Zambo Sur Leaders Sign Peace Covenant

PAGADIAN CITY (Leah Bugtay / 02 Feb) Community elders and religious leaders and government officials have signed a covenant to pursue peaceful resolution of conflicts in Zamboanga del Sur province through dialogue.

“We want peace not only in our families but in the whole community. We want to help settle conflicts in our communities through peaceful means,” said Ustadz Camar Dagadas of Dinas town, who was one of those who signed the covenant.

The others who also signed the agreement were Datu Tucan Dacula VI, Datu sa Sibugay (Prince of Sibugay); Sheik Esmail Calalagan, president of the Association of Islamic Development-Philippines; Sultan Comie Gandawali of Pagadian City; and Naguib Mantolino of Mabait Multi-Purpose Farmers’ Cooperative.

Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Aurora Enerio-Cerilles also signed the covenant together with Dr. Vizminda Serrato of the Department of Education; Tarhata Daligdigan, provincial director of the Office of Muslim Affairs; Hadji Abcede Asjali, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); and James Ali Abdul of the Government’s and United Nation’s ACT for Peace Programme. The mayors and other officials of the province also supported the initiative.

“With the peace covenant, the Muslim leaders become partners of the government in settling conflicts in their communities,” Asjali said.

The Provincial Council of Elders for Peacebuilding was also created following the signing of the covenant. The Council, whose members include community and religious leaders of the province’s 21 municipalities, is assisting the provincial government in resolving disputes in the communities, particularly family feuds.

"The Council of Elders mediates the settlement of conflicts through community-based mechanisms that are familiar among conflicting parties. This helps in resolving faster the rows in the community,” Asjali added.

The Council and the provincial government are also supporting the incorporation of peace curriculum in all madaris (Islamic schools) and elementary schools in the province to help develop the children’s abilities to peacefully settle conflicts.

Zamboanga del Sur, the most populated among the three provinces in Western Mindanao, has about 1.3 million population and is home to the indigenous Subanon people, Maguindanaoans, Kalibugans, Tausugs, Samals, Badjaos, Maranaos and Visayans.