City hosts security workshop for “Araw,” “BARMMAA”

COTABATO City Mayor Mohammad Bruce Matabalao has met with security sectors in the city as it prepares to host two major events in the coming days.

The city is host of this year’s Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Athletic Association 2023. It is also expected to celebrate this year’s Araw ng Cotabato in June.

Present during the security plan workshop were personnel from the City PNP, Marines, National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA-BARMM), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and community leaders.

Security preparations also included 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)

Elections.

Security officials discussed the firearms and security risks, threat assessment, case tracking and status of targeted threats, security strategies, and defense measures and communication operations.

Mayor Matabalao also reminded the security forces to strengthen its checkpoint and mobile patrol operation as delegates from other provinces are expected to arrive in the city starting next week for the athletic meet.

Additional security personnel will be detailed, specially in crowded areas such as terminals, airport and other transport hubs in the city.

He also reminded everyone that peace and order should be the top priority.

"We would like to send a message to those not residing in Cotabato City that our City is peaceful and nothing to be feared of,” Mayor Matabalo said.

The City LGU is also now coordinating with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) in preparation for the BARMMAA meet. Mark Anthony Tayco

LEADERS of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), serving a three-year transition extension period, have vowed to pass the remaining priority codes before June 2025 when their term ends.

“We can even disregard all other proposed measures, what is important is we will be able to pass the remaining priority legislation that is mandated of us by the national government,” BTA Deputy Speaker Atty. Yasser Omar Sema said during a news conference after the opening of the second regular session, which started Monday and will conclude in February 2024.

To date, the Parliament has passed administrative, civil service, education, and electoral codes.

“We hope to pass the local governance, revenue, and indigenous peoples’ rights codes in due time,” Sema added.

If there are still pending priority bills that failed to hurdle the third and final reading before the current BTA term ends, Sema said the regular Parliament elected in the May 2025 regional balloting may continue the process.

“If these bills remained unacted, we will put on record in the legislative mill that those measures have undergone committee deliberation are important measures for their consideration,” he added.

“This is the fourth priority code that we have enacted; let us build on this positive momentum to finish the remaining priority codes and other important legislation as soon as possible,” said Ebrahim.

Since 2019, BTA Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong said the regional legislative body have passed 35 measures, an indication of the Parliament’s dedication and hard work in fulfilling its mandate of crafting laws that "will shape the future of the Bangsamoro region."

"These legislative measures cover a wide range of sectors and issues, all aimed at bringing about positive change and addressing the needs of the Bangsamoro people," Balindong said.

It also approved a total of 324 resolutions.

Sema said from now on the legislators are expected to always bear in mind the request of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim asking the lawmakers to enact the Local Governance Code and the Bangsamoro Revenue Code.

Also in the pipeline is the proposed transfer of the BARMM regional seat from its current location in Cotabato City to Parang town in Maguindanao del Norte.

The BTA has 24 months to pass the priority codes or until June 30 when their terms ends and the regular Parliament members shall have assumed office.

During Monday’s opening session, the Parliament had approved of a resolution designating Member of the Parliament Said Salendab as the acting “Wali” of the Bangsamoro government.

The “Wali” is considered as the ceremonial head of the region. Edwin O. Fernandez

MUSLIM merchants in Amai Manabilang, Lanao del Sur are certain of improvements in their trade ties with Christian counterparts in Bukidnon province in Region 10 once the P25 million worth market building project in their municipality gets done.

Many of the farmers in the hinterland Amai Manabilang town in the first district of Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro region are former guerillas of the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, now producing potatoes, lettuce and other high-value short-term crops.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr. said last weekend, May 13, that they are grateful to the Ministry of the Interior and Local GovernmentBangsamoro Autonomous

Region in Muslim Mindanao for providing Amai Manabilang with a P25 million market building project.

“It is so necessary in invigorating the economy of the municipality, somehow stunted by security issues in decades past,” he said.

Amai Manabilang is not too distant from Butig, also in the first district of the province and hometown of the slain siblings Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute, founders of the now virtually nonexistent Maute terror group that government forces purged after its five-month siege of more than a dozen barangays in Marawi City in 2017.

Hakim Mansur, a Maranao vegetable dealer, said he and his partners have long wished for a good market building in the town proper of Amai Manabilang

MARKET BUILDING RISING. The Bangsamoro government’s P25 million worth market building project in Amai Manabilang, Lanao del Sur, expected to improve trading among local farmers and merchants from outside

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Heavy down pour in Arakan, North Cotabato early this week have triggered flashfloods and landslides that washed away at least 10 houses, the town spokesperson said Wednesday.

Leonardo Reovoca, Arakan information officer, said the Kulaman Valley River have overflowed and swept away houses along the riverbanks, a multi-cab vehicle, a motorbike and a horse.

Several landslides shut down portions of the Cotabato-Bukidnon highway. Reovoca said landslides occurred in the villages of Kabalantian, Meocan, Anapolon, Malibatuan and Sabang.

No one was reported injured in the calamity that occurred at daytime.

The LGU listed 37 individuals who lost their homes and temporarily housed at the village covered courts and isolation facilities. Most of them received food and non-food items from LGU.

Reovoca said eight families in Kulamay Valley have expressed desire to be relocated by LGU.

He said banana and corn plantations were also flooded. The town agriculture office is still assessing the damages brought about by the flooding. Williamor

A. Magbanua