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A
welcome piece of good news is that the government and
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are due to sign
a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain.
This is
a big breakthrough as it paves the way for a resumption
of stalled political negotiations brokered by
neighboring Malaysia. If the talks succeed, then we
might see a comprehensive peace agreement that could
lead to the long-delayed socioeconomic development of
Muslim Mindanao.
Underlying the agreement on ancestral domain is the
government’s recognition of the Bangsamoro as a distinct
people.
The
Bangsamoro refers to those who are natives or original
inhabitants of Mindanao and its adjacent islands,
including Palawan and the Sulu archipelago, at the time
of conquest or colonization and their descendants.
The
government will grant the Bangsamoro their own distinct
territory consisting of the present geographic area of
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Subject
to plebiscite, additional geographic areas in Sultan
Kudarat, Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato will be
included in the Bangsamoro homeland. The
homeland/territory will encompass ancestral, communal
and customary lands; maritime, fluvial and alluvial
domains; as well as all natural resources therein that
have inured or vested ancestral rights on the basis of
native title.
The
government will allow the Bangsamoro to establish their
own government. The Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE)
shall have authority and jurisdiction over the
territory. The relationship between the national
government and the BJE shall be characterized by shared
authority and responsibility, with a structure of
governance based on executive, legislative, judicial and
administrative institutions with defined powers and
functions.
The
urgent need for a peace agreement is underscored by the
status of ARMM as one of the most impoverished areas in
the Philippines. Poverty incidence in the region is a
high 45.4 percent in 2003, almost twice the national
average of 24.4 percent. In 2005, ARMM had a per-capita
gross regional domestic product of only P3,433, which is
75.8 percent lower than the national average of P14,186.
It ranks the lowest among the country’s 17 regions, with
the second-lowest region having a per-capita income
almost double that of ARMM.
The ARMM
was officially established in November 1990. But since
then, peace and progress have proved elusive for Muslim
Mindanao. The agreement on ancestral domain is a big
step forward, and offers a ray of hope that peace and
development will finally come to Southern Philippines.
Heart of
stone
With
many Filipinos now reeling from high prices of food and
fuel, along comes the National Power Corp. (Napocor)
filing with the Energy Regulatory Commission a petition
for a rate increase.
This is
not only utter insensitivity to the plight of consumers,
but downright cruelty, if you ask me.
In its
application for rate increase last month, Napocor said
it needed to adjust its Luzon grid rates from P3.89 to
P4.26 per kilowatt-hour because it has already
privatized three of its power plants: the 112-megawatt
(MW) Pantabangan-Masiway hydroelectric power plant,
36-MW Magat hydroelectric power plant and 600-MW
Masinloc coal-fired power plant.
But this
is a poor excuse for raising its power-generation rates
as Napocor is now engaged in short-term coal procurement
where overpricing seems to be the norm, rather than
long-term coal-supply contracts.
If the
state-run firm had signed long-term contracts with
legitimate coal suppliers, where a fixed price for the
procurement is required, then its power-generation rate
would not be as sky-high as it is today. At a time when
consumers are already suffering from double-digit
inflation, another increase in our electricity bills is
simply unconscionable.
But we
could be enjoying lower electricity rates soon with the
recent decision of the House Committee on Energy, headed
by Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, not to push through with
amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira)
regarding the acceleration of open access.
According to Arroyo, “Our proposed amendment to the
Epira to expedite open access has been overtaken by
events, so it’s not a wise move that we continue
debating because the policy to accelerate it has already
been agreed upon by the industry.” Open access allows
electricity end-users, particularly those with power
consumption of 1 MW and up, to choose their power
suppliers.
Epira
amendments were made to appear to uphold consumer
welfare. But these supposed amendments were really
intended by vested interests to delay, if not altogether
stop, reforms in the power sector that would benefit
end-consumers. Open access and retail competition are
what will ultimately bring down electricity rates.
Bird of
prey
Who is
this official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in
Cagayan de Oro City who’s said to be laughing all the
way to the bank because he has this habit of shaking
down individuals and business establishments with
threats of tax-evasion cases unless they come across?
We don’t
know if the BIR main office is aware of the overzealous
entrepreneurial activities of this particular official.
But perhaps they should find out if there is indeed
bureaucrat capitalism going on in their Cagayan de Oro
office. The government does not condone the use of
public office for private gain, di ba?
E-mail:
ernhil@yahoo.com |
