Sunday, April 21, 2024

Tag: Republic Act

Higaonon mat weaver proclaimed as ‘Manlilikha Ng Bayan 2023’

Posted on by cmn

The City of Malaybalay is filled with pride as President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. officially declared Ms. Marife Ravidas Ganahon the “Manlilikha Ng Bayan for 2023,” as cited in Proclamation No. 427

Ganahon, a skilled mat weaver from Barangay Patpat, Malaybalay City, has been recognized for her unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting the Higaonon ikam (mat weaving) tradition.

This prestigious acknowledgment places her among the esteemed “National Living Treasures” of the Philippines.

The proclamation was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on December 15, 2023, following the recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA).

Ms. Ganahon joins eight other honorees who have demonstrated exceptional mastery in various traditional Filipino arts.

Republic Act No. 7355, the law governing the recognition, emphasizes the acknowledgment of individuals whose “distinctive skills” have reached a “high level of technical and artistic excellence” in their respective traditional art forms.

Among the newly proclaimed cultural masters are Adelita Bagcal, recognized for her expertise in Ilocano Oral Traditions; Abina Coguit, celebrated for her Agusan Manobo embroidery; Sakinur-ain Delasas, renowned for Sama dance; Bundos Fara, distinguished for T’boli Brasscasting; Amparo Mabanag, acknowledged for Ga’dang Beadworks and Embroidery; Samporonia Madanlo, honored for Mandaya textile ikat weaving; Barbara Ofong, acclaimed for T’boli t’nalak weaving; and Rosie Sula, recognized for T’boli lingon chanting.

The declaration not only underscores the rich cultural tapestry of the Philippines but also highlights the importance of preserving and honoring the nation’s diverse artistic heritage. Ms. Ganahon and her fellow cultural masters serve as beacons of inspiration, embodying the spirit of Filipino creativity and tradition for generations to come. (pr)

No description available.

Photo by NCAA

Debt relief for 5,000 farmers in Bukidnon under new agrarian law

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (Dec. 01, 2023/PIA) – Over 5,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) will benefit from Republic Act (RA) 11953, known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA), following the recent launch of the Condonation Response Desk (CORD) by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Bukidnon

Regional Director Zoraida Macadindang of DAR-Northern Mindanao said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the NAEA into law on July 9 this year, which condones all loans, including interest, penalties, and surcharges incurred by ARBs from land awarded to them.
She said the CORD serves as a command center to expedite the processing of necessary documents for ARBs in the province’s 20 towns and two cities in compliance with the new law.
“The CORD aims to liberate ARBs from debt bondage, giving them leeway to boost productivity. Agrarian reform lawyers will be stationed at the quick response centers to aid in processing the applications of ARBs for debt condonation and amortization under RA 11953, or the NAEA,” Macadindang said.
The law’s benefits for ARBs include exemption from payment of estate tax and mandatory inclusion in the Registry System of Basic Sectors in Agriculture to give them easy access to support services of the Department of Agriculture.
Lawyer Mitchell Talatala, representing Malaybalay City Mayor Jay Warren Pabillaran, said the city government wholeheartedly backs the DAR programs.
“The New Agrarian Emancipation Act has waived debts and fees, including real property tax condonations, for our agrarian reform beneficiaries. It made a significant impact on their lives,” Talatala said.
Meanwhile, DAR-Bukidnon Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Jammal Pangandaman asserted that the new agrarian reform law empowers farmers to affirm and protect their rights.
“Agrarian reform is not just a set of policies. It is a social justice movement. It revolves around empowering farmers, the marginalized, and landless individuals,” he said. (By Bernadith G. Epan edited by RLRB, /PIA-10/Bukidnon)