Solons seek to preserve, promote Mindanao traditional arts

By Jose Cielito Reganit  

MANILA -- Two Mindanao legislators have filed a bill pushing for the protection, preservation and promotion of traditional arts in Southern Philippines through the creation of the Institute of Sulu and Mindanao Traditional Arts, or INSUMINTRA.

Noting the island’s cultural diversity, House Bill No. 1580 was filed by House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman of the lone district of Basilan and Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party-list Rep. Amihilda J. Sangcopan.

Hataman, a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), pointed out that Mindanao is “also home” to 18 Lumad tribes, 13 different Moro races and more than 64 other ethnic groups who have lived in the island for centuries.

“The effect of this cultural diversity is strongly reflected in Mindanao traditional arts,” the Basilan lawmaker said in a statement Friday.

"Mindanao’s arts such as hand weaving, metallurgy, architecture, music and epic chanting have gained prominence and recognition from government agencies as well as in the private sector. And this holds true especially in the academe. But the chance of these arts surviving popular recognition under an environment of fast-changing technological advances is in question," Hataman said.

He said it is for this reason that he and Sangcopan are pushing for the immediate passage of HB 1580.

“There is a need for a distinct government agency that would conserve, appreciate and protect Mindanao’s arts and treasures, and that it is an urgent measure that Filipinos should support,” the former ARMM governor said.

"The creation of INSUMINTRA is long overdue. Kailangan na natin ng isang institusyon na magbibigay ng ayuda sa ating mga tradisyunal na sining at mga likha (We urgently need an institution that will support our traditional arts and artworks). This is why we are pushing for this bill and asking our colleagues to support Mindanao's traditional arts," Hataman stressed.

In the INSUMINTRA bill's explanatory note, Hataman and Sangcopan stressed that traditional arts in Mindanao and Sulu must be kept alive not only because they provide income for the artisans and their communities but, more importantly, because they are the remaining proof of the pre-colonial identity of the people of Mindanao and Sulu, and of all Filipinos.

If passed into law, INSUMINTRA would be an independent government agency, but it will be actively coordinating with other agencies engaged in similar functions and activities such as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

The institute will operate through a Board of Trustees reporting to the President and to Congress.

The Board would also have governance and policy-making powers, and will have the following composition: a Secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos; Chairpersons of the Mindanao Development Authority, the National Council on Indigenous Peoples, and the NCCA; a representative from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); the executive director of the INSUMINTRA; and five (5) members appointed by the President from the private sector who have significant backgrounds on Mindanao’s traditional arts and who are graduates of related fields specifically anthropology, education or social science.

INSUMINTRA’s secretariat will be led by an executive director that would be selected by the Board.

The principal offices of the institute will be located in Zamboanga City and in Maramag, Bukidnon. However, the Board could establish field offices in other areas on the island to ensure that its objectives are met. (PNA)

MOTC-BARMM Minister puts an end to issues hounding Marina Tawi-Tawi provincial office

MOTC-BARMM Minister Dickson Hermoso conduct his first ocular visit in Bongao port to settled issues and fix any problems for the better BARMM governance. During his visit he closely coordinated to  Lt. General Cirilito Sobejana, Commander of AFP’s Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM),  Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, 2nd Marine Brigade, Phil. Navy’s Naval Station Juan Magluyan (NAJM), Phil.Coast Guard and Phil. National Police in Tawi-Tawi are also in full support. ( Photo by Mark Navales.}

Bongao, Tawi-Tawi - Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provincial office in Tawi-Tawi has been in confusion in terms of leadership that prompted an immediate ocular inspection last  Tuesday, 6 August just earlier.

Minister of Transportation and Communications (MOTC)-BARMM, Dickson P. Hermoso conveyed a strong message to put an end the  issues of leadership of this office.

Minister Hermoso said, "The confusion of leadership in this office has to stop. no one can  assumes office without any proper legal authority that comes from the BARMM   Interim Chief Minister Alhaj  Murad Ibrahim, he said.

Before the turn-over of authority from the former ARMM to BARMM, this has been the prevailing concern in the Southwestern Island province of the Bangsamoro government.

Alonto A. Sahiron, MPA, Regional Officer-in-Charge of MARINA-BARMM said "this ocular visit of Minister Hermoso  settled once and for all the issues on bogus personnel pretending to be employees who are actually  connected with MARINA-BARMM."

"We were already directed by the Interim Chief Minister Alhaj Murad Ebrahim to look in to  this bogus operation of MARINA in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi until  the  new minister appointed he  vigorously sustained efforts to solve every problems and  issues in order to have a good and better governance.

Sahiron said that he do his  best to serve his people religiously to avoid issues and problems.

 

(Photo by Mark Navales )

He added that  all types of sea vessel regardless of tonnage are obliged to register and to be recognized by MARINA-BARMM before they conducts their business operation like commercial sea vessels, may it be small wooden banca, medium size or large passenger and cargo container ships, should get their permit to operate.

The MARINA and Regional Ports Management Authority (RPMA) they  should be working hand and hand as brothers to monitor each sea vessel plying and docking along the seas and rivers within the BARMM area of responsibility.

During the turn over  Gary Abbas, Regional Officer-in-Charge of RPMA said, "So far our ports suffers congestion problems and we were look in a proper solution about this,  The fact that there are so many sea vessels now docking at our ports, we can hardly accommodate them.", he said.

"Bongao and Jolo ports are under renovations to be able to handle bigger ships and we can cater some international hub like international cargos and passenger ships from neighboring Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Sabah and Brunei." Abbas conveyed.

“The revival of the barter trade among our Asian neighbors such as Malaysia and Indonesia is underway as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision about the cross-border trading under the President Duterte's Executive Order No. 64 in October 2018 that created the Mindanao Barter Council (MBC), has identified the ports of Siasi and Jolo in Sulu and Bongao in Tawi-Tawi as the barter ports, he added.

The said ocular visit of Minister Hermoso was in close coordination with Lt. General Cirilito Sobejana, Commander of AFP’s Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM). The Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, 2nd Marine Brigade, Phil. Navy’s Naval Station Juan Magluyan (NAJM), Phil.Coast Guard and Phil. National Police in Tawi-Tawi are also in full supports of some other government line agencies like Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Immigration as well as the local chief executives were also there to support the proper flow of operation in the Bangsamoro island provinces. {By Mark Navales/with reports by Andy Orobia)