Bangsamoro peace process, first step in development

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 10): Bangsamoro peace process, first step in development

The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is the first step towards peace and development.

Thus, said International Studies Professor Mhemet R. Derindag  of Liceo de Cagayan University during the 3rd Marshall McLuhan Forum Series on Responsible Media.

The forum held on December 9, at Liceo de Cagayan University, focused on communicating the message of the BBL and how the proposed law and its related issues can further improve and change the narrative of peace in Mindanao.

Derindag said BBL serves as the crucial step in attaining sustainable peace and development in Mindanao. “We have to start from somewhere. This BBL is the step towards lasting peace addressing 400 years of conflict and suffering from Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese as well as the Manila imperial power if they won’t follow democratic rules and regulations,” he stressed.

Albeit he finds the Aquino Administration as sincere in pushing forward the BBL. Thus, he hopes that the peace process should continue. “It should never end because if it will, we’ve seen already what happened in the past. Billions of pesos went to nothing and nobody won,” he said.

On the other hand, Dr. Antonio J. Montalvan, historian and anthropologist, disagrees with the BBL because of its lack of self-determination which the Moros don’t deserve. “I think BBL falls short of what to me is sufficient degree of self-determination because to me sufficient degree of self-determination addresses the reality of political elitism which is the main contribution to the poverty in Moro territories,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, having mass communication students as the majority of the audience, the role of media in peace process was also tackled. “As media practitioners, we have to report and deliver the truth without prejudices,” said Joseph Morong, senior reporter of GMA Network, Inc. who gave some salient features of the proposed law.

The forum was organized by Liceo de Cagayan University in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy.

It served as an avenue for the young and future communicators to clear misconceptions and misleading issues on the current peace process.

The event was attended by some government agencies, non-government organizations, media practitioners and students.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1521449709866/bangsamoro-peace-process-first-step-in-development