General Santos City (September 10, 2022) – The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) successfully conducted the launching of its new project titled “Enhancing Women CSO, Institutional Capacities in the BARMM and Beyond in the Philippines,” September 10, 2022, at Venue 88 Hotel and Place General Santos City.

The launching was participated by eight Women-Led Organizations from North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces.
The following women led-organization are: 1. Women Peace Initiative Organization, 2. Early Warning Early Response Organization, 3. Deyamba-An ARC of Women Organization, 4. Banaatul Muslimah Organization (BAM), 5. Maginged Center for empowerment and Development Organization, 6. Suara Kalilintad Organization, 7. Moro Peoples Community Organization and, 8. Bangsamoro Youth for Peace and Development

The assigned project head team Sittie Suad E. Macalunas said that ” the identified and selected 30 women-led organizations from Regions 9, 10, and 12 were all qualified to be the beneficiaries of the project since they met all the standard criteria provided by the UN Women during the selection period. Selection Criteria are the following: – not yet registered to the Security and exchange commission, -has already vision, mission, and Goals active in providing services and activities that help its community, -has a formal set of officers, – committed to participating in training that will capacitate them in organizational management, gender-sensitive orientation, and peacebuilding, – committed to supporting the UN WOMEN and the CBCS to attain the objectives and Goals for Women’s Peace and Security.

Macalunas highlighted in her presentation the objectives, coverage areas, expected output, and long-term goals of the project.
According to her, the main objectives of the project is to support non-registered women’s rights organizations, particularly on the following; training on financial management, proposal making, resource mobilization strategies, strategic planning, development of anti-corruption plans, prevention of sexual harassment and abuse policies, and mechanism.
Macalunas said,” this would be a good starting point for everyone to attain our goal to strengthen the local organization’s structures engagement for promoting Women Peace and Security Commitments in BARMM and the extended areas including the Special Administrative Areas and beyond,”

The CBCS Chairperson was present at the activity. “Ang proyektong ito ay magpapalakas sa mga grupo ng mga kababaihan o tinatawag natin na women empowerment,” Alim shared. “What we want to happen is to empower women for vision building, community development, help them realize the importance of their role in the society.” Guiamel was expecting that before the end of this UN Women project, these 30 women-led organizations had an organizational development and become ready for their role in the future.”

In addition, these women organizations were extending their gratitude to CBCS and delivered their messages of commitment to this project to integrate gender sensitivity, particularly women empowerment. ” We are very willing to be one of your helping hands in implementing this project,” Ms. Najiyah Andong President of Bangsamoro Youth for Peace and Development said. “As youth leaders, we have many things that we want to do and have so much in our minds that we want to take action for our community, but as of now, we don’t have enough resources to do those activities,” Ms Andong elaborated.” Your help and initiatives on the SEC registration of women organizations are answered prayers from Allah S.W.T. Allah is indeed merciful. Alhamdulillah!”, she ended.

In his video message, UN WOMEN Gilbert Guevara extends his commitment to CBCS and project beneficiaries. Gilbert, hoping that the implementation of the project will become successful. “Nandito lang kami lagi at ang CBCS,” Gilbert said. Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) Chairperson Bainon Karon expresses the support of the BARMM Government through her office BWC and looking forward to seeing the progress result of the project.

“We hope those empowered women involved in this program will take a significant part in this journey, we are one step ahead to reach our goal in giving voices to our women and having sustainable peace and development,” Bainon shared.

Before the end of the activity, the Provincial Local Government Unit of North Cotabato Province Governor Emmylou “Lala” Jacolo Taliño-Mendoza representative Dr. Palasig U. Ampang, Gensan Cooperative Development Authority 12 representative Francis Reblado, Bangsamoro Women Commission Chairperson Bainon Karon representative Samsia P. Abdullah extend their commitment and support to the project.

Writer: Monawara M. Kumayog