MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Five youth groups each coming from Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, North Cotabato, and Davao Region were granted with ₱10,000.00 to fund their peace-advocating project proposals.
The fund was provided by the BARMM’s Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) during the culminating activity of its 1st Bangsamoro Peace Promotion Fellowship dubbed “iMPOSing Peace”.
Held December 15-17 at Kinason Resort, Initao in Misamis Oriental, the activity was participated in by 50 youths from the BARMM’s five provinces, including those from the special geographic area and communities outside the Bangsamoro region.
During the three-day activity, the participants were engaged to conflict analysis, discussion of peacebuilding efforts in Sulu and Basilan provinces, youth peace and security, transition extension, history of peacebuilding, conflict monitoring and reporting, advocacy setting, mobile journalism, and the project proposal-making. [Related Story: MPOS engages youth in peacebuilding, conflict transformation]
Datutie Labas Jr., 18, a grantee from North Cotabato, said his team’s ‘UNGAYA: Bangsamoro Provincial Peace Fellowship’ project proposal aims to amplify the campaign for Bangsamoro youth’s role in advocating peace and moral governance.
“Nagpasalamat ang team ko sa Bangsamoro Government dahil nagbigay sila ng pag-asa sa mga katulad naming mga kabataan. On the grant prize given by MPOS, sobrang laking tulong nito sa pag implementa ng aming inisyatibo at plano,” Datutie said.
Jomar Panaguiton, 22, a participant from the indigenous communities in Maguindanao, also expressed his gratitude to MPOS for having learned new ideas from the activity, and for receiving a cellphone as a special award.
“Marami po akong nakuhang aral na magagamit ko sa aking kumunidad. At sa totoo lang po wala akong cellphone. Itong natanggap ko ay gagamitin ko upang makapag-communicate sa aking lugar sa pagsulong ng kapayapaan,” he said.
Meanwhile, MPOS Peace Program Officer Sittie Janine M. Gamao stressed that it is important to engage the youth – especially those who have experienced armed violence first hand – in peace-building advocacies.
“Gusto ko kayong iremind na kahit wala kayo sa gobyerno katulad namin, kayang-kaya ninyong i-implementa ang inyong mga magagandang adhikain sa inyong mga lugar,” Gamao said. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
