Manila, November 12, 2025—Against
the backdrop of ongoing peacebuilding challenges in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) formally concluded Phase II of the PROTECT Peace Project—an initiative that has spent three years fostering resilience, governance, and economic empowerment across some of Mindanao’s most conflict-affected communities.
BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS TO THE TABLE
The Project Completion and Stakeholders Forum successfully convened approximately 40 participants, bringing together project personnel, sub-recipient partners, and community beneficiaries from five target areas within the Bangsamoro region. Notable attendees included representatives from various organizations such as the Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates (KFPDAI) in Maguindanao, the Integrated Mindanao Association for Natives (IMAN) Inc. from North Cotabato and Special Geographic Areas, the Tarbilang Foundation Inc. (TFI) from Tawi-Tawi, the Gagandilan Mindanao Women, Inc. (GMWI) from Sulu, and the Lamitan City Rose Women Organization Inc. (LCRWOI) from Basilan.
The forum also featured significant government representation, with officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) participating in the discussions. Additionally, representatives from national and international development partners contributed to the dialogue, including EJ Salis from the Australian Embassy, Dyan Rodriguez from the New Zealand Embassy, Karen Marcelino from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), Joan Hope Tolibas from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Atty. Jennifer Buan, GCERF Country Advisor.
This event served as a comprehensive review of three years of project implementation and fostered forward-looking discussions on how to sustain its achievements beyond the project’s conclusion.
FROM OUTPUTS TO REAL TRANSFORMATION
For decades, the communities most affected by conflict in the Bangsamoro region have often found themselves without a voice in decisions that significantly impact their lives. The PROTECT Peace Project aims to rectify this situation by focusing on two interrelated objectives: enhancing the capacity of local leaders to facilitate community-led governance and providing practical support in business development and agriculture.
Mr. Guiamel Alim, Chairperson of the CBCS, set a clear and principled tone for the forum, emphasizing that the true measure of the project’s success lies not in the quantity of completed activities, but in the extent of social change that is achieved. He remarked, “Vulnerability and poverty often drive extremism more significantly than deep ideological beliefs,” urging all partners to look beyond mere outputs and commit to generating sustainable impact.
Atty. Jennifer Buan echoed this perspective, complimenting the teams dedicated to working in communities often overlooked by broader systems. She underscored the importance of establishing a reliable, trust-based connection between isolated communities and government institutions, which remains one of the most effective tools for preventing the social exclusion that can lead to unrest.
Voices from the Ground
The most impactful moments during the forum arose from individuals who experienced the project’s effects firsthand. A panel comprising community members and local leaders shared narrative accounts that illustrated the essence of effective peacebuilding.
Empowering Communities through Participation: Evelyn T. Abdurahim, President of the Tumakid Diversified Ahon Farmers Association in Basilan, recounted a period when local planning processes were conducted without transparency, leaving ordinary residents excluded from vital discussions. “The voices of the most marginalized members of the community were never acknowledged,” she stated. This project, however, reversed that trend by placing community members at the forefront of identifying and determining the necessary interventions for their villages.
Ending Cycles of Violence: Mr. Edgar H. Mukarram, a Barangay Kagawad from Omar, Sulu, shared an inspiring development: the collaborative planning process fostered by the project has successfully ended long-standing clan disputes, locally known as rido, which had historically divided his community. “This initiative marked a turning point, where individuals began to congregate, connect, and gain a clearer understanding of one another,” he reflected.
Empowerment of Women and Indigenous Communities: Halima Hasid of the Lidjiki Sin Kainaan Women Association and Sitti B. Macalanga of the Kitulaan Ummahat Association articulated how the project not only facilitated economic opportunities but also significantly contributed to enhancing confidence and self-determination among women and members of the indigenous Badjao community.
Fostering Hope Among Those Who Laid Down Arms: Hairosalam M. Abdullah, representing a local agricultural cooperative in Matanog, underscored the importance of livelihood initiatives rooted in local peace agreements. He emphasized that these initiatives are not merely sources of income; they offer genuine hope to the next generation, signaling the possibility of a brighter future.
A FOUNDATION FOR LASTING PEACE
The PROTECT Peace Project stands as a testament to the possibilities that emerge when government institutions, civil society organizations, international development partners, and local communities collaborate not merely alongside each other, but in a truly cooperative manner. Its significance extends beyond the programs implemented; it is reflected in the trust established, the voices uplifted, and the foundational groundwork laid for a more peaceful, inclusive, and self-determined Bangsamoro.
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