Friday, August 26, 2016

MMM conducts 3rd induction of officers and invites OPAPP Sec. Dureza, PCO Sec. Andanar

By Phil Pa-alan, MMM Director


MMM officers, members, & other Guests with (seated) ASEC Banaag in red dress beside her at right is MMM Pres. Enriquez
Oroquieta City- Some people say that it was a big event for the media in Oroquieta City on August 17, 2016 with the Induction of officers of the Manggagawang Media ng Mindanao (MMM) held its 3rd induction of officers at Rhovics place this city, with Secretary Jesus Dureza, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace process (OPAPP) and Secretary Martin Andanar, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) as the invited guest speaker and inducting officer, respectively. Unfortunately, due to prior important appointments both the invitees were unable to attend the media gathering as they have to leave for Kuala Lumpur Malaysia for a meeting with the MILF. Despite their physical absence, Secretary Dureza sent his message for the officers and members of the MMM to ponder, while PCO Secretary Andanar sent his representative  in the person of Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag, a lawyer by profession as the inducting officer.

MMM Vice President Noel Manapsal welcome the guests, visitors and participants of the MMM affair. Secretary Dureza sent his message which was read by MMM Director Ric Clet of DWIZ Manila,

(from l-r) MMM VP Manapsal, ASEC Banaag & Tubod Bagy
Chair Joy Alquizar
OPAPP Secretary Jesus “Jess” Dureza in his message: I am extending my greetings to the newly-inducted officers of the Manggagawang Media ng Mindanao (MMM), as well as to your members across the island. I am grateful for your invitation but I regret that I cannot be with personally on this occasion because of our meeting with our brothers in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

As you all know I’ve been part of media prior to my stint in government, and even I am part of the bureaucracy I was still with my fellow media men and women as Presidential spokesperson and Press secretary during the administration of former Presidents Ramos and Arroyo, respectively. That’s why my absence tonight is a missed opportunity to be reunited with my friends and colleagues in the media.
Center-left, MMM Pres. Jun Enriquez awarded ASEC Banaag

Given that we have the first Mindanaoan President he is expecting the media friends of the MMM to contribute to the success of President Rodrigo Duterte’s endeavors - especially in the pursuit of peace, not only in Mindanao, but in the entire country. As media we have the power to direct the conversation in communities and even shape their views on almost all issues. We should take advantage of it use and use it as our leverage to ignite positive changes from the grassroots.

The six point in the Peace and Development Roadmap of the Duterte administration – which is about building and mainstreaming a culture of peace is where you can make a significant contribution information dissemination is always crucial in the peace process. Misunderstanding and misinformation can spark conflicts, with others resulting to the use of arms. You can be an instrument of peace. Our media friends should always endeavor to contribute in generating positive atmosphere in the local communities by providing information that makes our people understand the intricacies of our peace efforts.

As you all know, our meeting in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend has reinvigorated the optimism of our Bangsamoro people. We are now moving towards the full implementation of all signed Bangsamoro accords – resting on the principles of inclusivity, collaboration and cooperation to bring to our Moro brothers and sisters the peace that they long for.

Meanwhile later this week, we will also proceed to Oslo, Norway for the resumption of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines –new people’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) after being stalled for years. The government is ensuring that most of the detained rebels will be released in time for the formal opening on August 22. With an accelerated timeline, we are looking forward to forging peace with the communist rebels, who have been waging armed struggle for almost half a century now.

Inclusivity and people’s participation in the peace process can be fruitful when our people are well-informed and fully able to engage in the discussions. Journey with us, help us hurdle the challenges, be critical when needed. Friends in media, let us be partners in peace. Congratulations to new MMM officers
At left, PSSUPT Edgar Daniel

Police Senior Superintendent (PSSUPT) Edgar Daniel, Provincial Director of the  Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office (MOPPD), fully supports the peace efforts of the government and would do what needs to be done by all means and at all costs. Daniel said two weeks ago, President Duterte read the names in the list of political drug personalities. He said the City Mayor and Vice Mayor of Ozamiz City surrendered their firearms. He said the authority of the local chief executives relating to the appointment control and supervision of the local police force had been revoked. He said, “hope all of us will be helping in eliminating illegal drugs in our communities.”
At left, Lt. Col. Pompeyo Jason M. Almagro, PA
LT. Col. Pompeyo Jason M. Almagro, Battalion Commander of the 55th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, who represented Major General Gerardo Barrientos, Philippine Army, the designated representative of Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo Dela Cruz, also an invited guest. He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Western Mindanao Command particularly those assigned in Misamis Occidental are supporting the peace initiatives of the government by 100 percent and he sees the hope of attaining peace in Mindanao.

Public information Officer (PIO) Larry Enerio of Oroquieta City said that Mayor Jason Almonte is sending his apologies as he cannot be here tonight and he must to go back to Cagayan de Oro City for an important appointment. He said in our time media has not been united. He said it is important to inform the people of developments in Mindanao. He said Mindanao lags behind compared to other islands in the country in terms of development. Peace should be attained in Mindanao to promote development in our communities, and the people should be informed so they could decide effectively. We cannot ignore Mindanao because Mindanao is the food basket of the country. Enerio said we should know the truth and the truth shall set us free.” Enerio indeed the community should work for peace in Mindanao.
At left, MMM President Jun Enriquez, delivered a message

In his acceptance speech, MMM President Jun Enriquez, a broadcast and peace journalist, a blogger and at the same time peace advocate, Managing Director of the Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace (CSO-FP), based in Iligan City is advocating for a just and lasting peace for Mindanao. Adding that MMM is a media organization for peace. He said the MMM is practicing peace journalism by conducting media forum for peace so that the members will be updated of the ongoing peace process. However, funds will always be a challenge in disseminating information and education activities. He said there is nothing wrong in advocating peace journalism rather than advocating for war.  The MMM was organized on March 9, 2009 in Iligan City through the efforts of the CSO-FP, a peace advocacy network of non-government organizations (NGOs) based in Iligan City. The MMM composed of the independent media personalities in Northwestern Mindanao considered to be the alternative media for peace especially in peace reportage on the updates of the GPH-MILF peace process and now to include the GPH-CPP/NPA/ NDF peace talks.
MMM members & Officers with ASEC Banaag

Enriquez said inclusive peace dialogue policies adopted by the government could lead to the just and lasting peace for the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao. The inclusive peace dialogue key players such as the MILF, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other stakeholders could mutually agree in the establishment of a new Bangsamoro government unit focusing on the discussions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro(CAB), the 42 consensus points as the results of the tripartite review of the 1996 GRP-MNLF final peace agreement, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) defined in the peace roadmap of the Duterte Administration.

Enriquez said that the Bangsamoro Basic law was not approved in the previous congress due to the constitutional issues. He gathered information that under the Duterte Administration, the new enabling law for the Bangsamoro can be approved in the present congress setting aside the constitutional issues, and the new Bangsamoro government unit (BGU) could be established. He said the information added that by addressing the constitutional issues in the enabling law for the new BGU can only be resolved through the establishment of federalism, a peace formula inclusive for all. 

Indeed Enriquez said the MMM will continue its peace journalism advocacy to inform and educate the people on the peace initiatives of the government. He said “we have to educate ourselves first before we educate others.” The MMM will pursue one united direction and continue to establish local chapters in different parts of Mindanao and practice the concept of federalism in the organization to become more responsive and resilient.
Ms. Lorry Gabule, standing, introduced ASEC Banaag

Ms. Lorry Gabule, manager of the office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) based in Iligan City introduced the Guest Speaker, Atty. Ana Marie Banaag, is the Assistant Secretary (ASEC) of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and Legal Affairs Office, an Igorot Tribe from the Mountain province, a lawyer by profession, finished her Masters of laws in Canberra, Australia, a former Director of the office of the Ombudsman, a former Mayor in a municipality of Paracelis, Mountain province.

Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag, in her speech: “Maayong gabii. Pahiyom ta permi para malipayon,” it means good evening, we smile always to be happy.

I am here to represent Secretary Martin Andanar who unfortunately cannot join you tonight due to some urgent and pressing matters that he has to attend to.
PCO ASEC Ana Marie Banaag, delivered her message

We live in challenging times. Mindanao is on a roll. Three of the country’s top leaders are sons of Mindanao. The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is from Davao City. The Senate President, Aquilino Pimentel III is from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. The House Speaker, Pantaleon Alvarez, is from Davao Del Norte. Imperial Manila has been shattered, and Mindanao, often called the Land of Fulfilment. With the island’s rich natural resource, there is no way that the economic promise of Mindanao will not be fulfilled.

Development, however, would only come if there is peace. It is this reason that President Duterte vowed to end the war and bring peace in Mindanao. He started to talk to the MILF even before he assumed the presidency.

I am pleased to report that within a record time of just six weeks soon after the start of the Duterte administration, the new architecture for peace between the government and the Bangsamoro has been drawn an crafted by the newly launched government peace panel and the MILF in Kuala Lumpur.
ASEC Banaag with the MMM officers & members

Secretary Jess Dureza, our keynote speaker, may talk about this at length in another occasion.

Relative to this, the Duterte administration is spending P7 trillion for infrastructure in the next six years, which includes implementing the Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allotted P31.5 billion for the Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network in 2017 – higher that the P19.5 billion allocation this year.

Things are certainly looking up and you – the media based here in Mindanao – are fortunate to witness the unleashing of the enormous potential of Mindanao. Thus, your theme “Community Reporting for Mindanao Progress and Development in line with the Duterte Administration in Achieving Mindanao’s Real and Inclusive Peace,” is timely and auspicious. You have your hands full reporting the latest peace and development initiatives of Mindanao.

Rebuilding a nation, however, is best done – as one British national daily newspaper wrote in its editorial – with constructive criticisms. Kayo pong mga media counterpart, mga kasamang private journalists ay inaasahan naming, kasama ng PNP, AFP at iba pang ahensiya ng gobyerno. Hindi po makakausad ang mga programa ng administrasyon pag hindi po naming kayo kaagapay na maging partner for change.

We are fully aware that the nature of media in the Philippines is adversarial and we in the government do not seek a compliant and patronizing media. What we therefore hope to seek is a middle ground where we have a vibrant press that would put agencies of government in check in the same vein a Fourth Estate that would Communicate government’s vision and policies to people without sacrificing the tenets of accuracy , truth, and fairness. Secretary Martin Andanar believes in building communication bridges because he acknowledges that people will never understand what they don’t know. Let us communicate now and understand the President and the President’s program better.

Again, congratulations to the Manggagawang Media ng Mindanao! Mas maganda pag mag-usap usap at hindi mag kanya kanya para nice kayo. Daghang salamat sa inyong tanan!

In her closing remarks, MMM Director Edelyn Dela Cruz, publisher of the local paper LDN Today and Station Manager of the Radyo Natin in Lanao del Norte, extended her thanks to the guests, visitors and participants for joining the affair especially to Mayor Jason Almonte of Oroquieta for his able cooperation for the very successful event. She also extended her thanks to PCO ASEC Ana Marie Banaag for her energy of coming to the event from the North to South of the country. Dela Cruz finally stressed, “You can count on us to be partner in peace and bringing the government information closer to the people and widest public.” With reports & Photo by Jun Enriquez

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