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Byaheng Mindanao

Young Muslim leaders

Last August, young Mindanao leaders crafted a “peace and economic development action plan” solidifying their commitment in the role of peace-building and socio-economic growth in the region.

They were joined by no less than US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney. The activity also served as a reunion to all the graduates under USAID-GEM’s Congressional Internship Program for Young Muslims Leaders (CIPYML) who all had a chance to be a part in the country’s policy-making process.

Read the rest of this entry »

Westside

After the 12^th Mindanao Super Region meeting in Pagadian last July 1, the project monitoring team of MEDCo traversed the long and arduous route of Western Mindanao, which in a few months and years would be largely connected and accessible. The team, composed of Rupert, Tito (who endured miles), Art (“blessing” of the projects, hehe) and I, visited airports and road projects under the Mindanao Super Region development strategy. Below are some of the photos.

And while these critical infrastructure projects are long overdue for Mindanao, I would like to particularly take note of the unsung heroes, the “builders”, I should say who toiled incessantly even in the midst of the raging sun. I now know that an alternative and super-cheap way to get a tan is to expose yourself in airport runways and highways, hehe.

Of course, the road trip would not be complete without the bits and pieces of amusement that we encountered along the way.

UK expanded allowable areas for travel by British nationals in Mindanao

The MEDCo is pleased to announce that the United Kingdom (UK) has recently expanded its allowable areas for travel by British nationals in Mindanao.

Kindly read the following article by the Department of Foreign Affairs:

UK amends Travel Advisory to Expanded Areas in Mindanao

July 15, 2009 by DFA-PISU

PR-540-09, 15 July 2009 – The Philippine Embassy in London reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the British government has again amended its travel advisory to the Philippines allowing “essential travels” to most parts of Mindanao.

In May 2009, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) amended its travel advisory to the Philippines by lifting travel restrictions to the “east side of Mindanao.”

The latest travel advisory, issued by the UK FCO on July 12, expanded the allowable areas for travel to include all parts of Mindanao except Southwest Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. These areas include the provinces of Sarangani, North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

The UK’s latest amendment reflected its improving outlook for Mindanao. After three years of banning all travel to the region, the FCO revised its travel advisories following representations from the Philippine Embassy in London.

Early this July, a high-level delegation from the DFA and the Philippine Embassy met with FCO officials in London to request the British government to modify its advisory for Mindanao and allow British travelers to explore top tourism destinations there.

The latest amendment is expected to encourage more British investors and tourists to visit the Philippines. British travelers remain the largest European market for Philippine tourism. A total of 87,422 Britons visited the country in 2008, registering a 9.73 percent growth from the previous year.

Eco-tourism is of particular importance to the British market, especially for bird watching. The UK is home to some two million birdwatchers, which led Tourism Secretary Ace Durano to launch a bird-watching campaign in London in December 2008.

The complete Travel Advisory is accessible online at the UK FCO website www.fco.gov.uk.

Life goes on for Camp Abubacar grade-schoolers

Just recently, MEDCo together with NEDA and representatives from the Growth with Equity in Mindanao Phase 3 project (GEM-3) visited Abubacar Siddique Elementary School in Shariff Kabunsuan, Maguindanao. The place which is popularly known as Camp Abubacar, is the battle ground of the all-out war against the MILF in 2000. Aside from the hundreds of lives claimed by the war and the trauma it brought to the residents here during that time, the only elementary school in the area was also forced to close. Not until six years when they resumed classes.

In 2007, Abubacar Siddique Elementary School was fortunate to be one of the recipients of PETRON Schools, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of the PETRON Foundation where they give classrooms nationwide. The school building donated here costs about Php 2.5 million and now houses more than 400 students.

The school was a also a recipient of the Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) program of the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID) through the GEM. Two computers equipped with Internet capabilities (through a satellite system) were given to the school.

On the other hand, the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) project of the Australian Agency for International Aid (AusAID) and the Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills 2 (EQuALLS) of USAID provided capacity building activities to the school’s volunteer teachers. The school have seven volunteer teachers and are regularly sent to Manila or in Cebu for various workshops. BEAM provided these teachers with the Learning Guides to help them in their daily lessons.

The war in 2000 may have contributed significant losses to the lives of the people in this part of country, but to these school children, life goes on. AND wouldn’t it be nice if you would be part in rebuilding their community?

Managing Mindanao watersheds

In 2002, MEDCo spearheaded activities in coordination with the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and Philippine Watershed Management Coalition (PWMC) on watershed management. River basin committees were created and tapped for the conduct of roadshows in their respective river basins. The outputs were then processed by the technical working group (TWG) on Watershed and an action plan on priority issues identified was formulated. Thanks to all our partners who unselfishly share their expertise and time in this endeavor.

With the current emerging issues on environment and its effect to agricultural production, MEDCo will be reviving this initiative. It will also pave the way to a more coordinated approach in planning through the river basin approach. To all our environmental partners in Mindanao, we hope to work together with you again para sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan. Kudos mga kapatid

magtanim ay ‘di biro

Yesterday, some MEDCo staff participated in the tree planting activity spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in celebration of Arbor Day. The activity was conducted in 6 barangays located along the banks of the Davao River and participated in by government, academe, NGOs, and the private sector.

Thank you to the dedicated people from DENR who assisted us in the planting. The mud, grime and dirt was definitely worth the experience.

MEDCo staff receives Aussie scholarships

Two MEDCo staff has been granted long-term scholarships through the Philippine-Australia Human Resource Development Facility or PAHRDF, a program of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). Jonathan Miral, who left this June, and Ma. Evelia Ausa, who left early this year, will pursue one year studies in the University of Adelaide. (See feature story on Jon and Yang here.)

PAHRDF aims to assist partner national and local government agencies, academic institutions and private organizations to address key organizational needs through short-term and long-term human resource development programs.

UK travel ban to Mindanao lifted

The British government has actually banned its citizens from traveling to Mindanao for two years, specifically the “east side of Mindanao” due to “terrorist and insurgent activity”.

But last month the ban has already been lifted, according to the article in Philippine Daily Mirror website.

The amendment to the UK’s travel restrictions to Mindanao is a positive development that could now allow British citizens to obtain travel insurance for purposes of enjoying the surfs of Siargao, the idyllic sands of Pearl Farm in Davao City and white-water rafting in Cagayan de Oro, among others.

Travels to Mindanao by British Government officials during the past two years may have convinced the FCO that certain parts of Mindanao are relatively safe for British travellers to visit.

This is a positive development considering that our British mates accounts for the largest share of Europeans who travel to the country.

MEDCo blogs

Hi everyone! Welcome to the MEDCo Blog. We hope to update this blog soon on recent news and relevant information about Mindanao peace and development. We hope to also provide a more interactive forum where Mindanaons and non-Mindanaons can engage in. While we are on the process of enhancing this blog as well as our official website, we would like to hear from you how we can make better this blog.

While our comm/web team is coming up with a more catchy name, you might also have something worthwhile in mind. You’ll hear from us, soon! (And hope to hear from you, too.)

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