At the Cebu leg of the Media Roundtable discussion on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) last Monday, a journalist pointedly asked Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel co-chairman Mohagher Iqbal what will be their next step when President Benigno S. Aquino III bows out of office in May 2016.
The only question that mattered during the forum elicited a calm response from the MILF leader who, right now, could be looking at a long vacation because the third regular session of the 16th Congress is on recess. It will resume on November 3 to December 18. It will adjourn again on December 19 for the Christmas break and resume on January 19 up to February 5. Another adjournment follows on February 6 to May 22 to give way to the campaign season. But even now, lawmakers are no longer tuned in to legislative work but are focused more on the election season.
Another factor that makes it tough for the BBL to get past the legislative process is the direction of the political weather vane which politicians cannot take lightly. A number of them who are running for national posts whether as vice president or senator will have to contend with survey results showing 65% of voters junking candidates who support the BBL.
According to survey conducted by the Manila Standard’s resident pollster Junie Laylo last September 21 to October 1, at least 64% of the respondents said they will “choose a candidate who does not support the BBL while only 35% said they will choose a candidate who supports the BBL”.
The question is, if a candidate comes out swinging against the BBL, will he gain plus points with the voters? This is interesting because I heard Senator Allan Peter Cayetano, who is running for vice president, is going around Mindanao collecting signatures against approval of the BBL.
To the question what’s next for the MILF, Iqbal replied that whatever happens, they will pursue the road to peace. He was calm throughout the forum except when he hurled criticisms against Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for pushing a substitute BBL which stripped 80% of the original version. Even if the draft law in the Lower House is passed, the task of harmonizing it with the Senate rendition in the bicameral conference committee looks impossible.
If at all, the Media Roundtable discussion on the BBL was meant to dull negative sentiments spawned by the Mamasapano massacre, but in the sense that most Filipinos believe Muslim separatists, whatever their political affiliation, were responsible for the killings of the 44 police Special Action Force members, the massacre did the BBL in. Some politicians will milk the BBL if it suits them but because the issue resurrects the gruesome killings all over again, it can be damaging for the administration.
* * *
Congratulations are in order for Land Bank of the Philippines for its successful launch of the coffee table book “Harvest of Heroes” last Tuesday at the Radisson Blu.
The launch of the commemorative book was followed by an appreciation dinner attended by some 400 LBP partners and clients whose classic story from rags to riches have been documented by Land Bank through monitoring and training programs aimed to support partners and clients every step of the way.
On hand to recognize the heroes of the region was LBP boss lady Madame Gilda Pico who described the gathering as a celebration of the institution’s solid partnership with sectors and clients.
I had the privilege of talking with Messrs. Pedro Delantar of Natures Legacy Eximport and Ramir Bonghanoy of Bon-Ace whose endeavors made it to the pages of the book. Their family names do not attract commercial banks but when their businesses hinted the need to expand and pour more capital, they looked to Land Bank which did not disappoint them. To quote Pete Delantar, LBP’s service and support go beyond lending.
It was the same message I heard from one of two Cebu-based cooperatives who also earned well-deserved recognition as heroes. According to Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative CEO Ellen Limocon and board chairman Delfin Tuquib, if not for Land Bank’s support, the co-op would not have acquired key assets that enabled them to extend services to their members. From a poor co-op in the boondocks, Lamac now has P1.2 billion in assets. The Cebu CFI Community Cooperative is another heroic enterprise essayed in the book.
Big congratulations to cooperatives, micro-finance institutions, entrepreneurs and corporate entities who share Land Bank’s core mission of economic development in the countryside. As instruments of inclusive growth, they truly deserve the title “heroes”!
Land Bank has just celebrated its 52nd year and the biggest government-owned bank has many reasons to celebrate. Twelve billion pesos in net profits in CY 2015, half of which is plowed back to the national treasury to finance other government projects, make Land Bank, in itself, an epic success story.
Kudos!