HERE WE GO DAVAO!

#ConstructionUpdate

87% COMPLETION OF DAVAO BYPASS ROAD TUNNEL

The construction of 2.3 km. Twin Mountain Road Tunnel part of Davao City ByPass Construction Project is almost done.

It's 87.72% ( 1,965 meters ) completion progress as of October 2024 for Northbound side and for Southbound side, it's 78.30% ( 1,761 meters ) progress.

FYI: The entire Davao City Bypass Construction Project has 45.62 km. from Barangay Sirawan, Toril, Davao City to Brgy. J.P. Laurel, Panabo City, Metro Davao.

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Bangsamoro Parliament OKs Indigenous Peoples' Act of 2024

BY KEITH BACONGCO

Dec 12, 2024 10:12 PM 

DAVAO CITY – The Bangsamoro Parliament passed the long-awaited Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples’ Act (BIPA) of 2024 on third and final reading during a special session on Dec. 10.

The BIPA, also known as the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Code, was approved with 63 votes in favor, zero against, and no abstentions. 

FARMERS haul bags of corn in Barangay Kuya, South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur. (Keith Bacongco)

The BIPA is one of the priority measures that must be passed during the transition period under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

As mandated by the BOL, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was tasked to pass  the IP Code, one of the six codes eyed to be passed before the end of its term and in time for the first BARMM parliamentary elections next year.

The BTA has passed other priority measures, including the Administrative Code, Education Code, Civil Service Code, Local Governance Code, and Electoral Code. 

The BOL recognized the IP groups within region as Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP), composed of the  Téduray, Lambangian, Dulangan Manobo, Erumanun Ne Menuvu, Higaonon, B’laan, Badjao, Sama Dilaut, Jama Mapun, Sama Bangingi, and Sama Pangutaran, among others. 

In a statement, the Bangsamoro Parliament said the passage of the law is a historic success in  the region’s ongoing peace process and commitment to inclusive governance.

It added that the law seeks to address the long-standing challenges faced by tribal communities in the Bangsamoro region, adding that the newly-enacted law introduces a comprehensive legal framework to protect and empower the NMIPs that represent about two percent of the BARMM’s 4.4-million population.

Many of these IP groups are located in the hinterlands of Maguindanao provinces and some villages in the Special Geographic Areas.

Under the newly-enacted law, one of its core provisions is the explicit recognition of IPs’ ownership over their ancestral domains, referred to as fusaka ingëd, which include the lands, forests, rivers, and other natural resources historically owned and utilized by these communities.

The IP Code also established the Fusaka Ingëd Development Office (FIDO) under the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) which will coordinate efforts for the socio-economic development of ancestral domains.

Prior to its enactment,  various NMIP groups have expressed concern on the version of the IP code that the BTA had been pushing.

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The NMIP groups are wary that the BTA’s version of IP Code may not truly reflect the aspirations of IPs in the region. 

Among the groups that expressed concern are the Gempe te Kelindaan ne Kamal te Erumanen ne Menuvu (Erumanen ne Menuvu), Mënubù Dulangan Tribal Justice and Self-Governance (Mënubù Dulangan), and Timuay Justice and Governance (Tëduray and Lambangian). 

These IP groups have yet to issue a statement on the enactment of BIPA as of posting time. 

BTA Committee on Indigenous Peoples Affairs (CIPA) Chairman Ramon Piang said that the BIPA is an enhanced version of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.

Piang added that the BIPA is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the Bangsamoro indigenous population.

He said that the law also aims to rectify historical injustices and combat the socio-economic marginalization of IPs, ensuring they have better access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

Under the new law, an Indigenous Peoples’ Council will be created to ensure the voices of tribes are heard in matters affecting their communities.

Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong said that BIPA is aligned with the Bangsamoro government’s larger vision for creating a better and more just society in which no group is left behind in its pursuit of development.  

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐀 𝐒𝐀 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐎 𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

 

Mark your calendars! Starting December 01, 2024, the much-awaited #PeryaSaPaskoFiesta opens its gates to fun, and excitement! This will run until December 27, 2024, so gather your family and friends for a memorable #PaskoFiesta2024 celebration.

Enjoy thrilling rides, and fun-filled games that will make your holiday season extra special. Don’t miss out on the fun—let’s make this holiday brighter and happier, together for everyone!

7th Mount Apo Sky race slated Nov. 1 to Dec. 1

BY ANTONIO COLINA IV

Nov 18, 2024 02:44 PM 

DAVAO CITY – Filipino and international runners will participate in the 7th Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race 2024 to and from the peak of Mount Apo from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.

Doi Calbes, race director, said that they expect around 140  participants from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, and the Philippines, in the  two-day race, consisting of a 100-kilometer and 50-kilometer categories with new categories for beginners such as 21-kilometer and seven-kilometer.

He said that the male and female champions of the 100-kilometer category would represent the country in the Lantau race in Hong Kong in February. 

Calbes said that the race will commence from Playa de Oboza Beach Resort in Santa Cruz town, Davao del Sur, going to the peak of Mount Apo.

Runners will scale the country’s highest peak via a trail in Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, which Calbes said is the “most unique” because of its scenic view of huge boulders stretching 3.5 kilometers to the summit.

He said that the international race attracted numerous contestants in previous years, benefiting the local tourism industry by keeping businesses thriving while generating livelihoods and jobs for locals.

“Nowadays, sports tourism is thriving. Aside from promoting sports or running community, we also promote our tourism destination in Santa Cruz and Davao region. We help the community and promote flights and transpiration through this event,” he said.

Mount Apo, also a popular eco-tourism destination, was declared a heritage park through the Nov. 29, 1984, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Declaration on Heritage Parks and Reserves.

Mount Apo is among eight landmarks declared heritage parks in the Philippines and one of 38 in the 10-country ASEAN – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
 
The country’s highest peak, a biodiversity hotspot, was proclaimed as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems of 1991.

According to the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, which serves as the secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Program, Mount Apo is the Philippines’ highest mountain at 3,143.6 meters and is known as the last stronghold of the remaining population of the rare and endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi).

The Mount Apo Natural Park has an area of 54,974 hectares (with a buffer zone of 9,078 hectares) covering Kidapawan City and the municipalities of Makilala and Magpet in the province of Cotabato in the South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sarangani, and General Santos City region and municipalities of Bansalan and Santa Cruz and Digos City in Davao del Sur and Davao City in the Davao region.

ASEAN Heritage Parks are defined as “protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN region” and established “to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment, and conservation of ASEAN’s rich natural heritage through a regional network of representative protected areas and to generate collaboration among ASEAN member-states in preserving their shared natural heritage.” 

The mountain is also of “high value” as a major water source for both regions.