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Civil society organizations share experiences on community
peacebuilding
By Melody "Jeck" Salise
Posted 16 October 2006
Around 100 participants from
various people’s organizations, non-government organizations,
academic institutions, and government agencies in Mindanao gathered
for a three-day forum entitled “The Third CSO Forum on Community
Development Approaches in Mindanao” last September 19 to 21, 2006
at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City and shared experiences and
reflections on community peace-building.
The said forum -- with the
theme “Championing and Celebrating Community Best Practices for
Peace and Development” -- showcased efforts of successful people’s
organizations (POs) in managing root causes of conflict, improving
human security, reducing poverty and enlarging chances for lasting
peace in conflict-vulnerable and deprived communities of Mindanao.
The POs presented relevant
activities geared towards sustaining peace and development in their
respective areas. Among the PO presenters to the forum were the
Lipi-Lipi Initiative for Farmers’ Empowerment (LIFE) of Kitulaan,
Carmen, Cotabato; Women Initiative for Human Development Association
(WIHDA) of Maguindanao; Tri-people Youth Organization (TPYO) of
Carmen, North Cotabato; Ginatilan, Nalapaan, Panicupan, Lagunde,
Dalingawen, Takepan & Kalakakan (GiNaPaLaDTaKa) of Pikit, North
Cotabato; and ITTIHAD Multipurpose Cooperative of Lombayao,
Balindong, Lanao del Sur.
Other presenters were
Al-Amanah Women Association of Matampay, Munai, Lanao del Sur;
Muslim-Kristian Vendors Association (MuKrisVA) of Cotabato City and
Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao; Association of Sustainable
Agriculture Practitioners of Palimbang - Sultan Kudarat (ASAPP) of
Sultan Kudarat Province; Sumbakil Multi-purpose Cooperative (SMPC)
of Sumbakil, Polomolok, South Cotabato; Simbo, Tupi, South Cotabato;
Datalbob, Tiboli, South Cotabato and Koronadal Proper; and the
Sarangani Community Development Foundation, Inc. (SarCoDFI) of
Alabel, Sarangani.
In addition, Prof. Moner M.
Bujanaid, a member of the GRP-MILF Negotiating Panel Peace Talks in
1997-2000, discussed the “Updates on the Peace Process: Issues and
Concerns for Civil Society Organizations” during the forum. He
also elaborated on the status of the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement
of 1996 and the on-going GRP-MILF Peace Talks.
The objective of the forum
was to have a better relationship among POs, CSOs, LGUs, government
agencies, resource providers and the academe by learning and
actually experiencing with stakeholders the important processes in
building a culture of peace. Engaging people in an expanded dialogue
encourages appreciation on the role of civil society in
strengthening the peace process. The forum also highlighted
effective participatory mechanisms by focusing on people-led
activities which can be adapted by other institutions to strengthen
development initiatives of other agencies in the long run.
The Invisible Link, an
informal coalition of civil society organizations in Mindanao
composed of 31 CSOs, was the main organizer of the said forum.
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