General Santos City, Philippines – As the first historic Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections approach in October 2025, a strengthened collaboration among Moro, Indigenous Peoples (IP), and Christian constituents is more crucial than ever in promoting peace, inclusive development, and active participation in democratic processes. This call to action emerged after more than 50 tri-people representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) in BARMM region, including the Sulu province, convened for a two-day consultation that resulted to a Tri-People Peace and Development Agenda (TPPDA), and a collective call and commitment.
CSOs representing various tri-people sectors, including women and youth, regard how the elections and the post-transition phase will determine the fate of the long-held aspirations of the Bangsamoro. As the regular BARMM government is set to take shape soon after, they highlighted how inclusive participation will meaningfully influence the region’s political agenda.
During the opening session, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) Chairperson Guiamel Alim, challenged civil societies to remain as watchdogs, and to continue promoting social inclusion and inclusive development, and strengthen accountability.
Alim further emphasized that the TPPDA will provide a valuable guidance in engaging with BARMM leaders in their political agenda: “After this consultation dialogue and consolidating the Tri-People Agenda, we are going to engage political leaders from different political parties in a dialogue to learn about their political agenda in the regular BARMM.”
The consultation, which featured open dialogues and a series of workshop and validation sessions, came up with a unified agenda with strong focus on the following themes: Governance and Political Participation; Peace and Security, Human Rights; Access to Justice and Rule of Law; Socio-Economic Development and Livelihood; Land, Natural Resources and Environment and Climate Change; Cultural Identity, Interfaith, and Social Cohesion; Women, Youth and Other Marginalized Sectors.
Participants worked together in identifying key issues, challenges, and opportunities for peace and development. Another significant output from the workshops are the advocacy messages for engaging parliamentary candidates, political parties, and election stakeholders to ensure that the TPPDA informs electoral discourse and decision-making.
The TPPDA goes beyond mere discussion, charting specific steps and recommendations for each thematic area, thereby solidifying a unified goal that advances and safeguards the interest of the tri-people. The consolidated agenda, a product of multi-sectoral consultation dating back to 2023, reflects the priorities and aspirations of Moro, IP, and Christian communities, and is aligned with the context of the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections.
Signed by leaders of 22 Moro, indigenous peoples (IP), and Christian CSOs and communities, composing the Tri-People’s Conference for Social Cohesion and Development in the Bangsamoro, a statement was drawn directed to the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), Parliament, and BARMM ministries and agencies, and to the CSOs. Part of the statement says: “The destiny of the Bangsamoro rests in our collective hands. Together, let us preserve, defend, and deepen the hard-won peace.”
A call for peaceful and truthful first parliamentary BARMM elections
The consultation also tackled the evolving socio-political landscape in the BARMM region. Participants identified potential factors that could risk the integrity of the parliamentary elections, highlighting its complex intricacies at the local and provincial levels. CSOs call for peaceful and truthful parliamentary elections while acknowledging the crucial role of state security institutions and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in ensuring credible and inclusive electoral processes.
Despite Sulu’s current exclusion from BARMM, Wahida Abdullah, a Women, Peace and Security (WPS) advocate, remains hopeful in the elections: “The first parliamentary elections in the BARMM is historic. This will legitimize our right to self-determination, and we need to ensure the participation of the tri-people to prevent marginalization.” Along with other CSO representatives, she echoes their call for elections conducted in a “spirit of peace, free from fear, intimidation, manipulation, violence.”
This collective resolve also amplifies the continuing commitment to protect the rights and promote empowerment among members of marginalized and vulnerable groups, such as women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, internally displaced persons, among others.
Different voices, unified aspiration
“Walang iwanan,” say the IPs. “Di kami magpapaiwan,” say the Christian Settlers. “Sama-sama tayo sa hirap at ginhawa,” say the Moro.
Prof. Jurma Tikmasan, Head of Tawi-Tawi-based CSO Tarbilang Foundation, expressed that while bringing together people of diverse backgrounds presents challenges, it is not impossible. The development of the TPPDA demonstrates how acknowledging different perspectives while highlighting the commonalities among the Tri-People can be achieved: “In our work with the Tri-People, mutual respect has been the foundation of our collaboration. This approach should guide our efforts to gain support for our advocacy of unity among the Tri-People in the Bangsamoro.”
This resounding affirmation underpins the future direction of the Tri-People’s Conference for Social Cohesion and Inclusive Development, which will conduct strategic planning on how to pursue the different agenda items identified during this consultation. The group will define a clear vision of the TPPDA to effectively engage with government stakeholders and further amplify socio-political education among the Bangsamoro community.
With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines and Conciliation Resources (CR), this Peace-BARMM initiative serves as a platform for collectively developing a community-driven agenda that reflects the tri-people’s shared priorities for peace, governance, and development–one that will hopefully guide the Bangsamoro Government in the pursuit of peaceful, resilient and prosperous communities in the region.
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