COTABATO CITY – Over 200 Bangsamoro youth leaders have attended Tuesday a conference here on peace, security, and development.
The event was co-organized by the Office of Regional Governor, Department of the Interior and Local Government-ARMM, Regional Darul Ifta’, Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (OBYA) and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Development Academy and participated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
Nizam Pabil, OBYA Executive Director, speaking at the event, emphasized the importance of the youth’s voice in addressing current social issues and its role in countering violent extremism.
With recent major developments such as the Marawi siege last year, Pabil said the youth’s participation has become instrumental in solving conflicts.
He also noted that the role of religious leaders is pivotal in preventing violent extremism underscoring “religion was used in justifying the problem to some extent, so it is also important to note that religious leaders can also help in addressing the problem.”
Also in the event were Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Vice Chairman; Atty. Randolph Parcasio, of the Charter Change Consultative Committee; and Dr. Susana Anayatin, of the BTC, spoke about the Bangsamoro Organic Law and Federalism, among other issues.
Pabil said the conference was organized not only to talk about violent extremism but also major issues. “We think that the youth has a different perspective on these issues that’s why we provided them a space to discuss and create a network,” he said.
“Young ulama and professionals gather for this two-day event to talk about pressing issues. Not only countering violent extremism, pero yung mga kalakip na issues like BOL, and the talks on federalism,” he said.
With the participants coming from Bangsamoro provinces, Pabil said the event is expected to have a sustainable effect on the region’s youth sector. “Yung output ng assembly, yung mga participants magkaron ng network dahil nagmumula sila sa different provinces. So among themselves, may mga activities and workshops para makapag-create ng action plan after the assembly,” Pabil explained.
During the event, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman encouraged the participants to create a political party to act as the voice of the youth sector in the upcoming Bangsamoro parliament.
“Kung tama ang bilang na marami sa populasyon ng ating rehiyon ay nagmula sa kabataan, tama lang na dapat sa darating na panahon ay magbubuo ng isang malakas na partido ang kabataan upang mag-transform ang ating politika mula sa dinastiya patungo sa isang partido na kung saan mas marami ang kanilang populasyon,” he said.
“Kaya sa araw na ito, dapat ang ating isipan ay magsisimula na ang ating transisyon, hindi lang from one structure ng ARMM patungo sa bagong structure ngBangsamoro autonomous region kung hindi maging ang ating active participation. Ang failure ng BOL, ay failure natin lahat. Ang success ng Bangsamoro ay success natin lahat,” Hataman added.
The event was co-organized by the Office of Regional Governor, Department of the Interior and Local Government-ARMM, Regional Darul Ifta’, OBYA, and ARMM Development Academy. (Bureau of Public Information)
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