THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES: Nov. 19-25, 2017

Nov. 22, 1973

The province of Sultan Kudarat was created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 341, which divided Cotabato province into three provinces—North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. It consists of 12 towns and cities, with Isulan as its capital. Sultan Kudarat is rich in mineral resources as about 95 percent of land is devoted to forests and agriculture. Its population in 2015 was 812,095.

Nov. 24, 1992

The last group of US forces left the Subic Bay base in Olongapo City, nearly a year after the Senate refused to renew the two countries’ military bases treaty.  This ended nearly a century of US military presence in its former colony. More than $1.3-billion worth of assets were turned over to the Philippines, including an airport and a ship-repair facility. The base was reborn as an economic zone and freeport.

Nov. 24, 2014

Nine Chinese fishermen were found guilty of poaching and illegal possession of endangered species for fishing off Hasa-Hasa (Half Moon) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Each of the convicted Chinese fishermen was ordered to pay $100,000 (P4.5 million) for poaching in Philippine waters and P120,000 ($2,666) for illegal possession of endangered species. They were arrested in May and were detained at the provincial jail in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan province. Authorities found 300 endangered marine turtles, most of them dead, on the fishermen’s boat.

Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives, DOT, officialgazette.gov.ph, PSA, sultankudaratprovince.gov.ph, globalsecurity.org, benguet.gov.ph