Moro NGO strengthens speakers’s bureau for FAB campaign

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 19): Moro NGO strengthens speakers’s bureau for FAB campaign

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Moro rights advocate Kalilintad Development Foundation Inc. (KDFI) is empowering its members as well as area coordinators and coordinators with regard to communicating the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) by holding a speakers’ bureau training.

The training held in nearby Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province from April 15 – 16 was conducted in partnership with the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute with support from the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (OPAPP).
The training sought to raise the awareness on the FAB as well as the prospects and opportunities that it’s final implementation would bring as well as build the capacities of the participants as peace advocates and communicators as they inform their respective communities about the agreement.

“Let us advocate peace and justice towards genuine governance in our homeland, the Bangsamoro. We are fighting for justice, so we must be just in seeking our right to self-determination," Esmael A. Abdula, KDFI senior programs advisor told the participants.

Abdula presented the history of the Mindanao conflict, including its root causes and the status.

He stressed that the FAB is the key towards the establishment of a Just, Peaceful and Humane society in Mindanao.

Meanwhile Nasrullah Mohammad, MILF focal person for the humanitarian, rehabilitation development component of the International Monitoring Team, explained the FAB which was signed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He shared inputs on the Bangsamoro territory, identity, and the Bangsamoro basic law being framed by the Transition Commission. He also shared insights on the current conversation on the revenue generation, wealth and power sharing, basic rights and normalization.

“If ever the Agreements of both panels are implemented, there will be social, political, economic, cultural and traditional empowerments in our homeland. We have to work harder to support the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” he concluded.

Susan “Toots” Ople, president of Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute shared strategies and techniques to become good communicators.

“To become a speakers’ bureau member is a responsibility, mission, and struggle of individuals to inform the people thru information campaigns in support to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” Ople said.

“Knowing Bangsamoro is an excitement to everyone who is looking for peace and justice in Mindanao. It is an opportunity for all to invest in businesses, build infrastructures, livelihood projects, big institutions of learning and develop beautiful landscapes in Mindanao,” she added.

Estelle Ople Osorio, director for training and education of Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, walked the participants through public speaking tools and techniques for effective speech delivery.

A workshop provided an opportunity for participants to apply those techniques.

Participants were from the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1611366349147