Wednesday, September 26, 2007

NGOs present result of studies in a forum on Mindanao issues

CAGAYAN de Oro Journal (Ryan Rosauro / Sept 26) - Leaders of 10 non-government organizations and representatives of government agencies gather on Friday to discuss major policy issues that are "significantly affecting peace and development endeavors" in communities across Mindanao.

The policy issues were identified in a series of studies undertaken by the 10 NGOs grouped as the Mindanao ICCO Partners. ICCO or the Inter-Church Development Organization is a Dutch international development institution.

According to Mary Luz Feranil, executive director of the Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM) and convenor of the Mindanao ICCO Partners, the identified policy issues fall under the broad areas of land rights, governance, and models and strategies for grassroots economic development.

The studies analyzed the policies that have bearing on each of the broad areas, examined how these were able to enhance and/or hinder efforts towards peace and development in specific communities.

Feranil emphasized that "sustainable community development is the bedrock of lasting peace in Mindanao, and even throughout the country."

That is why the findings of the studies are very helpful in rethinking existing policies with the view of enhancing the environment for community development in Mindanao, she added.

Feranil pointed to the need for harnessing unities among various peace and development stakeholders to push for specific policy reforms and develop broader people's participation in policy processes.

Highly relevant in the ongoing public discussions are the reviews on the implementation of the 10-year old Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and on undertaking agrarian reform in commercial plantations in southern Mindanao, Feranil said.

IPRA has been under intense public scrutiny lately amid intensifying demands from indigenous communities for concrete results of the law's relevance to their development struggle. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), too, has been the subject of continuing debate especially on the question of its fate beyond 2008 with the expiry of its enabling law.

The study on land rights examines the varied issues arising from conflicts over ownership, possession and control of land as experienced by varying socio-cultural groupings of peoples. It was subdivided into the specific experiences of indigenous peoples, Bangsamoro, and settler communities as each have distinct policy environments.

The study on governance delved into the situations of select communities in Davao del Sur, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces. It tried to examine the challenges posed by the distinctive socio-cultural contexts of indigenous peoples, Moro and settler communities in carrying out local political administration.

The study on economic models and strategies looked at grassroots initiatives for development in southern Mindanao and presents the limitations imposed by existing policies that effectively serve as obstacles to the undertaking.

Representatives from government agencies are expected to give their responses and comments on the specific policy papers that will be presented during the forum.

Among those slated to attend are executives from the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process, Mindanao Economic Development Council, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, National Economic and Development Authority, Departments of Agrarian Reform, Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Trade and Industry. Several personalities from the academic community were also invited to attend.

The policy forum will be held on September 28 at the Grand Menseng Hotel, Davao City, and runs from 9am to 1pm.

The Mindanao ICCO Partners include Alterdev Services Foundation Inc., Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao, BALAOD Mindanaw, Kalimudan Foundation Inc., Kasanyangan Foundation Inc., Mindanao Farmers Development Center, Philippine Network of Rural Development Institutes, Tri-People Concern for Peace, Progress and Development, Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation Inc., and Centro Saka Inc.


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Sunday, September 23, 2007

Alipala of anonymous: "Whatever label they put, I don't care!"

(hi ben, comrade na talaga tayo. Oo! Inaamin ko... AKO AY LEFTIST! LEFTIST TALAGA AKO AT ALAM NG MILITAR AT NANG ATING MGA KAPATID NA MUSLIM YAN KASI PAG KUMAKAIN AKO, LEFT ANG GINAGAMIT KONG KAMAY. Alangan namang gamitin ko yung RIGHT HAND KO, di ba medyo...)

Alipala: "Whatever label they put, I don't care!"

Maganda ngang pakinggan leftist kesa envelopmentalist o di kaya bayarang publicist. Whatever label they put, I dont care! They know that i can never be bought, me mga leftist dyan nababayaran naman.

Dapat sana nandun na ako sa hanay ng mga left oriented organizations para at least kahit papaano may protection ako. The point here is that I know my rights and I know what is right or wrong during that fateful July 10 and August 18 incidents and that's the reasons these "so called anti-terrorists organizations" like AFP wanted to silence me. Duwag sila (AFP) because they cannot find any weakness in me other than labeling me as leftist and harassing me using my four year old innocent son.

Kung talagang nagkamali ako sa mga nirereport ko, there's so many halls of justice in the country where they can file a case against me.

Hiding as anonymous then label me with names or tags indicates that I still have balls kahit babae ako. Julie

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NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Subject: NUJP statement on Julie Alipala and Jarius Bondoc
(Statement September 22, 2007)


The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is alarmed over reports that no less than the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has prevented a reporter from covering legitimate news events in Mindanao, particularly in the province of Basilan.

The banning of Julie Alipala, a reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, from covering ongoing military operations in Basilan is a violation of press freedom and the people's right to know as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution.

She has also repeatedly received threats because of her reports on military operations in Basilan and Sulu that exposed lapses and abuses on the part of the AFP.

The NUJP looks at the military's action against a legitimate media practitioner as pure harassment and an indication of the military's penchant for human rights violations.

The NUJP is also deeply concerned for her safety. What makes this even more alarming are reports that another journalist has received death threats for exposing corruption in the government.

Philippine Star's Jarius Bondoc sought assistance after receiving death threats allegedly due to his expos� on the controversial $330-million contract for the government's national broadband network project with China's ZTE Corp.

Bondoc has been receiving text (SMS) messages warning him that he could be shot or his office bombed anytime for his exposes.

The NUJP calls on the authorities to look into these incidents even as we urge the military to stop harassing media practitioners, especially in the provinces.

References:Joe Torres Jr., NUJP chairpersonRowena Paraan, NUJP secretary-general.

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