Some leaders of Cotabato City-based civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) held round table discussions (RTD) at the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College (CCSPC), Cotabato City last June 6, 2014 that resulted to the formation of a coalition that will facilitate meaningful, fair and fraud-free elections.
Named ‘Bangsamoro Coalition for Meaningful Election (BCOME)’ as suggested by Mahdie Amella, Executive Director of the Mindanao Action for Peace and Development Initiatives, Inc.(MAPAD), the group will serve as guardian against fraud and other illegal acts during elections. Initially, the BCOME will focus its monitoring activities on Cotabato City, during local or national elections. The 2016 elections which will include the election of pioneering members of the Bangsamoro Parliamant shall be the starting point of BCOME’s activities that include safeguarding of ballots as one way of ensuring that there shall be fair, just and clean elections.
The Cotabato City Coalition for Change (4Cs) organized last year (2013) before the mid-term elections has been tasked to convene the Coalition for meetings and planning, among other activities, since it is already knowledgeable, with wide experience on election-related matters.
The 4Cs is composed of six organizations such as United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), Mindanao Action for Peace and Development (MAPAD) Initiatives, Moro Women Development and Cultural Center (MoWDeCC), Kabalikat Civicom, SEED Foundation and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of Cotabato City.
During the previous political exercise in Cotabato City, the 4Cs engaged in election-related activities in partnership with the security sector and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to minimize election-related violence.
According to Anwar Saluwang, Director of the Development Management Center (DMC) of the UNYPAD, the 4Cs was already introduced to the City Mayor’s office during the proclamation of the 37 winning barangay chairmen in Cotabato City last election.
Saluwang said, in that occasion the 4Cs was afforded warm recognition’ by the Office of Cotabato City Mayor Japal ‘Jojo’ Guiani, Jr.
“Mayor Guiani really appreciated the efforts of the 4Cs in the last election,” Saluwang said.
Dr. Norodin Salam, a professor at CCSPC, said “The coalition may hold more meetings in the days to come”.
Salam suggested that “The coalition must conduct strategic planning so that it will have clear directions and well-planned activities.”
He also suggested that BCOME “must strengthen and strategize effective facilitations of activities to ensure mass registration not only by Muslims and IPs but also non-Muslims in Cotabato City.”
Dr. Mohammadtaha Pendaliday, CCSPC Vice President for Administration encouraged coalition leaders to share their utmost capacity – involving both physical and material resources.
“If Bangsamoro government goes nowhere, I am worried about the future of our children”, Pendaliday said.
“We must support the GPH-MILF talks because I cannot imagine the consequences if the peace efforts of both parties fail. This is our time to do our best in supporting the peace process,” he said.
The meeting was attended by various organizations and individuals such as UNYPAD, MAPAD, COCICAGCI, ABAI and some CCSPC faculty members.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1033-cso’s-ngo’s-hold-rtd-form-coalition-for-meaningful-elections
The Cotabato City Coalition for Change (4Cs) organized last year (2013) before the mid-term elections has been tasked to convene the Coalition for meetings and planning, among other activities, since it is already knowledgeable, with wide experience on election-related matters.
The 4Cs is composed of six organizations such as United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), Mindanao Action for Peace and Development (MAPAD) Initiatives, Moro Women Development and Cultural Center (MoWDeCC), Kabalikat Civicom, SEED Foundation and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of Cotabato City.
During the previous political exercise in Cotabato City, the 4Cs engaged in election-related activities in partnership with the security sector and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to minimize election-related violence.
According to Anwar Saluwang, Director of the Development Management Center (DMC) of the UNYPAD, the 4Cs was already introduced to the City Mayor’s office during the proclamation of the 37 winning barangay chairmen in Cotabato City last election.
Saluwang said, in that occasion the 4Cs was afforded warm recognition’ by the Office of Cotabato City Mayor Japal ‘Jojo’ Guiani, Jr.
“Mayor Guiani really appreciated the efforts of the 4Cs in the last election,” Saluwang said.
Dr. Norodin Salam, a professor at CCSPC, said “The coalition may hold more meetings in the days to come”.
Salam suggested that “The coalition must conduct strategic planning so that it will have clear directions and well-planned activities.”
He also suggested that BCOME “must strengthen and strategize effective facilitations of activities to ensure mass registration not only by Muslims and IPs but also non-Muslims in Cotabato City.”
Dr. Mohammadtaha Pendaliday, CCSPC Vice President for Administration encouraged coalition leaders to share their utmost capacity – involving both physical and material resources.
“If Bangsamoro government goes nowhere, I am worried about the future of our children”, Pendaliday said.
“We must support the GPH-MILF talks because I cannot imagine the consequences if the peace efforts of both parties fail. This is our time to do our best in supporting the peace process,” he said.
The meeting was attended by various organizations and individuals such as UNYPAD, MAPAD, COCICAGCI, ABAI and some CCSPC faculty members.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1033-cso’s-ngo’s-hold-rtd-form-coalition-for-meaningful-elections
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