63 NCot areas under BARMM support creation of new towns

COTABATO CITY – Residents of North Cotabato's 63 villages now under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) fully support the establishment of municipalities within the BARMM Special Geographic Area (SGA).

Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament member Aida Silongan said in a statement

Monday that the unified support was a compelling reason to expedite the bill's passage, with a target ap-

Single-use plastics banned in week-long Naliyagan Festival

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews) – Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr. has reminded provincial government employees that single-use plastics will not be allowed during the Naliyagan Festival celebration from June 12 to 17.

He also posted a reminder on his Facebook page that bringing singleuse plastic to the Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center during the Nali - yagan Festival is strictly prohibited. The cultural center is located in Patinay, Prosperidad town.

He aired the same reminder in his speech during the opening ceremonies of Magdiwata Festival on June 1 at the San Francisco Municipal Hall grounds.

The governor was elated to learn the local government, under the leadership of Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo implement-

/PLASTICS/11) proval date set no later than August this year.

The proposal seeks to address the aspirations and demands of communities that have expressed their desire to be grouped as separate municipalities within the BARMM, Silongan said.

The BARMM villages in North Cotabato are situ-