s arrival honors held at the Lamitan City Port for the 18th Scout Rangers Company (SRC) from Bulacan.

Richard G. Falcatan, in-charge of the communications team of the Basilan governor’s office, said the local Muslim and Christian communities were elated with the deployment in the province of the 18th SRC.

Mr. Falcatan said business blocs in Basilan were elated too, even ready to help push the 18th SRC’s civil-military relations activities after the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan or SK elections.

Lt. Gen. Steve D. Crespillo, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said the Scout Rangers shall also help Mr. Luzon and all units under him carry out WestMinCom’s campaign to reintegrate into mainstream society former Abu Sayyaf members who have returned to the fold of law. — John Felix M. Unson

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