Post Conflict Communities Continue to be Isolated, Even from Centralist Issues

Kidapawan City - Conflict affected communities don't see the centralist issues hounding the country today to affect them immediately and directly nor would a change in leadership change their situation. "The government alone cannot solve the troubles continually hounding us for the past three decades. Leaders have come and gone yet we continue experiencing hardship and anxiety. We have come to realize that we need mainly ourselves to act on our plight and maybe with a little help from civil society. This way, we also help government." Fatima Marquez, 58 years old, of Matalam, Cotabato, speaking in vernacular said on Monday (July 11) at the MinLand office in North Cotabato.

Civil Society Organizations (CSO) are responding to the concern of Ms. Marquez on 17-20 July 2005. By identifying, discussing and exploring strategies on scaling up people initiatives that have produced inspiring results on the 2nd NGO Forum on Community Development Approaches, CSOs hope to improve their strategies to consequently propel authentic and reasonable development of the most vulnerable communities.

Thirty-one (31) NGOs will gather at the Marco Polo Hotel next week to exchange ideas, experiences and sound practices on community development approaches in areas with post conflict miscellany and severe poverty. Participants are mostly executive directors and senior officials of organizations with years of experience in development work and shall be coming from Cotabato Province, the Lanao Provinces, Marawi City, Cotabato City, Maguindanao, Cagayan de Oro City, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Bukidnon, Davao City, Davao del Sur and Saranggani.

This 2nd NGO forum will witness Dr. Abas Candao, Chair of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), presenting updates on the GRP-MILF peace talks and the role and efforts of the BDA in supporting and reaching out to conflict affected communities in Mindanao. The forum shall also hear Mr. Guiamel Alim, Executive Director of Kadtuntaya Foundation, sharing his insights on the realities and experiences of development work on post conflict communities. In addition, seven (7) pre-selected NGOs shall also present experiences and best practices in community development work.

With all the inputs and the anticipated dynamic discussions and learning exchanges, it is hoped that the forum will set off a continuing search and identification of strategies that will help scale up sound people initiatives leading to equitable development in post conflict communities. (MinLand)