BusinessWeek Mindanao (December 3-4, 2021)

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BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O CREDIBLE

Volume XII, No. 75

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UN backs labor sector COTABATO City – A United Nations UN) representative has vowed to support the labor sector of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as the fledgling political entity continues to harness its regional resources, including its industries. Gustavo Gonzales, the UN resident coordinator to the Philippines, gave the assurance as he said more than half of their development projects in the country are in the BARMM as part of its support to the southern Philippines peace process. “This is what Mr. Gonzales told me when we had a meeting on Tuesday,” BARMM’s Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) Minister Romeo Sema echoed Gonzales in a statement on Wednesday, adding that 65 percent of UN’s development support projects are mostly in the Bangsamoro region.

IN-DEPTH

Court junks cases vs jailed NGO workers www.businessweekmindanao.com

AS OF 6:00 PM DECEMBER 2, 2021 (THURSDAY)

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Fri-Sat|December 3-4, 2021

By FROILAN GALLARDO., MindaNews

LOCAL court here had dismissed the cases against 17 NGO workers detained in Agusan del Sur for kidnapping and robbery charges almost six months ago, but their lawyers only got their copies of the decision on Wednesday morning, Dec. 1.

In his decision dismissing the cases and ordering the release of the accused, Judge Fernando Fudalan Jr., of the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Bayugan City said they have been detained for over a year without the “benefit of a speedy trial” following delays by the prosecution. The 17 accused were mostly members of Karapatan,

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More Vis-Min flights PHILIPPINE Airlines, Inc. (PAL) announced on Monday that it would expand its services in the Visayas and Mindanao in anticipation of increased demand during the upcoming holiday season. The flag carrier will resume services from Iloilo to Cebu and General Santos City on Dec. 7 and from Iloilo to Davao on Dec. 8. “The expanded route network will increase connectivity between the Visayas and Mindanao just in time for the peak holiday season, enabling more people to reunite with families in their home provinces,” PAL said in an e-mailed statement.

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A l li ance of C oncer ne d Teachers, Kadamay and other organizations in Northern Mindanao. Fudalan also assailed the use by the prosecution of “John Does” in the arrest war rants for t he NGO workers. He said for “John Doe” warrants to be valid, they should have the description of

the appearance of the accused, which the prosecution failed to establish. The decision was promulgated last June 10 but the lawyers of the accused only got their copies on Wednesday morning. Thirty-five other accused, including former National Democratic Front consultant CASES/PAGE 6

‘Bayanihan’ vax drive boosts inoculation figures in CDO

Farmers' aid COTABATO Citg – Farmers’ cooperatives in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are seen to improve their productivity and revenue after receiving interventions from the region’s agriculture office. On Wednesday, 22 different farmers’ cooperatives in the BARMM areas of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, and 63 villages in North Cotabato have received organic inputs and chemical supplies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) during ceremonies at the MAFAR covered court here. Other BARMM component areas set to receive the same farm inputs soon are the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

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Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press awardee for the following: 2013 Best in Business and Economic Reporting 2014 Best in Environmental Reporting 2017 Best in Business and Economic Reporting 2018 Best in Business and Economic Reporting

GLITTERING LIGHTS. The municipal hall of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte on Wednesday night.

War-torn Lanao Norte town lights up Christmas display

mindanews photo by richel v . umel

THE average number of individuals being vaccinated daily in the city has improved since the three-day national coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination drive started on Monday, the local government said Wednesday. Mayor Os car Moreno s aid via online conference before the "Bayanihan, Bakunahan" of the national government, the city only recorded an average of 10,000 individuals vaccinated daily. But in the first two days of the three-day mass vaccination drive, the city has administered a total of 24,448 vaccines on November 29; and 29,183 on November 30, despite BOOST/PAGE 6

By RICHEL V. UMEL, MindaNews

KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte – This once war-torn municipality, usual hot spot in the war between government soldiers and Moro rebels since the 1970s, switched on its colorful Christmas display Wednesday evening, giving joy and hope to its Christian a n d Mu s l i m r e s i d e nt s as hundreds came to the municipal hall compound to witness the opening night after being locked down in their homes for almost two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The municipal hall façade was covered with multicolored Christmas lights. Atop are the words “Sikad Pa Kauswagan” – short for Sustainable Integrated Kauswagan Development and Peace Agenda. In March 2000, shortly

after the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) att acke d t he town and occupied its municipal government compound, tanks and other armored vehicles were stationed at the public plaza fronting the municipal hall. The attack prompted former President Joseph Estrada to declare an “all-out war” against the MILF, a war that spread in many parts of Mindanao and lasted several months. B u t o n We d n e s d a y evening, excited residents, showing their vaccine cards, came to the municipal government compound to see fireworks, a giant Christmas tree and globe, and colorful lights radiating around the flagpole. Voices of local singers filled the air. DISPLAY/PAGE 6

PEACE MEMORIAL PARK. What used to be Padian (market) in Marawi City where ISIS-aligned militant leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed is now a sprawling peace memorial park. photo by froilan gallardo

CDO execs warn jail time vs. using, making fake vax cards AUTHORITIES have warned individuals against using or manu f ac tu r ing f a ke vaccination cards following the arrest of a suspect caught counterfeiting the

government-issued document early this week. In a phone interview Thursday, Maj. Evan Viñas, city police spokesperson, said those who would be convicted

of falsifying documents will both be penalized and imprisoned for a minimum of two years. Article 172 of the Revised WARN/PAGE 6

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