14
May

Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations: Pillars of Peace, Justice, and Good Governance

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MSU Main Campus - Marawi City > 16-Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions (SDG Goals) > Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations: Pillars of Peace, Justice, and Good Governance

Aliah P. Cali-Pascan, DPA, JD

MSU, Marawi City – The vital role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in fostering peace and development in the Bangsamoro region took center stage during a recent episode of ShuarraMSU

today, May 9, 2025, 3-4pm. Hosted by Dr. Aliah Cali Pascan and Dr. Khayronesah Abbas, the program featured esteemed guests Hameda Sumdad and Johary Ayo, both personnel of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organization (CBCS).

Mr. Ayo, working under the transformative “Transforming and Prosperity of the Community Good Governance” project (formerly the Transparency and Accountability Project), illuminated the genesis of the CBCS and its core advocacies. He highlighted the collaborative spirit driving numerous CSOs to potentially unite under the umbrella of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations through accreditation.

Ms. Sumdad, engaged in the “Support for Bangsamoro Transition for Justice and Society Project,” shared her experiences and the inherent dynamics within the CSO landscape, particularly as someone who began her engagement in 2022. Despite the learning curve, she emphasized the crucial role of CBCS in supporting emerging CSOs through training initiatives designed to sustain their advocacies. Notably, Ms. Sumdad also announced that CBCS welcomes concept notes for project implementation, signaling their commitment to fostering grassroots initiatives.

Mr. Ayo passionately spoke about the spirit of voluntarism that underpins the establishment and growth of CSOs. He underscored their indispensable role in upholding peaceful elections, asserting that the presence of CSOs lends credibility and integrity to the electoral process. Their participation, he stated, serves as a beacon in democracy. Beyond ensuring fair elections, Mr. Ayo emphasized other critical functions of CSOs, such as election monitoring.

The insightful discussion underscored the multifaceted contributions of CSOs in the Bangsamoro region, spanning justice, good governance, community development, and democratic processes. Their dedication and collaborative spirit are undeniably crucial for the ongoing transition and the long-term prosperity of the community.

The ShuarraMSU program concluded with gratitude extended to the manager of IPDM, Baeshora Sabdullah, for providing the platform to highlight the invaluable work of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organization and its dedicated members.

About the author

The institute for peace and development in Mindanao (IPDM) was created by the MSU Board of Regents during its 182nd Meeting on December 7, 2001. The institute assumed the functions of two defunct units: the Muslim Christian Center for Peace Studies and the Muslim Mindanao Development Institute. It is now the central coordinating unit for all existing peace and development programs of the campuses of the University. MSU was established on September 1, 1961 as one of the government responses to the so-called “Mindanao problem.” The problem includes a violent struggle of segments of the Filipino Muslim population to redress long-standing grievances and assert Muslim selfhood and identity in the face of real and imagined threats of cultural and spiritual assimilation by the majority Filipino Christian population. The University was mandated to accelerate the “integration” of the cultural communities in Mindanao into the mainstream body politic and to accelerate the development of its service areas through instruction, research, and extension. In the pursuit of these objectives, the University also seeks to infuse spiritual and moral values, national consciousness and solidarity, and mutual understanding among Filipinos, which are necessary for peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. IPDM was therefore, created with the expectation that it would contribute to the easing of tensions and the promotion of justice and peace between Filipino Muslims and Christian by expanding knowledge, improving understanding and heightening sensitivity in relations between the peoples of Mindanao in particular, and the Philippines in general.

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