Philippine Muslim Today

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Vol. III, No. 39 | Mar. 13-19, 2023 (Sha’ban 20-26, 1444)

BARMM adopts own electoral law

BY ALI G. MACABALANG

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OTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) now has its own electoral law, with the unanimous approval by its interim parliament of the enabling bill treated as urgent to fulfill a commitment to the national government.

CEREMONIAL SIGNING. Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim and Speaker Pangalian Balindong shaking hands after the ceremonial signing of the code on Wednesday, Match 8. (Online culled photo)

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill No. 29, docketed as Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2023, was approved on the third and final reading on March 8, shortly after its passage on the second reading on the same day.

Full Story on Page A2

BARMM lawmakers pour in P157-million health projects for constituents Several lawmakers from the regional parliament poured in P157 -million worth of different health projects that will benefit the Bangsamoro constituents across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Full story on Page A2

MILG joins the Women’s Month Kick Off Ceremony Complex, Bangsamoro Government Center, for the program proper.

The theme of this year's Women's Month is “WE for Gender Equity and Inclusive Society.”

WE stands for Women and Everyone, according to the Philippine Commission on Women (PWC), emphasizing the role of women and everyone in the pursuit of gender equality.

WE also stands for

COTABATO CITY -- The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) joined the kick-off ceremony of this year's Women's Month during the celebration of International Women's Day. The male and female Ministry employees, dressed in purple shirts and banners, joined the motorcade that began at the Cotabato City Plaza and proceeded to the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural

Women's Empowerment, which can only be achieved when agencies, mechanisms, institutions, private partners, and duty-bearers from the national to the local level provide women equal rights and opportunities, and women take these opportunities to further themselves.

PMT Desk

A3 Across the Bangsamoro

A4 Opinion

A6 Abroad

TPWC leads Women's Month KickOff Celebration in Tawi-Tawi

The mirrors of Marawi

Xi Jinping elected China’s president for 3rd time

THE TAWI-TAWI Provincial Women Council (TPWC) led the celebration of Women's Month with a kick-off activity through a motorcade, online report said.

ON MARCH 23, 2023, Marawi will painfully remember the sixth year since the Battle of Marawi, a five-month-long struggle to bring down the Islamic jihadists in Lanao del Sur took place.

(A column by Antonio V. Figueroa)

XI JINPING clinched a third term as China’s president after being re-elected at the 14th National People's Congress on Friday.

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BARMM

The Bangsamoro Parliament Hub

By Masiding Noor Yahya

BTA: Unity in Diversity THE LAWYER EDGE IN LAWMAKING In lawmaking, lawyers have an edge over nonlawyers. Lawyers are trained on the subject. They know the how’s and the why’s in lawmaking. But an effective law is enacted by minds of varied expertise — not only lawyers.

If there’s one thing good, or more, in the just enacted Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC), it’s because It was a product of different minds from various members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, not to mention the public consultations conducted across the areas of the Bangsamoro region.

BTA: UNITY IN DIVERSITY When I said, lawyers have an edge over nonlawyers in lawmaking, I didn’t mean the enactment of laws is solely the thrust of lawyers. An effective law is a product of various experts in their respective fields.

These include brilliant minds from the academe, the youth, the women, the traditional leaders, the Ulama and so forth.

In my hotel room the other night in Cotabato City, I had the opportunity to watch a segment of a Facebook Live clip of how the Bangsamoro Parliament deliberated on the floor the third and final reading of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. Thanks to the official Facebook page of Atty. Randolph “Bong” Parcasio through which I linked in watching the session live online because his page appeared first in my FB wall.

MP Parcasio representing Misuari’s Moro National Liberation Front to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

I was impressed to see how young lawyers and other MPs tackled the presentation, comments, amendments, and divisions of the Body — so professionally done without any sign of discord as manifested by the overwhelming affirmative votes without opposition nor abstention in adopting the bill into an autonomy act.

The exceptional manifest of “Unity in Diversity” displayed here by the BTA members coming from different representations was incredible.

I wish to mention names of those MPs with amazing performances that night but I am not competent enough in remembering names and positions. But, I can sincerely say, they all do a good job for their people.

MY FIRST ATTENDANCE TO A BTA PRESS CON I had the opportunity to be invited to a press conference hosted by the Media Division of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

The BTA is the interim regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) created by Republic Act No. 11054. It has executive and legislative powers over the region – the like of a parliamentary form of government.

I am grateful, the division chief, Ms. Jamaleah Lao Benito, still remembers me and thus included me among the invited media practitioners. She is an old friend way back since the defunct ARMM under then Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman who is now Basilan lone district representative.

Two prominent and brilliant members of the Parliament of BTA whose superb response gave the media the worth of their cents lead the press con. Bangsamoro Parliament Deputy Speaker Nabil A. Tan and Floor Leader Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba left no media query unanswered. Both are lawyers.

Tan and Alba responded to questions relative to the just approved Bangsamoro Electoral Code including, among others, the re-districting, anti-political dynasty, registration requirements and the 10,000 membership of a regional political party, Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Settlers participations in the electoral process.

The speakers discussed so well the provisions in the Electoral code to safeguard the votes of our voting public. They also discussed the peculiarity of the incoming election from the past elections in the BARMM.

Vol. III, No. 39 | Mar. 13-19, 2023 (Sha’ban 20-26, 1444)

BARMM adopts own electoral law

BY ALI G. MACABALANG

C

OTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) now has its own electoral law, with the unanimous approval by its interim parliament of the enabling bill treated as urgent to fulfill a commitment to the national government.

ELECTORAL CODE APPROVED. Unanimous voting for the proposed electoral code among 64 Parliament members present. (Online culled photo) Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill No. 29, docketed as Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2023, was approved on the third and final reading on March 8, shortly after its passage on the second reading on the same day.

The swift deliberation did away with the Parliament’s three-day interval rule, courtesy of the urgent certification of the bill by BARMM Chief Minister (CM) Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, according to the BTA Media Relations Office (MRO).

The plenary session of the 80-member BTA here was attended by 64 members, including presiding Deputy Speaker lawyer Omar Yasser Sema, who all approved the bill sans a negative or abstention vote, the MRO said.

CM Ebrahim and Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong eventually led the ceremonial signing of the edict, known now as Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35, which would govern the structural, functional, and procedural

manners of elections, referenda, and recall proceedings in the BARMM territory.

Parliament Members Paisalin “Popoy” Tago and Nabil Tan, both lawyers, said the passage of the edict partly fulfilled the BARMM leadership’s commitment to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that such would be passed in the first quarter of this year.

In his message here for the second inaugural session of BTA members on Sept. 15, 2022, the President asked the interim parliament government to enact its electoral law, local governance code, and other fundamental edicts in due time, saying he would no longer appoint BTA members.

The Chief Executive said the first regular election of 80 BARMM parliament members must be synchronized with the local; and national elections in 2025.

Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35 or the electoral code reportedly consists of

articles on the Bangsamoro electoral office, regional political parties, elective Parliament positions, elections upon dissolution of the Parliament, the voters, election administration, election offenses, legal fees, transitory provisions, and other vital provisions.

The edict prescribes for genuinely principled political parties in the Bangsamoro region, discouraging the usual rule of money and popularity in usual elections.

CM Ebrahim said the edict will hopefully pave the way for more democratic regional elections, in which morally-founded political parties can participate in an even field.

Speaker Balindong said the edict ushered in “an opportune time for us to set a new stage for our future leaders to lead our people by exemplifying honesty, equality, and empowering the true voice of democracy.”

The edict’s passage followed 12 major field consultations from October 2022 to January 2023 in

Metro Manila, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, and the BARMM Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato for stakeholders to sound off comments and reactions, it was learned.

Some groups, including local governments critical of the regional governance, had expressed concerns about possible constitutional issues, notably in the operations and powers of the edict-prescribed Basngsamoro Election Office.

Parliament Floor Leader Sha Elijah DumamaAlba, a lawyer, had led a ten-day deliberation, examining the provisions in the proposed code line by line, prior to the code’s approval in plenary.

Dumama-Alba led here on Thursday a press conference to entertain questions from the media on the salient features of the BARMM Electoral Code, assuring that the edict was in pursuance of existing laws and the Constitution.

(AGM)

BARMM lawmakers pour in P157-M health projects for constituents MARAWI CITY—Several lawmakers from the regional parliament poured in P157-million worth of different health projects that will benefit the Bangsamoro constituents across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Among the projects, all funded from the 2021 Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF) of previous and present members of the parliament (MP), were land ambulances, mobile clinics, incentives for Barangay Health Workers (BHW), essential medicines, Covid-19 testing kits, and barangay health station, among others.

In no particular order, the MPs were Khadafeh Mangudadatu, Baintan Adil-Ampatuan, Faiz Alauddin, Lanang Ali Jr., Abdullah Hashim, Abdulrauf Macacua, Abdulmuhmin Mujahid, Ali Sangki, Aida Silongan, Paisalin Tago, Nabil Tan, Akmad Abas, Haron Abas, Narciso Ekey, Muslima Asmawil, Musa Diamla, Mudjib Abu, Susana Anayatin, Mohammad Zainoden Bato, Diamila Disimban-Ramos, Abduladzis Al-haj Esmael, Mussolini Lidasan, Sittie Shahara Mastura, Maestro Celes

Salik, Sahie Udjah, Melanio Ulama, Hatimil Hassan, Rasul Ismael, Muslimin Jakilan, and Ziaur-Rahman Adiong.

Deputy Health Minister Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas thanked the members of the parliament who dedicated their projects to improve the region's health sector.

"This is the response of the members of the parliament to the health needs of the Bangsamoro constituents," Abas said citing that the regional government needs to invest more in health.

Recently, 11 ambulances were displayed inside the government center in Cotabato City awaiting deployment to their respective recipients. Six ambulances were already turned over to the province of Basilan.

Health Minister Dr. Rizaldy Piang said that all these projects are part of the Government of the Day's collective effort to address the health needs of the Bangsamoro.

"This the sign that our government is responsive to the needs of our community," Piang said.

APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN/PIA

Across the Bangsamoro

Vol. III, No. 39 | Mar. 13-19, 2023 (Sha’ban 20-26, 1444)

TPWC leads Women's Month Kickoff Celebration in Tawi-Tawi

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Lanao town marks Women’s Month with religious lectures

By PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY DESK

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AWI-TAWI — The Tawi-Tawi Provincial Women Council (TPWC) led the celebration of Women's Month with a kick-off activity through a motorcade, online report said.

TARAKA, Lanao del Sur | Mar. 13, 2023 — The local government of the municipality of Taraka in Lanao del Sur province has colorfully joined the nation in celebrating the 2023 National Women’s Month by featuring, among others, Islamic religious lectures.

The Women’s Month Celebration has since served as a venue to highlight women’s achievements and discuss continuing and emerging women’s empowerment and gender equality issues, concerns, challenges, and commitments.

Ustadz Jalanie Datu Diamla and Aleema Noronsalam I. Diangka provided the program with Islamic lectures about this year’s upcoming Ramadan which will start tentatively on March 23.

Held at the municipal gymnasium here, with the theme, “WE for Gender Equity and Inclusive Society,” the Women’s Day program was participated by the municipal community women, and graced by the Local Chief Executive Mayor Amenodin U. Sumagayan and his better half, Vice Mayor Nashiba Gandamra Sumagayan.

Also attending the occasion were municipal head officers including Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) President Mohammad Rasdam Usudan, Municipal Health Officer Dra. Baimona M. Delawi, Taraka District Supervisor Omerah Comadug, ABC President Hon. Abdul C. Mangata, Municipal Councilor Hon. Abdul Hakim G. Mangata, Hon. Diamar Pandapatan, and Municipal Accountant Ramla Sangcaan.

In a statement online, the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi revealed participants in the motorcade included heads of line agencies with their GAD focal persons, department and unit heads of the provincial government, Philippine Marines/PN, PNP, Coast Guard, and schools such as Mahardika Institute of Technology, TawiTawi Regional Agricultural College, Tawi-Tawi Criminal Justice College and Philippine Last Frontier College.

The motorcade concluded at MIT with a short program where the TPWC Chairwoman first lady of the Province Hja. Jumda A. Sali delivered an inspirational message to approximately 800 students. She emphasized that girls' rights are a subset of human rights and are deserving of respect. Additionally, she highlighted that the youth are the future leaders.

The PLGU GAD focal person, Ms. Zelda Abduraja, provided brief input on

RA 11313 Safe Spaces Act, also known as the Anti -Bastos Law. Following her speech, short messages were given by Ranisa Salahuddin, Commissioner from Regional Commission of Bangsamoro Women, Elmasia Madjilon from BCPCH, Mobin Gampal from PLGU Admin, Gulamhassan Sappayani from MILG Provincial Director, 1LT Corbillos from PM/PN GAD focal, GAD Focal persons from MBHTE, TRAC, and PNP, and PhilHealth LHIO Ms. Jona-

per "Joy" Kalbit.

Dayang Carlsum S. Jumaide, sectoral representative on the board, noted that the kick-off activity's enormous success was a result of efficient preparation and coordination among TPWC officers, the Board of Directors, technical staff and Area Coordinator, stakeholders, and the full support of Gov. Yshmael "Mang" I. Sali.

She also remarked that the 5% GAD budget of the PLGU is working for everyone. (PMT Desk)

Basilan Gov. vows full support for students’ development STA. CLARA, LAMITAN CITY -- Governor Jim SallimanHataman has pledged on Mar. 8, his full support for the development of the students' potentials, especially those who are showing signs of excellence, not just in the field of sports, but also in the field of academics.

In an official statement posted at Facebook on Sunday, Mar. 12, by the Provincial Government of Basilan, Gov. Salliman-Hataman said there is much to be achieved, and much support to offer “our talented children.”

ROCAYA S.O. YAHYA

ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL-YAHYA

Gov’t builds 18 community infra for Marawi’s PRRD villagers MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--To finally complete the permanent housing project of the government that currently houses families displaced by the firefight in 2017, the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) together with the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the city government here broke ground to officially commence the foundation of 18 community facilities in Pamayandeg sa Ranao Residences at Dansalan (PRRD) Village that rests both in Barangays Kilala and Mipantao Gadongan, this city.

Among the structures which will soon rise are one unit each of the livelihood center and wet and dry market, and two units each of elementary and secondary school buildings, health centers, multi-purpose covered courts, police outposts, daycare centers, transport terminals, and material recovery facilities.

NHA-IX & BARMM Regional Manager and Marawi Satellite Office Head Engr. Al-Khwarizmi Indanan said this undertaking costs P197 million and would benefit at least 1,500 families living in the said village, and other nearby barangays.

He stated this would be implemented under the supervision of the city government and anchored on the objective of the TFBM which is to render a better Marawi.

Accordingly, of the 18 facilities to be built in PRRD Village, the school buildings would take a longer time to construct. But, the implementing agency hoped to finish these structures within 360 days.

Indanan is positive that once the project is completed, residing displaced families would feel that they would eventually have a more livable and better community.

He stressed that this signified that basic services would already be more accessible as other government agencies could use these facilities to provide their respective efforts.

Indanan also underscored that alongside this initiative is the manifestation of their readiness to render all the necessary services that they can deliver.

He encouraged the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have concerns to not hesitate in approaching their office.

“Nandito pa ang National Housing Authority, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and Task Force Bangon Marawi na patuloy na naninilbihan in order to provide kung ano pa ang inyong kakailanganin,” said Indanan.

Philippine Information Agency

A4

Opinion

The mirrors of Marawi ON MARCH 23, 2023, Marawi will painfully remember the sixth year since the Battle of Marawi, a five-month-long struggle to bring down the Islamic jihadists in Lanao del Sur took place.

The tragic event has exposed the government’s lack of intelligence and, thereafter, the failure to compensate victims of the violent atrocity. The mirrors of discontent, if you will, has haunted the Islamic city until now and there are no indications the reflections or refractions of the mirrors will eventually be resolved in favor of the victims.

What was once a beautiful a city is now a ruined settlement that continues to woefully redeem itself from the destruction of the jihadists, forces that sadly identify themselves with Islam which, universally, has been embraced by most of the Muslim world as a peaceful religion.

Piecing together the broken mirrors takes more than just the declaration of rebuilding a flattened city. The State must also take into account the haste with which developments are reintroduced into the city. The people of Marawi cannot live on promises alone and they cannot recoup their livelihood by imaginary proposals worth only for propaganda.

The siege left over 200,000 refugees. Despite the humongous number of displaced people, the Duterte administration was nonchalant in inviting the Meranaos to ‘rise and move forward’ even in the absence of the promised assistance. As a result, there are still thousands who remain without permanent shelter and have no money to rebuild their lives, homes, and businesses.

Guest Cartoon

Bangsamoro approves own electoral code.

How beneficial is the RCEP?

D Antonio V. Figueroa Discontent is something the government must take into account seriously. Even if there exists already the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the peripheral treats this new entity extends is very limited. Much of its efforts is only on reintegration and administrative support. A ‘whole of government’ approach is necessary is ensuring that Marawi, in the next decade, can rise from the ruins and regain its pride as the country’s only Islamic city.

As a contiguous island exclusive of the Sulu archipelago, Mindanao can only project stability if its troubled parts are shared the value of development in terms of concrete undertakings. Political assurances, no matter how embellished and finely worded, do not define anything but personal aggrandizement on those who make them. The people of Marawi cannot live on pledges nor can they thank the government for things that are not tangible. Auditory words simply suck.

There is so much to do in rebuilding Marawi, and it’s a fact of life that such responsibility requires a collective effort. In the absence of a spirited support from the State, the delay in the delivery of services and development may only trigger another of displeasure that anti-government elements can always exploit to rekindle their agenda of destruction.

Aside from addressing the needs of a displaced population, the State must be determined also in reintroducing progress to the city in the name of those soldiers and cops who sacrificed their lives in defending the city. In reliving their memory, the best tribute is to bring back normalcy to Marawi so people can meaningfully participate in the struggle of uniformed men in liberating Marawi from the claws of another future conflict.

If the government has no qualms in investing in billion-dollar infrastructures that solely benefit Luzon, it does not take rocket science to understand that Marawi, as part of a developing Mindanao, must rise again to redeem lost opportunists. No matter how painful the Battle of Marawi has scarred its people, the city, even if its voice is faint and unheard, should be a part of the priorities. Instead, remove pork barrels and intelligence funds and give it to Marawi.

(AVF)

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Vol. III, No. 39 | Mar. 13-19, 2023 (Sha’ban 20-26, 1444)

espite reservations aired by some sectors, the approval of the Senate resolution making the country part of the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) augurs well for the archipelago’s economic stability, especially in developing the potentials of Mindanao.

Like the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), approved in 1992, whose main objective is to “create a single market and an international production base; attract foreign direct investments; and. expand intra-ASEAN trade and investments,” the regional accord carries similar objects.

RCEP, though, is a much larger trade organization composed of 15 signatories, namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The accord was signed on November 2020 in Hanoi, Vietnam, and required the ratification of at least six of 10 ASEAN countries and three of five non-ASEAN signatories.

Benefits drawn from the partnership vary from country to country, especially in the short term. But in the long term, with some adjustment allowed under the framework of the organization, the expectation is to create a healthy, borderless arrangements among stakeholders with an intent of becoming a critical player in the global trade.

RCEP reminds us of the earlier triangles that inspired the formation of the BIMP-EAGA in 1994. Under the concept, three players with distinct products or expertise agree to form a three -way covenant with an intent to complement each other’s commercial needs, including the promotion of specialties a player can offer for distribution or trade in another player’s domain.

But with the creation of the BIMP-EAGA, originally known as The Polygon during its initial stage of conceptualization given the multiple

parties interested in the geopolitical borderless trade arrangement, the triangles, first introduced in Singapore, slowly lost its luster.

The RCEP, however, is a bigger pursuit given that it also includes five ‘outside’ industrialized countries, namely Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan, and China. The only nation in the ASEAN arrangement that can be equated with the five first-world nations is Singapore.

Creating RCEP, a trade society of neighboring states, creates a zone that involves an area of 22.54 million square kilometers, roughly 14.91% of the earth’s habitable surface, and 2.29 billion inhabitants, the equivalent of 29.09% of the world’s population.

Free trade, however, is not an entirely ‘free’ arrangement. Because actions such as this are formalized by the decisions politicians make and ratified by Congresses that host politicos, issues like human rights become belligerent subjects in the long run. Given that most of the nations that are ratifying the partnership are also signatories of other trade treaties, the clash of interests arising from the charters of other trade agreements can be prickly.

Free trade agreements, moreover, can become tools of protectionism. When a first-world country insists on putting its interest over the collective effort of the organization, an impasse is expected. This stalemate, if not resolved, can eventually results in the exit of a discontented members, which is reminiscent of British exit from the European Union.

The rise of discrepancy within the partnership is not unexpected. Each country has its own level of tolerance when it comes to trading. For instance, in agriculture, borderless trading can surely affect price stability for local produce when the imported items command lower prices in the absence of tariff and other exemptions.

(PMT)

MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Publisher and Editor-In-Chief

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY, the country’s first Muslim digital newspaper, is committed to a steady, highly developed, and diverse Southern Philippines.

ALI G. MACABALANG (on leave) News Editor ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA Contributing Editor for Davao Region

NASH B. MAULANA Contributing Editor EDD K. USMAN Correspondent At Large

CREDITS INSIDE LOGO: The stylized Philippine flag on the left of the masthead is a creation of April Perez of jsonn.deviantart.com, while on the right is the official logo of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) where this paper is principally circulated. Plans are afoot, though, to distribute the Philippine Muslim Today throughout Mindanao and outside.

News

Vol. III, No. 39 | Mar. 13-19, 2023 (Sha’ban 20-26, 1444)

Marcos: Gov’t to persevere until it ends poverty

By AZER PARROCHA | Philippine News Agency

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ANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday welcomed a report showing that the country’s employment rate is slowly getting back to the 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

This brings total employment to 47.4 million from 43.3 million in January 2022.

The labor force participation rate rebounded to 64.5 percent, equivalent to 49.7 million Filipinos in the labor force, of which 20.6 million are women.

“Padami nang padami ang nagkakaroon ng magandang trabaho (More and more people are getting good jobs)!:” Marcos said in his official Facebook page and Twitter account.

“Bumaba pa lalo ang ating unemployment at und eremployment rate at tumaas naman sa 95.2 percent ang ating employment rate mula sa 93.6 percent noong Enero 2022. Ibig sabihin, 4.1 milyong Pilipino ang nadagdag sa ating labor force (Our unemployment and underemployment rates decreased even more and our employment rate increased to 95.2 percent from 93.6 percent in January 2022.

That means, 4.1 million Filipinos have been added to our labor force),” he added.

Marcos vowed that the government would continue to pursue projects and programs meant to lift Filipinos out of poverty,

showed that the country’s employment rate accelerated to 95.2 percent, which translates to an additional 4.1 million employed persons, on account of employment gains in the services and agriculture sectors in January 2023.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (file photo)

“Tayo'y magpupursigi hanggang sa tuluyan na nating mawakasan ang kahirapan (We will persevere until we finally end poverty)!” he said.

In a separate interview, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the improved employment situation can be attributed to the reopening of businesses after pandemic lockdowns were eased.

“Remember that in January 2022, we have not yet fully opened as many of the businesses were still only partially opened and so the further opening of the econ-

omy came in during this period from January 2022 to January 2023 is largely responsible for that improvement in the employment situation,” Balisacan told Palace reporters.

He likewise expressed confidence that the administration’s efforts to lure more investments in the country would help generate more jobs.

“Of course, I also would like to think that it has been seven months since the new administration came in and I think that has more or less sent a signal that business environment has improved because the President has

been very clear that he is open to business. He’s opening up the Philippine economy to business including foreign investment,” he added.

The Marcos administration’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 20232028 is expected to “reinvigorate job creation, accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on the high growth path and effect economic transformation.”

Under the PDP 20232028, the government aims to turn the Philippines into an upper, middle-income country by the year 2025. (PNA)

Comelec eyes use of new technology for 2025 polls MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is The Comelec chairperson noted that they will no longlooking at the possibility of using new technology in the er use the vote counting machines (VCMs).

2025 national elections.

“The Comelec is really determined to set aside 98,000 Comelec chairperson George VCMs. We are 100 percent sure Garcia said Thursday they are that we don't want that machine planning to integrate the biometanymore,” he said. rics technology to the new election On the other hand, Garcia added system they will be using for the that if they decide to use new ma2025 polls. chines, they will not buy them but “The Comelec is considering only to lease them. getting new technology to replace “Best approach is to lease the old machines. We are talking machines. Because when you about the so-called integration of buy, it's expensive and we don't biometrics technology in the mahave a warehouse yet. If it's a chines. We are complete with biolease, it's always new,” he said. metrics, signature, facial, fingerThe VCMs were last utilized in the print. If these are incorporated as Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia (File May 2022 polls. It was first used part of the Terms of Reference, it photo) in the 2010 elections. will resolve the issue that a voter can vote from one provOn the other hand, Vice President Sara Duterte urged ince to another city,” the poll body chief said in a press the Comelec to consider doing away with the ballot shadbriefing. ing or handwriting on ballots during elections.

Garcia, however, said funding is the main concern in "As you discuss improvements in the electoral prodetermining the type of technology they are going to uti- cess, maybe we can move to something better than lize. shading the ballots or writing on the ballots," she said on “We always have to factor the budget. If we want spe- the second day of the first-ever National Election Summit cific technology but it's too expensive, we can't afford it. in Pasay City.

Hopefully in 2025, the Comelec will be allowed to use The three-day summit will end on Friday. (PNA) new machines and technology based on the recommenFerdinand Patinio /PNA dation of the summit, strategic planning.”

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PBBM admin to employ digital media literacy drive vs. fake news MANILA – The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will implement a Digital Media Literacy campaign this year, seeking to equip the most vulnerable communities with knowledge and tools “to be discerning of the truth,” a Presidential Communications Office (PCO) official said on Friday.

PCO Undersecretary Cherbett Karen Maralit issued the statement during the CyberSafe Against Fake News: Being Smart, Being Safe and Staying Ahead! Ensuring Women and Girls a Safe Online Experience, which is a side event to the 67th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) at the UN headquarters in New York.

Maralit noted that Congress has tasked the PCO to address the growing concern about misinformation and disinformation, especially in the digital landscape.

“Backed by the budgetary support from the Philippine Congress and its confidence in the leadership of the PCO, we took the opportunity to develop mechanisms through which we can bring the online experiences of females of all ages into focus,” Maralit said.

The PCO official also noted that "crucially, in this age of plenteous and insistent information, the rights of women and girls continue to be undermined by disinformation and misinformation.”

“The PCO, therefore, is positioning itself as a pillar that upholds the rights and welfare of women and girls through a Digital Media Literacy Campaign that will focus on our most vulnerable communities,” Maralit said.

“Taking a context-based and factual grassroots approach, we intend to reach out to, and equip, these communities with knowledge and skills and tools that will enable them to be discerning of the truth as they engage in various social media channels and platforms,” Maralit added.

Maralit said the two-fold path involves the active collaboration by PCO with the private sector, including the stakeholders of the broadcast industry, to establish effective mechanisms against fake news.

The PCO will also guide the public toward a place of strength where they have the ability to understand and identify false, incomplete or inaccurate information.

“We will work to improve the citizenry’s ability to think critically and analyze information. The first step towards this end is identifying reliable and credible sources of information,” Maralit said, noting that the office “wish to achieve this goal with both sensitivity, balance and respect for constitutional rights.”

Maralit said a thorough study will be conducted this month throughout the Philippines, which seeks to refine the target communities where media literacy is most needed; determine the social media platforms through which these communities are most susceptible to fake news; and identify the contents and topics on which these misinformation and disinformation focus.

The study also hopes to identify the profiles of fake news peddlers; understand the influences that open these communities to deceptions and understand the practices and habits of the target communities that create the opportunities for exposure to disinformation and misinformation.

“When we have gathered the results of this study, expectedly by the middle of this year, we will be implementing a nationwide media literacy campaign that will focus on the areas identified,” the PCO official said.

By the end of this year, Maralit said, the PCO will be closing the campaign with a Media Literacy Summit, where speakers from organizations such as Facebook, Google, and the Philippine Commission on Women, among others, will be invited “in the hope that they will share equal commitment to this cause."

Maralit also reported that pieces of legislation on media literacy have been introduced in both Houses of Congress.

The measures seek to institutionalize the effort of the Department of Education to include Media and Information Literacy (MIL) as a core subject in the current curriculum of basic and secondary education.

Maralit discussed the challenges in integrating MIL in the basic education curriculum, such as the misconception about the MIL course as an educational technologyrelated subject, the lack of training for MIL teachers, and the need to consider MIL as a core subject by tertiary education institutions.

PBBM | Page A7

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STORIES ABROAD

Iran, Saudi agree to resume diplomatic ties, reopen embassies

Vol. III, No. 39 | Mar. 13-19, 2023 (Sha’ban 20-26, 1444)

Xi Jinping elected China’s president for 3rd time

By PMT Desk

B TEHRAN – Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to resume bilateral diplomatic ties after several days of deliberations between top security officials of the two countries in Beijing.

Iran's top security official Ali Shamkhani held several rounds of talks with his Saudi counterpart in the Chinese capital, and the two later agreed to sign a joint statement, Iran’s state media said.

The two Persian Gulf neighbors severed their diplomatic ties after the Saudi diplomatic mission in Tehran was attacked by an angry mob in January 2016 over the execution of a Saudi Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

The two estranged neighbors were engaged in marathon talks since April 2021 to restore diplomatic ties, brokered by Baghdad.

Both Tehran and Riyadh noted progress but the breakthrough did not materialize.

Interestingly, the agreement to resume diplomatic ties comes less than a month after President Ebrahim Raisi visited China in the first state visit by an Iranian president to the country in two decades.

Iran's state media said Shamkhani, who heads Iran's Supreme National Security Council, visited Beijing to follow up on agreements reached during Raisi's visit and also hold talks with his Saudi counterpart aimed at restoring bilateral ties.

After several days of intense negotiations between the two officials, brokered by Chinese officials, a tripartite statement was issued on Friday by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and China.

Saudi Arabia was represented by Musaid Al Aiban, the national security adviser, while China was represented by Wang Yi, a top diplomat, and member of the ruling Communist party's political bureau.

The joint statement, published by Iran's state media, said it was the initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at the "restoration of ties" between Tehran and Riyadh "based on the principle of good neighborliness," as well as the "desire of the two countries to resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy."

"The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are grateful to the Republic of Iraq and the Sultanate of Oman for hosting the talks between the two sides in the years 2021 to 2022 and to the leadership and government of the People's Republic of China for hosting and supporting talks held in this country," read the statement.

It said the two countries agreed to "resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies within two months."

The foreign ministers of the two countries will now be meeting to implement the agreement reached between the top security officials and make the necessary arrangements for the exchange of ambassadors, the statement added.

"The three countries declare their decisive will to use all efforts to strengthen regional and international peace and security."

Iran's foreign minister last December said he had a "friendly conversation" with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the Baghdad summit in Amman in the first high-level contact between the two sides since 2016.

In a tweet at the time, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the Saudi foreign minister expressed his country's willingness to continue tension-easing talks with the Islamic Republic.

In a statement posted on Twitter, President Raisi's deputy chief of staff Mohammad Jamshiii said during talks with President Xi in Beijing, "constructive ideas for the region were discussed and now they bear fruit."

"Good neighborly and brotherly policies with Eurasian integration create economic and security benefits free from foreign intervention," he said.

Anadolu

EIJING – Xi Jinping clinched a third term as China’s president after being reelected at the 14th National People's Congress on Friday.

Xi was elected in the first General Assembly of the Congress in the capital Beijing by a unanimous vote in which he was the only candidate.

Han Zheng was elected China’s vice president while Zhao Leji was elected chairman of China's 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Elected as president in 2013 and 2018 and having served for 10 years, Xi has been re-elected for a fiveyear term, becoming the first leader in the history of the People's Republic of China to hold the presidency for the third time.

Xi will also serve as

Xi Jinping chairman of the Central Military Commission.

In 2018, China's law-

makers passed a constitutional amendment abolishing a presidential two-term

limit that enabled Xi to rule indefinitely.

ANADOLU

EU official says 11M Ukrainian refugees returned home GENEVA – About 16 million Ukrainians arrived in the European Union (EU) in 2022 and 11 million of them have returned to their homeland, an EU commissioner said on Wednesday.

"We have welcomed 16 million Ukrainians into the European Union [in 2022]. Eleven million have gone back

to Ukraine again. Four million are still here. Another 1 million went further outside Ukraine, for example, to Canada, the US and the UK," Ylva Johansson, the EU commissioner for home affairs, said in a news conference in Brussels.

She underlined that Ukrainians did not leave the EU territory because they were not happy but because they left their families behind and/or they wanted to be part of the resistance against the Russian war.

"I talked to those who returned, and therefore there is no reason to say that they are not happy here. They feel that they are welcome here," Johansson said. "But many, perhaps having left their children here with their relatives, returned themselves to fight, work or be part of the resistance to Russian aggression."

She said about 200,000 border crossings by Ukrainians to and from the EU are recorded every week.

Millions of Ukrainians fled their country after Russia launched its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Anadolu

Iran says deal to purchase Su-35 jets from Russia finalized The Iranian mission to the United Nations said Iran has made final arrangements for purchasing Su35 fighter jets from Russia, the Press TV reported Friday.

"Following the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, Iran asked a number of

countries to consider the possibility of selling it fighter jets, and Russia said it was ready for the deal," the Iranian mission was quoted as telling Russia's Sputnik news agency.

The restrictions on Iran's purchase of conventional weapons were re-

moved in October 2020 according to UN Resolution 2231, before Iran finally agreed to buy the fighter aircraft, the mission noted.

It did not disclose the number of fighter jets that Iran will buy from Russia and the timing of their delivery, but media reports said

earlier that Iran will receive 24 Su-35 fighter jets.

Iran and Russia, both under sanctions from the United States, have been expanding their political and economic relations to counter the U.S. moves.

China.org.cn

At least 7 dead, several wounded in Hamburg shooting LONDON – At least seven people, including the suspect, were killed in a shooting at a Jehovah's Witness church in the northern German city of Hamburg, local media reported Thursday.

The police said on Twitter that the shooting occurred at a church in the Gross Borstel district, where several people were killed and a number of others injured.

“We found a lifeless person in the community center in #Gross Borstel who we assume could be a perpetra-

tor. In order to rule out the involvement of other perpetrators, we carry out checks and search extensively,” the police said.

According to the Bild daily, the gunman killed at least six people and wounded eight others at the Jehovah's Witness center.

Authorities have not indicated a motive for the shooting but said investigations are running at full speed.

Anadolu

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PBBM | from page A5

PBBM admin to employ digital media literacy drive vs. fake news “The PCO shall work with the public [education] sector to help address these challenges,” she said. “We need the help of MIL experts, specialists, and established organizations to lend their strengths and help us in achieving the kind of Filipino society we wish to see where all are free to realize their best.”

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) discussed the measures it implemented to empower vulnerable populations to discern true and accurate information from fake news and to report any such abuses.

In her speech, CHR Commissioner Fayda Dumarpa said they have implemented Lila ang Kulay ng Boto Ko Campaign (Purple is the color of my vote), an education drive on women’s right to suffrage.

CHR also created an online reporting portal for gender-based violence “to provide a platform for women and girls to report and seek assistance on different forms of violence either committed offline or in online spaces, including those arising from disinformation and misinformation.”

“The Philippine Commission on Human Rights hopes that through these examples, we are able to highlight that in the fight against disinformation and misinformation, it is crucial that we directly consult, engage and actively seek the critical and meaningful participation of the most vulnerable sectors of our society such as women and girls in vulnerable situations with special needs and by doing so, we truly leave no one behind,” Dumarpa said.

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

World: NOT our permanent dwelling place

H

By Gamson Jr Mawallil Quijano

ave you had any experience in moving from one boarding house, apartment, or house to another?

This is so common for students and workers alike living in rented accommodation.

Sometimes, for whatever reason or circumstance, we have to leave the place where we already feel comfortable.

Transferring is physically and mentally exhausting; especially during packing all of those stuffs because we have to find time to do it outside of our official work hours but we have no choice at all.

Vol. III, No. 39 | Mar. 13-19, 2023 (Sha’ban 20-26, 1444)

Error in the publication of ads and legal notices should be reported to the Editors within three weeks after its publication.

Otherwise, we will not entertain any complaint relative thereto.

WE ACCEPT ANY KIND OF PRINTING JOBS.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL PARTITION WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That this Extra-Judicial with deed of Absolute Sale is made and entered into by among: RAGA SANSARONA ANGAGAO and MAMACOL C. ANGAGAO, all of legal ages, Filipinos and residents of Naawan, Misamis oriental, hereinafter referred to as the VENDORS; - AND – NORMA SANSARONA MANDANGAN, also of legal age, married to Candidato B. Mandangan, Filipino and a resident of Door 1 Adiong Apartment, Tambis Street, Pag-asa, Baraas, Barangay Tubod Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, hereinafter referee to as the VENDEE;

RUSH PRINTING

WITNESSETH:

OF

That the VENDORS are the legitimate heirs of the late ANDADATO P. ANGAGAO who died on November 23, 2011; That the said deceased left no debts and no will but left a conjugal property, more particularly described as follows: “A PARCEL OF LAND as Lot 59-a, Psd-10-012550 (being a portion of Lot 59, Cad-529, Naawan Cadastre) located in Poblacion, Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Island of Mindanao.

Nounded on the W., and N., along lines 1-2-3 by Lot 59-B of the subdivision Plan, psd-10-012550; on the E., along lines 34-5 by Mabini Street; on the S., along lines 5-1 by Lot Dadole Street. Beginning at a point Cadastre, THENCE: N. 06 deg.

51’E., 33.55 m. to point 2; S. 86 deg.

16’ E., 21.55 m. to point 3; S. 00 deg.

03’ E., 0037 m. to point 4; S. 01 deg.

35’ E., 32.93 m. to point 5; N. 87 deg. 01’ W., 26.45 m. to point of beginning; containing an area of EIGHT HUNDRED (800) square meters, more or less and covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T -11141” That the vendors, hereto being of legal ages and with full capacity to contract thereby these presents agree to adjudicate, as they hereby divide and adjudicate equally between them the above-describe parcel of land; That for and in consideration in the amount of Two hundred Fifty thousand Pesos (Php 250,000.00) to the vendors in hand paid by the vendee, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledge o the full satisfaction of the VENDORS, the vendors do hereby SELL, TRANSFER and CONVEY unto the said VENDEE, her heirs and assigns, a portion of the abovedescribed parcel of land which portion has an area of Four Hundred (400) square meters, more or less, including the all improvements found thereon; IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands this 9th day of JULY 2021 at Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines.

(SGD) RAGA SANSARONA ANGAGAO Heir/Vendor

WE ALSO ACCEPT

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LAYOUT, EDITING AND PRINTING OF SCHOOL ORGANS, MAGAZINES AND TABLOID SIZE NEWSPAPERS.

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WE ALSO PRINT COMMERCIAL CALENDARS CALL/TEXT: 063 3035565, 09477201555, 09481514695 OR VISIT US AT OUR PRINTING SHOP: CONSUNJI STREET, POBLACION, ILIGAN CITY

URGENT HIRING!!!

Philippine Muslim Today, The First Muslim Digital Newspaper in the Philippines, is in need of:

(SGD) MAMACOL C. ANGAGAO Heir/Vendor

(SGD) NORMA SANSARONA MANDANGAN Vendee After all that, we have to transfer all of it to our new location. Hah! To carry all that heavy load is not a joke.

Well, house transfer has already become part of my life and it has occurred many times since I was in college.

The same goes when I was in Manila applying for work overseas.

On November 2021, my friends and I had to move into our new apartment.

Yes, last November 2022, once again, after a year, we had to transfer to our new apartment. It is the fifth apartment in which I have lived here in Qatar.

Working abroad, an employee has two options: to stay in accommodation provided for by the employer through the company or the employee may choose to rent out but the employee is paid a monthly housing allowance.

Whenever I find a new apartment, I always prefer a place close to my workplace, metro stations, grocery store, and other essentials hub.

This year, not only am I close to those convenient places but most of all my new apartment is near the Masjid which makes me elated and thankful.

The Masjid is just right next to us. Every time it is time to pray, the call to prayer resonates in my bedroom.

Forsooth, I can only say that this world is not our permanent dwelling place. Someday, we shall all be at our final abode to reap what we sow in this TEMPORARY world.

May Allāh bestow upon us the best place to live in the afterlife. PMT

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Signed in the presence of;

•

(SGD) (SGD) MOHAMMAD HAMMAM B. IBRAHIM AIDAH LAUT MANGOTARUM

•

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

•

Republic of the Philippines) Province of Misamis Oriental) S.S. Municipality of Naawan ) BEFORE ME, personal appeared this 26th day of JULY 2021 at Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Parties are known to me to the same persons who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged to me that the same are their true acts and deeds.

That these documents consist of two (2) including the page on which this acknowledgement is written, has been signed on the left margin of each and every page thereof by the parties.

WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL…

(SGD) ATTY. SHIDIK T. ABANTAS NOTARY PUBLIC, UNTIL DEC. 31, 2021 FOR THE PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL SUR AND MARAWI CITY ROLL NO. 64031, PTR NO. 02903790, MARAWI CITY, 01|30|22 IBP OR NO. 32340, NC 434-18, TIN NO. 949-671-860 Doc. No. 162; Page No. 33; Book No. X; Series of 2021.

PMT: March 13, 2023; March 20, 2023; March 27, 2023.

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ONE (1) LAYOUT ARTIST With knowledge on InDesign or Photoshop.

At least college level Iligan City-based.

ONE (1) ADMIN STAFF With knowledge on Simple Bookkeeping and Filing At least college level Iligan City-based.

ONE (1) MALE DRIVER Not over 55 years old With Driver’s License At least college level Iligan City-based With NBI & Police Clearance Apply in person at Philippine Muslim Today office located at: Consunji St., Poblacion, Iligan City (adjacent of Emcor Motors)

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Vol. III, No. 39 | Mar. 13-19, 2023 (Sha’ban 20-26, 1444)

(COURTESY OF BRO. ABDULSALAM BATAO)