Senator JV Ejercito visits ground zero in Marawi just recently

By Jun Enriquez

Iligan City Councilor Samuel "Tatay" Huertas (2nd left); Senator JV Ejercito (3rd left); Mr. Pendatun "Penny" Disimban (4th left); Marawi Sultan Hamidullah Atar (2nd right)

Iligan City - Senator JV Ejercito was the first senator visited the ground zero in Marawi on November 18, 2017 to see the extent of the damaged brought by the five-month atrocities between the government forces and the Maute-ISIS. Ejercito said that Marawi ground zero was heavily devastated. Building structures cannot be simply repaired but it needs to be demolished and construct a new unit again because it’s unsafe to retain the remaining pieces of structures to be included in the construction. He said the reconstruction of building units must have participation from the traditional leaders to preserve cultural heritage on building houses.

There shall be a consultation forum to be held in the future with the IDPs stakeholders, Task Force Bangon Marawi, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and other agencies to assess the needs for rebuilding Marawi. The IDPs stakeholders who are the rightful beneficiaries must be included in the decision-making process on rebuilding and rehabilitation of Marawi City.

Ejercito is the chairman of the Senate housing committee assures to bring the said issues in the Senate.  He said there must be investigation to be conducted why the Marawi siege was happened and verify reports that there were personalities behind supporting the Maute-ISIS.

Pendatun “Penny” Disimban, President, Assalam Bangsamoro People’s Association, Inc.  and Ranao Rescue team hosted a forum on “Marawi Multi-Sectoral Forum on Housing” at Alemania Hotel this city, invited Senator Ejercito as the Guest Speaker. Disimban said the purpose of the forum is to air their sentiments about the housing construction for the IDPs and rehabilitation in general.  

During the forum Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra and Lanao del Sur Governor Adiong or any of their representatives were not around for unknown reasons. In the said forum one of the issues and concerns raised was about the land occupied by the Maranaos in Marawi city declared military reservation must be resolved. It was added that the land of the Muslims in Mindanao were distributed to the people coming from the North in Luzon and Visayas and the land in Marawi is owned by the Maranaos as their ancestral domain since time immemorial before the coming of Spaniards more than 400 years now.

 

Another issue taken was about the underground of Masjid Marawi was not made to be used for the war but was made for madrasah spaces for Arabic school like other buildings in Manila with underground spaces for office used and other usages.

Issues on education on private schools were left unattended must be included in the rehabilitation plan. Maute members killed in the battle have children left behind must be provided with humanitarian assistance otherwise they will be grown up unattended and will be potential to be armed again and land another atrocities as a revenge to their parents.

Ejercito said he will look all the possibilities to work in the Senate to end the problem on violent extremism in the country.

Iligan City Councilor Samuel “Tatay” Huertas who is also a businessman said that the business in Iligan City was affected due to the Marawi incident. He said 30 per cent more or less the business in Iligan City slowed down because most of the people in Marawi and Lanao Sur are clients to the businesses in Iligan City. Huertas said since the Marawi siege started there was no cases of spillover of incidents from Marawi crisis with strict implementation of security measures.

at left, Prof. Darwin Manubag

Iligan City MSU-IIT Professor Darwin Manubag, Past President, Jaycess International, Iligan chapter and Jaycees National Training Director said Senator JV Ejercito is also a JCI Senator and past National President, JCI Philippines, will be invited to come in Iligan City on October next year for the JCI national convention to be held here. 

Other personalities present during the dinner meeting were Iligan city Congressman Freddie Siao; BGen William Alunday and Col. James Enriquez, Brigade Commander and Deputy Brigade Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army respectively, among others. Photos By Jun Enriquez

Kampilan Troopers Lauds a HEROES Welcome for 12MECH Infantry CO and 3Lact after Marawi Liberation

By:Liz Miso

Maguindanao – at 6ID (Kampilan) Grandstand, Camp Brigadier General Gonzalo H Siongco, Awang ,Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao lauds the troops all the way from Marawi of Kampilan Troopers who just deployed in Joint Task Force Marawi during the heavy firefights that lasted for five consecutive months away from their love ones, siblings and families. The significant event, a heroes’ welcome of troopers  was conducted on November 9, 2017.

In a statement, Colonel Steve Crispillo INF (GSC)PA, the chief of Staff of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division the 12th Mechanized Infantry Company, First Mechanized Battalion, Mechanized Brigade and the 3rd Light Armor Cavalry Troops were part of the Joint Task Force Central forces that were immediately deployed in Marawi City together with 61DRC, 62DRC and 63DRC. These respective units who played a significant role in the liberation of the besieged city along with the other augment troopers of the government.

The Mechanized and armor units formed part of the Task Group Bakal to provide armor support to the ground troops during the implementation of OPLAN LIBERATION. One of their notable accomplishments that successfully recovered of trapped and wounded personnel of 10^th IB despite imminent and unyielding sniper fires from the enemy on the firing line. Likewise, in conjunction with task Group Vector and Task Group Panther, these consolidated efforts who participated in the assault of enemy strongholds provided a cover fires to the assaulting troops. Indeed our heroes from their end increased the survival mode of the operating troops from the ISIS-Inspired Maute Group.

At the height of the conflict up to the liberation of Marawi City, these armor units together with other JTF Central Forces who were also deployed shortly after the siege, triumphantly performed their mandated task that hurdled immensely to the accomplishments of the Joint Task Force Marawi and Western Mindanao Command's mission. Mixed emotions of the family of the soldiers found on their Heroes Welcome

Iligan City Govt. consolidates tax delinquent worth 4.6 B into NSC ownership

By Jun Enriquez

Hundreds of people in Iligan City witnessed the event.

Iligan City - This is the day the Lord has made to own the National Steel Corporation (NSC) and bring back its poise to operate again, said Iligan City Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, a Priest on Sabbatical leave, during the Inauguration of the Consolidation of ownership of the (NSC) properties to the City Government of Iligan held on November 6, 2017 at the ground of the NSC administration building, Suarez, Iligan City, attended by other public officials such as the Iligan city councilors, Barangay officials, national and local government executives, including private business executives and hundreds of iliganons witnessed the event. Atty Dexter Rey Sumaoy, City Administrator and Atty. Rafael Benedictos, Jr. Chief of Staff, office of the Mayor were also help facilitated for the success of the event.

At the table, Iligan City Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz

Vera Cruz said during the time NSC operates the people in Iligan city experienced excellent economic condition and enjoyed prosperity in life with substantive paid salaries. When the NSC stops operation the economy of Iligan city went down and thousands of people became jobless resulted to the increase of poverty incidence. He said due to frustrations many people go into illegal drugs to forget problems they encountered in life and worst others went into the proliferation of illegal drugs as alternative livelihood resulted to high crime incidence. Vera Cruz in his promised said the executive and legislative under the Regencia administration will not go in any way to get “kick back” or get contracts out of NSC operation.

Atty. Voltaire Rovera

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Linda O. Boniao said that DTI places as priority partner in the development.

Atty. Voltaire Rovira, Iligan City legal officer and head of the NSC Working Group (NSCWG), who is the architect of the tax delinquent recovery of NSC said that Iligan City Treasurer Louela Maybituin was the hero in the fight of acquiring the ownership of NSC. The government Treasurers has the sole powers to warrant tax delinquents.

Iligan City Mayor Celso G. Regencia said that NSC need Low cost electricity to sustain its future operation. The source of power to operate NSC is essentially coming from Hydro power plant of the National Power Corporation (NPC) that generates an average of 100 megawatts (MW) to be the potential power supply. Regencia said that mix power is disadvantageous and will not be used in the operation because of its high cost power rates, composed of power sources from diesel or bunker fuel generation, geothermal, coal among others.

Iligan City Mayor Celso G. Regencia

Regencia said that Iligan City is the host city of hydro power plants such as Agus Plant no. 5, 6 and 7, is entitled 25 percent priority load dispatch from generation in case of emergency crisis, especially that Mindanao still under Martial law and people are in need of jobs and livelihood to earn a living. The 3 hydro power plants situated in Iligan city estimated to produce at an average of 100 megawatts (MW) per power plant unit or a total of 300 MW estimated power production. at this point, the 25 percent load dispatch is equivalent to 75 mw more than enough to energize Iligan City including NSC operation which will need only 58 mw, said Regencia. The steel plant will bring raw materials to become an integrated steel plant to manufacture cars, shipbuilding, including arms and ammunitions, and other steel products.

Regencia said NSC tax delinquent is amounted to 4.6 Billion pesos from 2004 to date. From 1999 to 2004 the tax delinquent is amounted to 997 Million pesos only. Previous administration agreed to receive 140 Million from the Liquidator as compromise payment of tax delinquents in billions of pesos but only 130 Million pesos was allegedly officially received, said Regencia. The total asset of NSC is worth 20 billion pesos.

The 4.6 billion pesos through tax delinquent will served as an equity of the LGU as soon as the NSC will operate and will not be taken from the investors in order not to hamper their capital investments. At this point, the local government of Iligan City will allow at least two seats in the corporate board of director when the steel plant to operate soon.

Engr. Bert Oller, a former Manager of NSC and head of the technical study of the NSCWG said during the 1980s to 1990s, the operation of NSC was in a heyday.  Sometime in 1990 to1994 the NSC operation was privatized and operated by a Malaysian company and transfer to another Malaysian company. In 1998 to1999, NSC was totally closed.

In 2004, NSC was assumed by the Indian company, Global Steel Phils. Inc.. In June 2010, global Steel stopped their operation. Oller said that was the time that the Global Steel filed a case against the NSC liquidator questioning the NSC properties was not transferred to Global steel company. 

Oller said that NSC was on Auction sale started on October 19, 2016, by law the owner has one year to redeem property. The auction sale was closed after one year had lapsed, the LGU of Iligan through the City Treasurer forfeited the redemption. Oller said there is no need for court order of NSC ownership acquisition because all the procedure is within the bounds of the law. The first step is the acquisition of ownership the next step is to invite investors. There were already group of businessmen came and visited NSC, two Koreans, one Japanese and one local investors. The NSCWG was tasked by the Mayor to look all possibilities to talk, listen and ensure that the investor is really qualified of their capital investments and track record in operating steel plant. Photos by Jac Macatimbol.