ARMM governor speaks on Mindanao issues in U.S. forum COTABATO CITY – Gover nor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) recently flew to Washington D.C. where he spoke at a forum organized by the Philippine Embassy, U.S.-Philippines Society and SAIS Southeast Asia Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Hataman discussed the Duterte government’s initiatives on peace, security, and economic development in the autonomous region as well as the proposed Bangsamoro autonomy in the southern Philippines. He has been consistent in expressing full support to the peace process and even offered to step down – even before his term ends on 2019 – should there be a new government that will be formed for the region as a result of the Mindanao peace agreement. Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte established a transition commission for Bangsamoro self-government to replace the ARMM, but decided that the current regional government should remain in place. ARMM covers the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi. In 2014, Hataman also spoke on the southern peace process under the Aquino administration in Washington D.C. through the invitation of the U.S.-Philippines Society, a private sector initiative whose concerns are in the areas of security, trade, investments, tourism, the
environment, histor y, education and culture. Hataman has always been a man on a mission. With a strong desire to correct the many misconceptions about the Bangsamoro, Hataman led the region by instituting major reforms that showed the regional government’s innate capacity for self-governance. Upon the passage of the ARMM Synchronization Law in 2011, Hataman was appointed as the region’s OIC-Governor by former President Benigno Aquino and in 2013, he ran and won the elections as ARMM governor, and was then re-elected for a second term in May 2016. The Good Governance, Peace and Security, and Socio Economic Development model was Hataman’s brainchild, which outline the major pillars of reform in the region. In his first year as Regional Governor, he implemented policies, programs, and projects which surpassed the previous achievements of the region in its more than two-decades of existence. It was this exemplary display of leadership that earned the trust of the National Government and investors, which led to the passage of a bigger budget for the ARMM, an increase in investments, and a marked growth in the region’s GDP. Hataman is also known as a strong advocate of the Bangsamoro peace process and because of his track record as regional governor, he was selected as an Eisenhower Fellow in
2013. He was also given the Excellence in Public Service Award in 2014 by the Bulong Pulungan, an organization of journalists in the Philippines, and the Outstanding Governorship Award in 2015 and 2016 by the Superbrands Marketing International. Prior to his stint as governor of the region, Hataman was already known for his dedication to the Bangsamoro. A former student-leader and human rights activist, he was known for his participation inthe people’s struggle in asser ting their right to self-determination, and his commitment to just means towards ending the Mindanao conflict. As a response to the alarming human rights violations committed both by state and nonstate armed groups in Basilan, he founded the Kahapan Foundation in 1995. In 2001, he elected congressman under the Anak Mindanao partylist and served for three terms. As a lawmaker, he was one of the principal authors of the Anti-Religious and Racial Profiling Act of 2010. He also filed an Act Prohibiting Discrimination Against Persons on Account of Ethnic Origin and/or Religious Belief, among other anti-discrimination bills. Hataman was born to a Yakan father from Sumisip town in Basilan and a Tausug mother from Sulu’s Pata town and is married to Anak Mindanao party-list Congresswoman Sitti Djalia Turabin, with whom he has five children. (Bureau of Public Information)
ARMM, PEZA get help from US Halal Chamber of Commerce in exploring US halal market WASHINGTON D.C. — The US Halal Chamber of Commerce hosted a recent forum for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) here and it discussed at how Mindanao’s producers of halal products could access the US market. Habib Ghanim, CEO of the US Halal Chamber of Commerce, led a group of experts in briefing the Philippine delegation on different business opportunities, as well as challenges, in the US halal trade. During the forum, organizers proposed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be signed among PEZA, ARMM and the US Halal Chamber of Commerce in order to formalize cooperation and assistance. “I believe that this will go a long way towards ensur-
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The Mindanao Examiner
Apr. 17-23, 2017
ing the empowerment of ecozones of Mindanao,” PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said. ARMM Gover nor Mujiv Hataman earlier this year officially declared the Polloc Freeport and Ecozone in Parang town in Maguindanao province as ‘halal hub.’ “The ARMM government is continually working to open the possibilities to the halal market for the region as well as for the country,” Gov. Hataman said during the event marking Polloc Freeport’s declaration as halal hub. Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal, executive director of the ARMM-Regional Economic Zone Authority and a member of the Philippine delegation, noted four important areas that should be addressed, namely: consensus on certification
requirements that avoid confusing, contradictory and costly requirements; protect the integrity of halal certification in order to avoid loss of confidence by consumers; ensure that claims regarding health and safety are based on science and not on shariah alone; and to address the relative lack of information on halal markets. The delegation considered the proposed cooperative effort to be timely because the global halal market is wor th about $2.77 trillion annually with trade in halal foods at $700 billion, accounting for as much as 12% of global trade in agro-food products. The signing of the MOU may take place at a planned International Halal Ecozones Summit to be held in Davao City in southern Philippines in October. (Bureau of Public Information)
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US Embassy, na-praning sa Abu Sayyaf ZAMBOANGA CITY – Matapos na pagbawalan ng US Embassy ang mga Amerikano na huwag tutungo sa Mindanao at Sulu archipelago dahil sa banta ng Abu Sayyaf ay mahigpit naman ang babala nito ngayon sa kanilang mga kapwa na iwasan ang Central Visayas dahil sa posibleng atake ng mga ektremista doon. Sa advisory na inilabas ng embassy, sinabi nito na mayroon impormasyon na titira ang mga teroristang grupo at dukutin ang mga Kano. “US citizens are advised to carefully consider
this information as you make your travel plans, and to review personal security plans, avoid large crowds and gatherings, and remain vigilant at all times,” ayon pa sa babala. “US citizens should be mindful of the importance of taking preventative measures to ensure their safety and security while traveling and residing in the Philippines?,” dagdag pa nito. Ngunit wala pang kumpirmasyon ito mula sa lokal na awtoridad, bagamat nakasaad sa babala na target ng mga
terorista ang ibat-ibang lugar tulad ng sinehan, palengke, pampasaherong bus at jeep o terminal, eroplano o airport, malls, restoran at maging mga bars at iba pa. Noon October 2004, binomba ng Abu Sayyaf at Rahaj Sulaiman Group ang Superferry 14 sa Manila Bay na ikinamatay ng mahigit sa 100 pasahero. Galing ang barko sa Cagayan de Oro City sa Mindanao ng sumabog ang isang television na tinaniman ng bomba sa loob. (Mindanao Examiner)
Troops hunt down Sayyafs Continued fr om page 1 from Petinglay said 8 of the injured were brought to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City while the others remain in hospital in Basilan, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. There was no immediate report of enemy casualties. Last month, Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman led civilians and local leaders and the military and police in celebrating the liberation of several villages in Sumisip and even launched “People’s Day” as tribute to democracy and freedom from the Abu Sayyaf.
“This is the last bastion of the Abu Sayyaf that we are liberating. This village of Macalang has been impenetrable for years because of the presence of the Abu Sayyaf,” Hataman told villagers during the celebration. “We earlier liberated the villages of Baywas in the town Sumisip, and Baguindan in the adjacent town of Tipo-Tipo. The Abu Sayyafs are on the run. They don’t have any more strongholds in Basilan.” “We agreed with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to add a military battalion in this town to ensure the safety of the residence and prevent the Abu Sayyaf from establish-
ing its presence again,” he said, pledging an initial P10 million worth of infrastructure projects in Macalang. “The groundbreaking ceremony is a symbol that governance is back in Macalang.” Hataman said since 2012, the regional government allocated some P877 million worth of projects like roads and bridges to spur development and help the local economy progress. But despite all these efforts, the Abu Sayyaf continues to sow terror in the province just several nautical miles away from the port city of Zamboanga. (Mindanao Examiner)