“Let us protect our peace gains” – Kalinaw Sarangani

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 27, 2011) - Kalinaw Sarangani, the province’s peace and development program under the Office of the Governor, has urged Sarangani constituents to “protect our peace gains” in the wake of recent skirmishes in Basilan and ambushes in Lanao Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda, Kalinaw Sarangani program manager, echoed the call of Governor Migs Dominguez for the people “to participate in protecting the gains of our peace efforts and insulate the province from incidents in other places in Mindanao.”

Kanda said the governor was calling on “all sectors to help in strengthening the awareness of the communities and remind all of each one’s stake and importance in protecting peace gains.”

Kalinaw Sarangani Program has initiated peace orientations on the updates of the GPH-MILF peace talks. It was conducted with the barangay captains, provincial board members, and some municipal officials of the municipality of Maasim on September 9.

The same orientation was conducted for barangay officials of Kiamba on September 11; municipal and barangay officials, religious sector, police and military and the International Monitoring Team in the municipality of Maitum on September 28.

More than 300 community members of barangay Katubao, Kiamba on October 18 and some 200 residents of barangay Tuyan, Malapatan on October 22 were briefed by Kalinaw Sarangani on the ongoing peace talks.

Recently, Kanda joined a two-hour local radio program in the orientation on the GPH-MILF peace process.

Kanda identified the municipalities of Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum as “conflict affected and conflict vulnerable areas of the province.”

“The Provincial Government sees the need that the community members in these areas need to be informed of the recent and accurate updates on the peace process to avoid negative speculations that may result to unnecessary panic and discomfort to the people,” Kanda pointed out.

The peace orientation included briefings on the proposals presented by the GPH and MILF panels – the Final Working Draft on Comprehensive Compact or the Sub-state proposal and the Three-for-1 Solution. The community members, on the other hand, were encouraged to actively take part in seeking a common ground, and influence both parties and their local counterparts to pursue the peace process and work forward in achieving the common goal of genuine and lasting peace and development in Mindanao.

“The program urges everyone not to be apathetic about this very important and sensitive issue, hence, be vigilant, refrain from generating negative speculations that might jeopardize the peace process, stand strong in protecting the peace gains and insulate the province from incidents in other places of Mindanao,” Kanda said.

Moreover, the Sarangani provincial government urges both parties, GPH and MILF, “to go back to the negotiating table. Treat each other as partners rather than adversaries, and to develop a working draft from the two draft proposals currently on the table and to arrive at a mutually acceptable working draft in resolving the Mindanao conflict.”

Kanda said “this draft should have a clear outcome based on the real needs of the Bangsamoro and the people of Mindanao.”

Sarangani has seven municipalities with identified 50 Peace and Development Communities (PDCs).

This week, massive peace orientations were slated to continue the initiatives started in informing the people of Sarangani.

“Likewise, the Local Monitoring Team and the IMT are working hand in hand with the provincial government in monitoring our peace situation,” Kanda added.

The orientation schedules are: Oct. 25, 9am. - with the Lupong Tagapamayapa members of Upper Suyan, Patag, Lun Padidu, Daan Suyan and Kinam in Malapatan; Oct. 26, 9am. – with PDC Kihan during their barangay assembly; Oct. 27 – with PDC Malabod, Lupong Tagapamayapa and barangay officials; Oct. 28, 2pm. – with barangay Baluntay Officials, women and religious sector in Alabel; Oct. 29, 8:30am, - at Datal Tampal; and 1pm. - with community members of PDC Lun Padidu during their barangay assembly.

Orientations will also be held on Nov. 3, 9:30am. – at Mindupok barangay hall with community members and the International Monitoring Team; Nov. 4, 8:30am. – at Burias, 1:30pm. at Baliton (Glan); and Nov. 8, - PDC Nalus with the community and barangay officials.

In December 2009, Kalinaw Sarangani Program received in Malacanang the Galing Pook national award for innovative governance on peace and development. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)