IP barangay leaders asked to help settle tribal violence in Bukidnon

 

The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) has asked Indigineous People (IP) tribal leaders and the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) to help resolve the suspected “pangayaw” or tribal war in the Bukidnon town of Kitaotao.

Lt. Col Ezra Balagtey, Eastmincom spokesperson, said the conflict has already displaced families belonging to the indigenous people (IP) in the area. A number of families, he said, had fled to nearby Arakan town in North Cotabato to escape the violence.

“We are calling the tribal group concerned to resolve their issue through their respective IP leaders, of course with the intervention of the NCIP office,” Balagtey said.


Balagtey assured that the military and other law enforcement agencies would not allow the conflict to escalate and spill into neighboring communities.

“Our job is to protect everyone,” the military official said.

Police reports indicated that villagers in the remote Barangay Tawas fled to Arakan Valley in North Cotabato after eight armed men entered the area on Monday, allegedly to avenge the killing of a relative.

Killed during the suspected “pangayaw” was 61-year-old Rodulfo Caingles Handuman, who was stabbed and hacked in different parts of his body.

The Kitaotao Municipal Police Station identified one of the armed men as Tudan Uban, a resident of Barangay Sinuda, Kitaotao. Tudan and the other suspects fled after the killing.

Capt. Norman Tagros, civil-military operations officer (CMO) of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, said the tribal conflict stemmed from a stabbing incident that occurred at a public dance, where a member of a Matigsalug tribe was killed.

“Then the members of the tribe (and the victim’s) relatives fought back. They were able to kill one person (Handuman). Unfortunately, it was a mistaken identity,” Tagros said.
An investigation by the local police is still ongoing as of posting time, Tagros said. (Rhoda Grace Saron)

Source of news: Philippine News Agency https://www.ptvnews.ph/ip-leaders-ncip-asked-to-help-settle-bukidnon-tribal-violence/ 

Photo Credits: (1) Members of a Bukidnon tribal group in their ceremonial costumes, Bonzeti Panganiban; (2)
Photo of Arakan town people and Mayor Rene B. Rubino, MDRRMC Facebook page


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Free WiFi for all of Bohol barangays pushed

The Liga ng mga Barangay in the Province of Bohol is pushing for the installation of internet and Wifi connections in all of the province's 1109 barangay halls for the public's free use.

The LNB led by its President, ex-officio Board Member Romulo Cepedoza, filed a resolution appealing to Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Chair of Congress' committee on information and communications technology, to support the initiative at the Lower House.

In the resolution filed in latter part of September, the LNB highlighted the need for WiFi in the province's barangay halls due to the growing number of local and foreign tourists, who are like to need connectivity.

The initiative would also be implemented in accordance with President Duterte's previously mentioned drive to provide WiFi in all government offices and public areas.

Meanwhile, several municipal halls and government facilities including the airport and seaports in the province have stated to offer free WiFi to the public. 

SOURCE OF NEWS/PHOTO:  The Bohol Chronicle Daily  http://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2018/10/05/lnb-pushes-for-free-wi-fi-at-bohols-1109-barangay-halls/ 


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City of San Fernando holds barangay tourism summit

A tourism stakeholders summit for barangay tourism councils was held recently through the initiative of City Tourism Office of San Fernando City in Pampanga and the Department of Tourism.

The event, which was held last September 28, 2018 at Heroes Hall, aims to strengthen the state of tourism at the barangay level by promoting their cultures and traditions, historical landmarks, unique cuisine and products to the local and as well as foreign tourists.

Source of news and photo: Orbit News Online. 

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Dinagat Islands Barangay Information Officers given capability training

The Provincial Information Office of Dinagat Islands strengthened the capability of its Barangay Information Officers (BIOs) through the conduct of orientation and capability seminar on September 11-24, 2018 in the seven municipalities of the province.

The orientation and capability seminar purposely aimed to have direct access and linkages with the barangay community and enable BIOs to act as reporters via radio or cable TV news, provided that they can comply with requirements duly set by the local government unit of the province.
 
During the said activity, the BIOs were oriented on disseminating information about how to be prepared in times of calamities and disasters such as floods, earthquake, fire, storm surge, tsunami, typhoon and landslide, mobile photography and how to avail the services of PUSO (Public Utility Services Outreach) program of the province.
 
The BIOs were also given a flashdrive, compact disc, tarpaulin and brochures that include the Early Warning System videos for them to be prepared in times of disasters and calamities.
 
The activity was participated by MIOs (Municipal Information Officers); BIOs (Barangay Information Officers); and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (MDRRMOs) from the towns of Loreto, Tubajon, Libjo, Basilisa, Cagdianao and Dinagat. (PIO-Dinagat Islands)

Source of news:Philippine Information Agency  Photo credit: Dinagat Islands Capitol Bldg., RMN Networks. 


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Kidapawan City barangay site of watershed encroachment case

The Metro Kidapawan Water District (MKWD) has filed charges against an Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative (IPMR) from Kidapawan City who led a group of tribal people that allegedly encroached on a watershed area at Mt. Apo.

MKWD general manager Stella Gonzales said that two weeks ago, IPMR and ex-officio councilor Raden Igwas fenced off the area consisting of about 600 hectares, at Barangay Perez.  The area, according to Gonzales, is source of potable drinking water for thousands of households in the city and nearby Matalam town in North Cotabato.
 
During a barangay consultation on Saturday, Gonzales showed photographs to residents of Barangay Perez where a signage states: “This is the Property of Rodolfo Y. Gantuangco.”
 
Gonzales accused Igwas of fencing off the area and putting the signage.
 
Gantuangco is former mayor of Kidapawan City.  Accordingly, the Igwas clan sold the land to Gantuangco and in turn sold the area to a Manila-based businessman.
 
“How come IPMR Igwas is claiming such land if the MKWD has prior rights over it?   The area is considered watershed.  We’ve been in the place since the 1950s,” Gonzales said, adding that the other party’s claim of ownership started only this year.
 
MKWD legal counsel Christoper Cabilen, concurrent city legal officer, said the area was sold to a doctor-turned-businessman who wanted to construct a 600-hectare resort.
 
“This is not about the IP rights over their ancestral domain.   No.  This is about selling the lot to an investor so that a swimming resort could be constructed in the area.  Their intrusion to the area is, by all means, questionable, since it is a watershed, that’s why a case has been filed,” said Cabilen.
 
Mayor Joseph Evangelista called for a barangay consultation in Barangay Perez on Saturdayand among those who attended were MKWD manager Gonzales, Cabilen, barangay Perez chair and his council, and several department managers of the city government.
 
Evangelista said he monitored two weeks ago the presence of 15 armed men who called themselves ‘Bagani,’guarding the area.  The mayor said he wanted to know if the firearms used by these Baganis were licensed or if these people have license to carry guns outside their residences.
 
In the meantime, Gonzales said her office is bent on pursuing the case against Igwas despite appeals from a tribal group and from the barangay council. (Malu Cadelina-Manar)

Source of news: Minda News. Photo Credit: Kidapawan Water District/Facebook.


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80 Cebu City village chiefs tasked to form barangay eco committees

All 80 barangay captains in Cebu City are mandated to create Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Committee (BESWMC) for further monitoring of waste segregation, among others.

Association of Barangay Councils-Cebu City President Franklyn Ong said the Department of the Interior and Local Government issued Memorandum No. 2018-112 directing all barangay captains to issue an executive order for the creation of BESWMC.

As of now, Ong said only the barangay captain and the chairman of the City Council committee on environment are involved in formulating policy for the solid waste management of the barangay.

He already issued a memorandum to all 80 barangay captains on the issuance of the executive order for the creation of the committee.

“Nag-issue lang kog circular memorandum nga all the punong barangays should issue an executive order. We just provided them the template, each of them should issue executive order,” he added.

During the third general assembly of the barangay captains last Wednesday, Ong also reminded the barangay captains of the issuance of the executive order.

For easy reference of the barangay captains, he provided a copy of the draft executive order that can be used by the barangays.

In the draft EO, the composition of the BESWMC is consisting of the barangay captain as chairperson and the members are; one barangay councilor, SK chairperson, president of homeowners association, public/private school principals or representatives, representatives of Parents, Teachers Association, religious organization, environmental NGO, junkshop owners, bus community, and market vendors.

The committee has several functions such as the formulation of the solid waste management program, segregation, and collection of biodegradable and other wastes, the establishment of materials recovery facility, allocation of barangay funds.

They should also submit monthly report to the Cebu City government.

Ong cited that Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provides the creation of the barangay solid waste management committee.

He said those barangay captains who have issued the executive order should furnish the office of ABC for its guidance. (Jean Marvette Demecillo)

Source of news: The Freeman Photo credit: SlideShare

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Batangas mayor who removed Liga president from post gets jail term

The mayor of Laurel, Batangas has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison over the ouster of the president of the town’s Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in 2012.

Randy James Amo and his co-accused Severino Endaya Jr., chairman of Barangay Poblacion 3, were found guilty of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Sandiganbayan’s First Division said in a 40-page decision promulgated on Sept. 24 and released yesterday.

Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 prohibits public officials from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to any party or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

Amo and Endaya were also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman last year, the case stemmed from the ouster of Eusebio Bilog, chairman of Barangay Bugaan West, as ABC-Laurel president.

The ombudsman said Endaya was elected to replace Bilog even though the election “was not in accordance” with the constitution and by-laws of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas.
Aside from supporting the illegal election, graft probers said Amo issued a memorandum withholding Bilog’s salaries and benefits. 

The Sandiganbayan gave weight to the testimonies of officials of the Sangguniang Bayan, Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Calabarzon affirming the legitimacy of Bilog’s assumption of the post as ABC president following the death of its former president Cantucan Carsocho. Bilog was Laurel ABC vice president at the time.

“Meddling with the affairs of the Liga to suit his political agenda, supporting the manifesto to hold an election...and... unjustly depriving Bilog of his salary and other benefits... despite demands to release the same, constitute evident bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence,”the Sandiganbayan ruling read.

The Sandiganbayan also cited a letter of the DILG-Calabarzon office to the Sangguniang Bayan of Laurel that Bilog was the legitimate president of the town’s ABC and there was no need for an election because there was no vacancy. 

Amo “did not lift a finger” despite the opinion of the DILG, the court said.

“Up to the present, (Amo) ... failed to act on the demand of Bilog to release his salaries and benefits despite the recognition by the National Liga,” the court added. (Elizabeth Marcelo)

Source of news and photo: Philippine Star