Sarangani’s inclusive governance is key to peacebuilding: BARMM

ALABEL, Sarangani – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process has lauded Sarangani as a forerunner of “inclusive and good governance” during the camp transformation program of the six acknowledged camps of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Nakita natin na yung Sarangani ay isa sa may pinakamagandang record on inclusive and good governance, kaya inexpose natin itong mga camps, na dati mga armed groups sila at ngayon nagtransform na,” said Engr. Casana Mandal on Wednesday (February 26).

Mandal, Peace Program Officer of OPAPPCotabato, expressed her admiration for Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon for the “inclusiveness sa mga programa whether anong religion o tribe mo susuportahan talaga niya.”

“Sobrang na-appreciate talaga namin yung mga programs niya para sa Muslim community, kahit hindi naman siya Muslim,” she added.

Mandal said OPAPP designed the “exposure program as part of the camp transformation programs for the six acknowledged camps” wherein camp commanders will “initiate paano nila i-transform yung kanilang kampo into a peaceful and productive community.”

Groups from Camps Abubakar, Bad’r, and Omar of Maguindanao were among the “six Government of the Philippines – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF) recognized camps” who came as the first batch of the exposure program conducted in Sarangani on February 26.

Camps Bilal of Lanao del Norte, Bushra of Lanao del Sur, and Rajah Muda of North Cotabato are set for

the second batch on February 28.

Dausay Daulog, executive director of Maguindanao Development Foundation Incorporated, said Sarangani has been “MDFI’s partner in terms of implementing peace building dito sa Region XII.”

“Isa ang Sarangani sa nakikita namin na most active and most responsive in addressing the needs of all sectors dito sa probinsya at sa region. Looking at the leadership of the governor, peacebuilding is really sound dito sa province,” he added.

Daulog said camp commanders also expressed their gratitude and delight for having a close and personal encounter with the governor himself, as he welcomed them in the province.

On the other hand, Governor Solon introduced the programs and strategies of Sarangani in order to achieve and sustain peace and development in the province.

“Dapat hindi lang manatili sa isip natin ang peace and development, dapat we have to force it, we have to push it down,” Solon said. Solon believed the “community should get involved as much as possible” and suggested the BARMM to “use their budget for projects na makikinabang ang komunidad, na dapat may income sila, for example, infrastructure.”

He also emphasized the importance of putting “God in the center of your government in order to be successful,” and said “we cannot separate God, our Allah, from a successful development.”

“We are all part of Camp Philippines. Sana we will all work together,” he added.

BARMM is an autonomous region in southern Philippines and was established during the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law through plebiscites replacing the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The new Bangsamoro region is composed of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Marawi City, Lamitan City, Cotabato City, and 63 villages in North Cotabato. (Jori Mae Samillano/Sarangani Communications Service)