PEOPLES OF DIFFERENT FAITH AND CULTURES FORMED PLATFORM OF CONVERGENCE IN THE BANGSAMORO

One hundred thirty-eight key leaders of civil society organizations and community leaders coming from the five provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Special Geographic Areas, formally organized themselves into a loose formation and convergence of different peoples, different faith and different cultures in order to advance common agenda for the welfare of the general public.

Dubbed as “Peoples Conference for Social Cohesion” in the Bangsamoro was an output of a two-day “Peoples Conference on Social Cohesion in the Bangsamoro” held at the Robinson Hall 1, Mall of Al-Nor, Cotabato City from September 4 – 5, 2023. The conference was initiated by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organization (CBCS), Interfaith Action Network for Peace (IANP) and the Christian for Peace Movement (CfPM). It was also made successful due to support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), SUBATRA and MISEREOR.

The above platform will be spearheaded by Sir Guiamel Alim as its pioneer Lead-Convenor and be co-piloted by three key leaders such as Co-Lead Convenors from: The Moro – Sheikh Shaidy Montaner, from the Non-Moro IP – Timuay Deonato Mokudef and from the Settler Communities – Fr. Clifford Baira, DCC.

Also identified are different Focal Person in the five BARMM provinces and the SGA, among them: Dr. Harisul Samanul for Basilan Province, KarlMarx Marrack for Sulu Province, Tony Said for Tawi-Tawi Province, Johary Ayo for Ranaw areas, Aileen Usob-Hualde for Maguindanao del Sur, Romeo Saliga for Maguindanao del Norte and Connie Dumato for SGA.

The organizer of the conference extended their gratitude for the excellent facilitation of Ms Myla Leguro of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) where they termed as “effective traffic management” of the two-day clashes of bright minds towards common political agenda.

The Peoples agenda were presented to jump start the conference. The Moro Peoples Agenda was delivered by Mike Kulat, CBCS Senior Program Officer; for the Non-Moro IP Agenda by Timuay Deonato Mokudef and for Settler Communities by Fr. Clifford Baira, DCC. The above Peoples agenda had been the subject of discussions, consolidation reinforcement and affirmation of the conference participants.   

The Members of the Parliaments among them MP Rasul Ismael Enderez and MP Atty Mary Ann Arnado graced the occasion. The conference organizer conveyed their gratitude to majority of the Council of Leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, who patiently listened and interacted with the participants for the whole two-day affair in discussing the Peoples Agenda presented by the Moro Groups, Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples and the Settler Communities’ representatives. The Council of Leaders of BARMM are one in their commitment to exhaust their efforts in advancing the Peoples Agenda both in their sessions as a Council headed by no less than BARMM Interim Chief Minister Hon. Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, in Parliament and even to the national level if opportunities come.