The Bangsamoro Comprehensive Peace Agreement

THE BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW

The 1996 ARMM Law. This law, which created the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), will be incorporated in the to-be enacted Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Transition Commission. The Bangsamoro Transition Commission will draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law under a deadline set on March 31 to allow President Benigno S. Aquino III time to review the law and submit it to Congress in June for enactment. The Congress is set to pass the law on December 31, 2014.

Regional Plebiscite. Once passed, a plebiscite will be held within the first quarter of 2015 in areas identified to form the Bangsamoro, namely the current cities and provinces of the ARMM, the cities of Isabela and Cotabato, six munificipalities in Lanao Del Norte, and 39 barangays in six municipalities in Cotabato province.

SIGNING

Finally, the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro is set on March 27 at the Malacañang Palace. 

MNLF Factions Invited

Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles announced the invitation sent to at least 20 representatives of the three MNLF factions. These factions are the MNLF Freedom Fighters 90 (consists of the original founders of MNLF and pioneers of the Bangsamoro struggle),  Those invited include:

          Freedom Fighters 90 (FF90)

                    Hadji Abdul Kahyr Alonto - chairman

          Council of 15

                    Muslimin Sema - chairman

          Nur Misuari Faction

                    Jimmy Labawan - vice chairman

Sources

San Pedro, Dexter: "MNLF factions invited to witness signing of pact with MILF - Deles," InterAksyon.com 25 March 2014

Moody's Analytics: PH Likely to Grow Fastest in Asia in 2014

The Moody's Analytics, the economic forecasting unit of rater Moody's Corporation, predicts that the Philippines will grow between 5.3 to 6.5 percent in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014. It is lower than the government's target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent; but higher than the expected regional growth of 5.0 percent. 

Source

Burgonio, Maricel E: "Philippines to lead Asian economic growth in 2014--Moody's Analytics," InterAksyon.com 25 March 2014

The Rehabilitation of the Yolanda-Devastated Land

On 8 November 2013 the country faced the most devastating typhoon the world has ever recorded at landfall. The eye of the storm made its first landfall in Guiuan, Easern Samar. With a one-minute sustained winds of 315 km/h, it easily surpassed the old record of 305 km/h of the Atlantic Hurricane Camille in 1969.

Super-typhoon Yolanda [international name: HAIYAN] devastated 171 municipalities, around 4,971 barangays (villages), covering an area of 25,000 square kilometers, and affecting 6.6 million Filipinos. Confirmed deaths ran at 6,308 while 1,061 people remained missing. 

REHABILITATION

On 2 December 2013, former Senator Panfilo Lacson accepted his appointment as the helmsman of the government effort to rehabilitate the areas devastated by supertyphoon Yolanda. The 2013 General Appropriations Act set aside P40.9 billion with Senate supplementation of P14.5 billion. And it will be his department that will manage this money to effect a complete rehabilitation of those places. 

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

Australia - The Australian government committed on 25 March 2014 an additional aid of A$30 million (PHP403 million) plus A$20 million (PHP808 million) specifically to build classrooms. In November 2013, it provided A$40 million (PHP1.6 million) for emergency relief, logistical support and classroom rehabilitation.

Japan - The Japanese government provided additional US$3.5 million on 24 March 2014 through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP),  bringing its total donations to US$7.0 million. It also provided US$34.39 million to various international organizations directly involved in providing reliefs of food, shelter, early recovery, livelihood, water and sanitation, nutrition, health, education and coordination.

 

Sources

______: "Australia, Japan Intensifies Post-Yolanda Aid' 2014 March 25 InterAksyon.com