KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/29 April) — South Cotabato officials approved the release of at least P113 million to fund the construction of public facilities and the rehabilitation of vital infrastructure earlier destroyed by floods in several parts of the province.
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/29 April) — The National Economic and Development Authority cited at least 11 "priority projects covering Bukidnon" in the government's midterm development program from 2007 to 2010 and the so-called Mindanao super region projects.
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay (April 29) — With the scheduled “phased withdrawal” of Malaysian troops in the International Monitoring Team (IMT), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sees a possible outbreak in hostilities with government “blamed for being insincere in the talks."
COTABATO CITY (April 29/Tuesday) – Two days after bombing a unit of the Peoples’ Transport in Midsayap, North Cotabato, four motorcycle-riding men strafed a unit of AVM Bus Company, an affiliate of the Peoples’ Transport, while approaching this city.
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/29 April) — The tourism council has yet to decide on which aspect of tourism Davao would pursue but assured it would market the city with what is and what is not.
Monday, 28 April 2008
(Statement of Concern by the Mindanao Peaceweavers on the Reported Phasing Out of the Malaysian Contingent in the International Monitoring Team)
The Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW), the broadest coalition of peace networks in Mindanao is alarmed by the recent decision of the Malaysian government to pull-out its troops from the International Monitoring Team. We join and support other groups, partners and members who have earlier appealed for them to stay on.
Various statements have sprung regarding the pullout of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) led by the Malaysian Government. For clearly the event will subsequently have tremendous impact on the lives of Mindanaoans, both native inhabitants and settlers, especially to those who are still suffering from trauma, physical, emotional, and psychological distress brought about by the brunt of decades of violence while undergoing rehabilitation.
Sunday
27 April 2008
Malacanang took exceptions to press allegations blaming the government for the slow pace in the peace negotiatons resulting to the withdrawal of the Malaysians from the ceasefire monitoring team.
26 April 2008
We are members of civil society, government, academe and other stakeholders in peace from Mindanao, Luzon and Visayas and National Capital Region (NCR) , with individuals working for global peace affiliates, who are SERIOUSLY concerned with the possible withdrawal of international monitors led by Malaysia in the Southern Philippines . This has grave repercussions and dangerous implications to the peace process and to the lives of thousands of residents in communities who are still reeling from the impact of decades of sporadic violence while undergoing rehabilitation efforts.
April 26, 2008
If we need to kneel down before the principals and members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), we, all six hundred fifty volunteers of the Bantay Ceasefire will gladly do so if only to convince the IMT to stay. We speak as the sons, the daughters, the parents, the family and friends of the victims of armed conflict in Mindanao. We speak on behalf of those who have the most at stake at its peaceful resolution. We speak as the ones to pick up the pieces should the peace process completely collapse.
