Sining Kambayoka. In CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, edited by Doreen G. Fernandez, vol. In the same year, the Lanao district was created. The finishing process is done by professionals like engravers, silver in-layers, and polishers. Kakelaya-layang (kite making) is an activity enjoyed when the wind is strong and the weather fine. They were simply against any form of foreign encroachment into their traditions and beliefs. Plebiscite was held on November 19, 1989, and only four provinces voted for the creation of an autonomous region. Majul, Cesar Adib. 1977. The regional Langgal is the traditional house of worship of our fellow Bangsamoro people in the island provinces of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 1977. They convey messages in poetic form, which often make more impact than direct confrontation. The following example narrates and explains the division of Lanao into four states or encampments: Four brothersButuanon, Dimaampao, Batara Sa Kilatun, and Batolaconganfrom the land of Bumbaran journey to the Lake Lanao region, which is still a jungle. In the Natangkopan a Ragat (Enchantment of Prince Bantugen), the prince must walk between two crushing rocks while hopping between the stones. Section 2 (i), Article II of Republic Act (R.A.) No. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Hence, its plays are in Filipino, that is, Tagalog and Bisaya or Cebuano, with a few Maranao interjections. Manila: Lahing Pilipino Publishing Inc. Rosagaron, Roman P. 2001. The widowed line flooring of the house is of split bamboo tied with rattan. Other occasions for kite making include the sprouting of palay grains and the bearing of fruit from the local nonang tree, the fruit of which is used as paste in kite making. ARMM; Statements. ZAMBOANGA CITY: Gunmen killed a member of the Philippine Army's Scout Ranger regiment and wounded another in an ambush on Tuesday in the restive Muslim province of Basilan. 1977. A 2005 study on rido by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Research Center and the Notre Dame University Research Center found that among the Maranao, the most common causes of clan conflict resulting in violence are land disputes, political rivalry, drug-related crimes, and the violation of the maratabat (as cited in Durante et al. 25 January 2019. From 1996 to 1998, during the administration of former President Fidel Ramos, several agreements between the Philippine government and the MILF were signed, including an agreement on cessation of hostilities in July 1997 and a general framework agreement of intent on August 1998. Quezon City: Philippine Folklore Society. How the Angels Built Lake Lanao. In The Maranao, edited by Mamitua Saber and Adbullah Madale. Pre-Islamic literature consists of the antoka (riddles), pananaroon (proverbs), tubad-tubad (short love poems), verses recited during kandaonga (courtship), tutul (folktales), Pilandok tales, and the epics Darangen and Raja Indarapatra. Unlike other ethnic groups, Maranao dancers do not smile because that would be a form of flirtation, which is frowned upon in the culture. inception. 1983. Although Muslims are no longer a majority, Islamic culture is evident; there are many mosques, and distinctive brassware, including the kris, or dagger, is manufactured. On the northern tip of the lake lies Marawi City, the premier urban center of the province of Lanao del Sur. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region located in the Mindanao Island group of the Philippines that is composed of predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan (except Isabela City), Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. "ARMM" redirects here. Majority of Filipino Muslims live in this island group, particularly in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The furtive process by which the MOA-AD was designed and crafted runs contrary to and in excess of the legal authority, and amounts to a whimsical, capricious, oppressive, arbitrary and despotic exercise thereof. Called the Moro Wars, these battles were waged intermittently from 1578 between the Spanish colonial government and the Muslims of Mindanao. COTABATO CITYBangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH) hosted a visual arts competition at BARMM's Museum in this city on Feb. 28, to showcase the artistic excellence of the Bangsamoro. The Quran is considered by all Muslims as the Words of Allah, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through Archangel Gabriel, and as the source of all Islamic principles and values. Kashawing: Rice Rituals of the Maranao. Mindanao Journal 1 (July-September): 74-80. 14 min. The rare Philippine eagle is found on Mindanao. The Maranaos standard of living could have greatly improved had the creation of the ARMM brought about peace, as was its aim. It is re-dried and flattened, after which it is ready for weaving. Mindanao State University. Che Man, W.K. Alarcon, Norma. Lanao del Surs population has 73.8%, or seven in ten people, living below the poverty line (NSCB 2012). what are the similarities of luzon, visayas and mindanao. The film received a Special Jury Prize at the 3rd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in 2007. php?id=8387. Area 36,537 square miles (94,630 square km). It is believed that if God had not granted Muhammads request, the Muslims today would have to pray 50 times a day. The turbulent conditions of Lanao del Sur prevented the two documentaries from being shown for the first time in the Mindanao villages where these had been filmed. A breakaway group of Moro rebels, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by Hashim Salamat, a Maguindanaon, did not recognize the ARMM and continued fighting for Moro self-determination in Mindanao, espousing an Islamist stance instead of the Marxist-Maoist orientation of the MNLF. In retaliation, the Muslims raided Visayan towns in Panay, Negros, and Cebu. Posted by ARKIPELAGO on May 16, 2016. 9054, was passed by Congress on February 7, 2001, with a view to expand the territory and powers of the ARMM by amending the original Organic Act (R.A. No. Its primary objective when it was founded in 1974 was the inclusion of Mindanao theater traditions in mainstream consciousness and its concerns were national in scope (Rivera 1994, 401). His tales, travails, and prowess in composition and public speaking are well-recounted. In 1578, a Spanish expedition that had been sent against Brunei defeated the Tausug of Sulu. The duck flies off but does not return with the promised water. One of the three vignettes that project a cultural image of the greatness of the Filipino people, "Langgal" (prayer house) represents Mindanao which is predominantly composed of Muslims. peace and development in the region. The referendum was boycotted by the Muslims themselves. 2008 - 2012. The Maranao are basically Sunni Muslims, although traces of minor Shiite and Sufi influences can also be found. In 1457, the Sultanate of Sulu was founded, and not long after that, the sultanates of Maguindanao and Buayan were also established. In the ritual proper, there is a reenactment of the meeting between the two brothers, symbolized by red and yellow flags. AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO: Q.1: Adiong Memorial Polytechnic State College: Q.2: Basilan State College: Q.3: Mindanao State . BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (BARMM) R.1: Adiong Memorial Polytechnic State College : R.2: Cotabato State University : R.3: Mindanao State University : R.4: MSU-TAWI-TAWI College of Technology and Oceanography : R.5: Sulu State College : R.6: Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College : IX. Illicit Drugs, Politics and Violent Conflict in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. In Out of the Shadows: Violent Conflict and the Real Economy of Mindanao, edited by Francisco J. Lara, Jr. and Steven Schoofs, 113-154. . Two sons are born to the couple. ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Alkhalif Amberol 3.9k views 23 slides ARMM (AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO) Conchita Icarangal 23.7k views 22 slides Region xiii (caraga) Mia Joyce Martin 52.2k views 114 slides REGION 14: BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION OF MUSLIM MINDANAO Gheff Corpuz 18.3k views 80 slides Armm The study of the salsila is usually reserved for the maongangun (wise men and women). Negotiations resumed in 1977, and the following points were agreed upon: the proclamation of a presidential decree creating autonomy in 13 provinces; the creation of a provisional government; and the holding of a referendum in the autonomous areas to determine the administration of the government. Fernandez, Segundo P. 1975. If it collapsed, it was not deemed worthy to be occupied. It was the only region that had its own government. Marawi Cinematheque Opens. Inquirer.net, 16 September. With basically a subsistence economy, the Maranao standard of living has not improved substantially despite an increase in the number of professionals who have had access to formal education (Plagata et al. In 1916, after the passage of the Jones Law, which transferred legislative power to a Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, polygyny was made illegal. However, in the 2013 elections, for the first time since 1987, Lanao del Sur made history by having no failure of elections in all its precincts (Dizon 2013). Download this stock image: Provincial board of canvassers official displays election return sheets in Cotabato city, southern Philippines. Okir designs are done with the strip method. 1 August 1989. end time. 1991. This incident contributed to the rise of various separatist movements: the Muslim Independence Movement (MIM), Ansar El-Islam, and the Union of Islamic Forces and Organizations. These units settled in various parts of the lake, but were organized into four pengampong (states or encampments) administered by local datus (chieftains); these states were Bayabao, Masiu, Unayan, and Balo-i. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Comments:lA more simplified literation on a [1975] piecelMaranao:Dayo, dayo capitanDayo somon'ta sa igDayo di ako ron sung [zong]ana ikuluk akun - [ikhaL'k ak'n]A bubaruka a nipai - [ babar'ka / mbuburokos]Dingun, ding a diawa - [ ding'n ]Busalangka sa agong - [ basalangka]Ka an manug a datu - [ adn man'g o datu]A magogop a mamuntong - mam'n tong]A pud a panarakayo - [pd a phanarakayo]A pumbalain a barit - [ pm balayen]A walai a datu otoAgo giya bai aya.lEnglish:(Friend, friend, captainPlaymate, to the river,Friend, I wont go,For afraid am IOf multicolored snakes and striped crocodilesBeat, beat, oh drummer,Beat hard the gongTo inform the datuWho will help cut bamboosAnd fell big treesFor building a palaceFor the datuAnd his lady. [7] On July 26, 2018, Aquino's successor, President Rodrigo Duterte, signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which paved the way for the establishment of a new autonomous political entity in the area, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). )=x=x=x=x=Note :lIt maybe the intention of the original writer to conceal something in this beautiful literary piece. The exhibit that runs until December 2018, focuses on celebrating the diversity . Maranao architecture also includes the masjid (mosque), inspired by West Asian architecture. On the seventh layer, he hears the voice of God and has a glimpse of heaven and hell. Sultans and Mayors: The Relation of a National to an Indigenous Political System. In The Maranao, edited by Mamitua Saber and Adbullah Madale. 1990. 6734) and calling for a plebiscite to ratify the amendments and confirm which other provinces and cities would like to join the region. Land ownership is difficult to assess as property transfer is often contested by traditional claims. The peace talks were ineffectual. Video:SINGKIL - Bayanihan Alumni Association. In 1635, Captain Juan de Chaves occupied Zamboanga and erected a fort. Modern Maranao rice farmers are mindful of keeping rice seeds separate from houses with pregnant women or dead persons. 2011. Bangsamoro Government Center Human Resources Manager . Aside from the Quran, other Islamic sources of law include the Sunnah or Haddith, literally, a way, rule, or manner of acting, which recounts the deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad; and the ijma and iftinad, a revisable collection of the opinions of Islamic jurists. Kashawing, a ritual that is depicted in the Maranao epic, is no longer practiced. As a person, it claims to be the son of a sultan of Bandiar Masir but criticizes and ridicules the sultan and his men. They are garbed in Maranao finery, complete with kerchief and tobao (a turban tied around the head) with one end pointing stiffly upwards. Caraga State University (Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology) P.3: Surigao del Sur State University (Surigao del Sur Polytechnic State College) P.4: Surigao State College of Technology: Q. So Datu Gibon sails off in the magic boat of Bumbaran, finds the beautiful princess, and marries her. The Maranao comprise 36% of the population in the province of Lanao del Norte outside of Iligan City. The lead performer starts chanting the dikir (dirge song) and, upon reaching a high note, stops for the next persons turn. In 1935, two Muslims were elected to the National Assembly. 9054 An Act to Strengthen and Expand the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. . 1975. Pilandok, a mouse-deer before it evolved into a human character, plays different, versatile, and even ambivalent roles. Mythical creatures, snakes, or leaves are carved into the ivory handles of kris. Figure 1.01 Location of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Reproduced from: Wikipedia A few months after this postponement of elections, the government The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM is the region, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that is composed of predominantly five Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan (except Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Ramadhan as Observed Lanao. Mindanao Journal 1 (3): 15-24. Matrimonial negotiations often take a long time because of these exchanges. Motifs are produced in various ways, such as weaving black over white or one square over another. Cylindrical baskets are made with the radial arrangement of the spokes. In the celebration, the Maulud is sung. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department, Iloilo, Philippines; Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development, Los Baos, Laguna, Philippines; and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Quezon City, Philippines. Autonomous region in Mindanao, Philippines Bangsamoro Autonomous region Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Filipino: Rehiyong Awtonomo ng Bangsamoro sa Muslim Mindanao Arabic: The militants were seen waving the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) black flags as they roamed the streets of Marawi (Cabrera and Gloria 2017). Governance and development specialists will share insights into the challenges and prospects for peace-building initiatives, community health issues, . One day, Datu Gibon decides to return to Bumbaran. These may have been brought from Arabia to the southern Philippines through Malaya and Malacca. December 16, 2023 to January 1, 2024. The word kaplogo, from logo (sound), refers to the vocal music repertoire classified according to the themes or subjects and the manner in which these songs are chanted. Halik sa Kampilan (Kiss on the Sword), 1978, is Frank G. Riveras original play depicting the Mindanao peoples displacement and struggle for land. Francisco, Juan R. 1969. They continue their trek until they find a place that Butuanon claims as his property and names it Bayabao, literally I am the one who chose first. Butuanon marries Baisa Kisali sa Miyakarang. A medium used by the Maranao for carving is the horn. [10] The law was "deemed ratified" on January 25, 2019, following the January 21 plebiscite.[11][12][13]. Giant Lantern Festival. Instead, it enjoys itself in the pond. Manila: Lahing Pilipino Publishing Inc. . Darangen is an epic composed of several narratives whose verses are chanted by the onor (singer). Choreographer Gener Caringal adapted the traditional Maranao dance movements, such as the pangalay (the swaying of arms) and the asik (slave dance), into classical ballet movements. Manila: Solidaridad Publishing House. Before childbirth, the mother lies on the lantay (delivery bed), her legs covered with malong (a tubular skirt), which is worn by both sexes. The finest example of Maranao architecture is the torogan, which showcases the best of Maranao okir, literally carving. On the facade there are panolong (winglike house beams) with a pako rabong (fern) or naga motif. The talks collapsed, and fighting continued. These five towns are Madalum, Lumbatan, Lumba-Bayabao, Bayang, and Sultan Dumalondong (GMA News 2007). 193.107.29.149 In the Maranao story, Rama is known as Radia Mangandiri. From 1963 to 1964, fish production in Lake Lanao was only 1,986,330 kilograms for the entire lake, while fish consumption of the entire population of Lanao del Sur was 8,132,156.22 kilograms. These include the kaganat sa darangen, the sagayan (war dance), the sadoratan, and singkil. One underlying feature of Maranao visual art, be it brass, silver, textile, or wood, is okir. The results are worrying because they reveal that all the endemic and introduced species in Lake Lanao are in a precarious situation (Rosagaron 2001, 6). Many other Maranao torogan have decayed or collapsed, including what could have been its finest example, which used to stand in the municipality of Ganassi, also in Lanao del Sur. Trade is conducted through the lake, thus avoiding major land transport problems. The price is determined by the size, workmanship, and patterns used. An autonomous administrative division (also referred to as an autonomous area, entity, unit, region, subdivision, or territory) is a subnational administrative division or internal territory of a sovereign state that has a degree of autonomyself-governanceunder the national government. In 2013, however, a community film screening was held in Barangay 647 in Quiapo, Manila, where most of the residents are Maranao. President Marcos, on March 25, 1977, signed Presidential Proclamation No. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Press. But the shrimp dies anyway. Warriner, Charles K. 1975. The Lumad of Mindanao includes all the ethnic tribes and peoples who are not Muslims or Christians. The dog, though initially terrified, instantly composes himself. Each step and movement he makes is accompanied by a recitation invoking the guidance and support of the unseen benevolent spirits. 2878, which abolished the Department of Mindanao and Sulu and transferred its responsibilities to the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes under the Department of the Interior. . Screenings of the two films were also held for scholars and students of Philippine indigenous music, at the University of the Philippines Diliman and the University of the Philippines Baguio (Terada 2013, 102-105). The mats called sesed are woven from local tikug, which is gathered, dried under the sun, cooked, and dyed with different colors called atar. Asked for their opinion on the films, the Maranao audience stated their preference for a culture that was collectively Muslim Filipino, or Bangsamoro, rather than what was specifically Maranao (Terada 2013, 100). Jihad or the natural right to self-defense finds expression in holy war, when Muslim land and religion are threatened. His personal prestige may be affected in such a case, but his claims and his capacity to give these to his children cannot be touched (Warriner 1975, 40-41). Tingnan ang buong profile ni . Mindanao, island, the second largest (after Luzon) in the Philippines, in the southern part of the archipelago, surrounded by the Bohol, Philippine, Celebes, and Sulu seas. The Prophet then rides on a burrak and travels by night from Mecca to Masjid-el-Aqsa in Jerusalem, where he sees a bright light that leads him to heaven. The Forest Resources and Lake Lanao. In The Maranao, edited by Mamitua Saber and Adbullah Madale. http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/october2008/183591.htm. At present, the only remaining habitable Maranao torogan, built by Sultan sa Kawayan Makaantal during the American occupation of the Philippines, can be found in Bubung Malanding, Marantao, Lanao del Sur. Basis. McFarland, Curtis, comp. Lake Lanao is the single most important source of livelihood for the Maranao. Ismael is born to him. One son reveals himself and becomes the ancestor of the Maranao. Pop. 2005. The top official was tasked to appoint the members of the cabinet, subject to confirmation by the Regional Legislative Assembly and also had control of all the regional executive commissions, agencies, boards, bureaus, and offices. Most Maranao follow standard Islamic beliefs and practices. The Age of Trade and Contacts. A sparrow and a shrimp fall in love and marry. The Department of Mindanao and Sulu replaced the Moro province on 15 December 1913 and a year later created the province of Lanao. Manila: Lahing Pilipino Publishing Inc. . Lake Lanao complemented this defensive strategy; warriors would escape from the shelled kota through the lake and to other fortifications. Body movementsof the fingers, the sway of the hips, and every stepare calculated to convey a meaning. The boys are required to undergo kapagi-Islam (circumcision), literally becoming Muslim, in the mosque. 1975. One of the most popular festivals in the region is the Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City. However, the Muslims did not know that the Treaty of Paris, which had ceded the Philippine archipelago to the Americans, included their land as well. One notable example is the Matling Industrial and Commercial Corporation, the biggest processor of cassava in Mindanao, which has been in operation in Malabang, Lanao del Sur since 1928 (Habito 2012). Woven too is the gradated pinipig container. Other musical instruments include the gandingan, a horizontal war drum; tabo, a call-to-prayer drum hung horizontally in the mosque; a very small kulintang called alotang but known as saronai if manufactured from metal; a bamboo instrument scraped and struck called tagotok, also called sirong a ganding when plucked and beaten; insi, an end-blown lute; kubing; and oni-oniya, a rice stalk resembling an oboe. Rugged, faulted mountains and volcanoes occur in many areas. The word Blaan could have derived from bila, meaning house, and the suffix an, meaning people, so that the term may be taken to mean Maranao People of the Philippines: History, Culture and Arts, Customs and Traditions [Lanao Indigenous People | Ethnic Group], A view of Lake Lanao (Courtesy of the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur), The Maranao population is estimated at 1,099,997, distributed as follows: 241,400 in Lanao del Norte or 22% of its total population; and 858,559 in Lanao del Sur or 78% of its total population. Materials include bamboo, rattan, bust, pandanus, and others. Pilandok answers that at the bottom of the sea rests a kingdom where gold and silver abound. The kite makers compete according to size, color, and stability of their kites. The burrak appears on carpets, paintings, and sequined cloth panels. Folk medicine expresses the pre-Islamic belief that illnesses are caused by spirits and can only be cured by the pamomolong (witch doctor), the pundarpaan (a person who can act as a medium to the spirits), or the pamamantok (a person who fights black magic). Isolated cases of armed resistance were quickly crushed, among them the skirmish between the followers of Datu Amai of Sisiman and the Philippine Constabulary (PC) in 1921, the uprising of the Muslims of Tugaya and Ganassi in 1923, and the revolt of Datu Pandak in 1924, whose movement fizzled out when he died. 2008. Other types include those that deal with life-cycle rituals and, in particular, with spirits or souls of the dead. During delivery, the pandays hands work through and within the malong. A new law, Republic Act No. 1986-1990. The performer must be single, with a beautiful and supple body. With 1,242 heavily armed men and four well-equipped transportsthe Manila, Cebu, San Quintin, and Marquez de Duerohe seized Fort Marawi from Datu Akadir Akobar, also known as Amai Pacpac, who managed to escape. 1976. Hence, its plays are in Filipino, that is, Emmanuel de la Cruzs short film Gabon, 2008 (Photo courtesy of Emmanuel de la Cruz). During World War II, the Muslims in general supported the fight against the Japanese, who were less tolerant and harsher to them than the Manila government. A resident theater company of MSU-Marawi is the multi-awarded Sining Kambayoka that received in 1997 the Gawad CCP para sa Sining for their cultural contributions to the region. In grief, the sparrow promises never to leave its wifes dead body. The kulintang, for instance,was added to the in-house orchestra instruments. A fenced porch serves as the front of the house; the kitchen, which is 50 centimeters lower than the structure, is at the back. 2013. 1983. Access Date: September 14, 2022. The sultan, datu, and other aristocrats who constitute the traditional elite continue to wield influence in Maranao society. In 1891, Governor-General Valeriano Weyler personally led a campaign against the Maguindanao and Maranao. Another ritual related to the kashawing is the kazeriringan, which is dedicated to the spirits the community invokes to ensure the protection of both people and crops from illness and pestilence. On 4 August 2011, President Benigno Aquino III and MILF chair Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, a Maguindanaon, met in Tokyo, Japan, setting in motion a series of talks that would lead to the signing of a framework agreement in 2012 and a comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014. The regular members (3 members/district) and sectoral representatives, had three-year terms; maximum of three consecutive terms. Pre-Islamic Maranao beliefs and customs that relate to rice agriculture, which they call kakupe-kupet ko elaw or arate, have remained to this day, although only a few Maranao farmers still practice these. When the hero removes his kampilan halfway from its scabbard, half of his enemies are killed. Several days later, the sultan is surprised to see a healthy Pilandok in court and inquires how it has managed to escape. It was unlikely that the Muslims, who had had a longer cultural history as Muslims than the Christian Filipinos as Christians, would surrender their identity. Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. The visual arts of the Maranao are also exemplified by the elusive bird of art, the sarimanok, literally artificial bird (see logo of this article) or the papanok, its female counterpart. The dance, which illustrates the various uses of the malong, became an integral part of the dance repertoire of the Maranao. Massive protests,[not verified in body] however, greeted the move of the Philippine government and MILF panels in signing a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain as a majority of the local government units where these barangays are connected have already opted not to join the ARMM in two instances, 1989 and 2001. The Prophet Muhammad answers no. The landap type of malong is a lakban (vertical woven strip) sewn into the entire length of the body of the malong. [23], On July 18, 2008, Hermogenes Esperon, peace advisor to then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in his talks with Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in Malaysia, revealed the planned expansion of the region.