User:Maximus1925/Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society

Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society
AbbreviationCBCS
Formation2002-02-14
TypeNGO
Legal statusnetwork
Purposeadvocacy, organizing
HeadquartersKFI Compound
Location
  • Cotabato City
Region served
MINSUPALA
Membership
organizational
Official language
English, Tagalog, Cebuano, other Moro dialects
Chairperson
Sec. Gen.
Guiamel M. Alim
Sammy P. Maulana
Main organ
General Assembly
Council of Leaders
Executive Committee
Reg. Mgmt. Committees
Secretariat
AffiliationsMindanao Peaceweavers
MINCODE
Staff
17
Volunteers
320
Websitewww.cbcsi.org

CBCS is a solidarity network of Bangsamoro non-government organizations, people's organizations (NGOs/POs) and other civil society organizations (CSOs). It was organized to respond to the need of enhancing and capacitating the leaders and key members of its network members towards advocacy undertaking on human rights and justice, peace and conflict tranformation, good governance and responsible leadership, development through social empowerment, and on Bangsamoro right to self-determination (RSD). [1]

It is the largest CSO composed of Moro NGOs and POs[2]

CBCS is also a conferential body that engenders cooperation, collaboration and coordination among Moro civil society organizations in facing the challenges of creating a peaceful, pluralist, and just society.

Background

edit

Before the establishment of CBCS, Moro CSOs were roughly segmented and scattered in addressing issues and problems that directly and indirectly affect the Bangsamoro people. There had also been a perceived lack of leveling off in understanding, defining and promoting Bangsamoro right to self-determination (RSD). Though there had been past collective action of Moro CSOs, these were done on a short-term basis only. In addition, Moro CSO interventions for the Bangsamoro, though assessed as effective, are localized to a specific area and did not encompass the greater territory in which the Bangsamoro people resides. It had also been assessed that there was an absence of a collegial body that would effectively and sustainably coordinate, link and unite all Moro CSOs in bannering the Bangsamoro struggle for the restoration of its RSD.

CBCS was borne out of a long, painstaking and tedious process. Sometime in the mid-1990s, a core of old-time peace and human rights advocates convened to conceptualize and strategize the formation of a solidarity network and conferential body that would consolidate and unify the scattered Moro civil society organizations in the different areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and in other communities in Mindanao where the Moro is sizable in number and permanently residing.

CBCS was formed during the "Third Bangsamoro CSO Forum for Peace” in February 14, 2002 in General Santos City. It was founded by twenty-nine (29) committed Bangsamoro individuals who were leaders of Moro civil society organizations. They had convened to pursue the idea of forming a network that would bring together Moro-run NGOs for advocacy on peace, human rights, and good governance.

In that formation, Mr. Guiamel Mato Alim, Executive Director of the Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc. (KFI) was chosen by consensus as the first chairperson of CBCS and KFI was designated as the secretariat agency for CBCS.

In December 2002, CBCS acquired legal status by registering with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as non-stock and non-profit private entity[3].

In 2003, CBCS formed its own Secretariat, officially separating from KFI organizationally and operationally.

In 2004, the network membership of CBCS reached almost eighty (80), with member organizations based and operating as far west as the Mindanao province of Sulu and as far east as the province of Davao Oriental. This growth necessitated the creation of “regional formations” and of the Regional Management Committees (RMCs) of CBCS to better coordinate, manage, and accurately contextualize interventions by each regional formation.

As of 2008, CBCS has reached a total registered network membership of one hundred sixty-eight (168) Moro civil society organizations in its eight (8) regional formations all over Mindanao. .

Vision and Mission

edit

Vision for Itself

A network of Moro civil society organizations that is able to collectively assert its influence in helping transform positive social and structural changes in Muslim Mindanao.

A network that is able to sustain working together to achieve peace, justice and human development in a context of a plural society.

Vision for Society

CBCS envisions a society governed by justice, where all peoples are respected of their inalienable rights to exercise self-determination, co-exist harmoniously and live with prosperity, honor and dignity.

Mission

The foremost mission of the CBCS is to help empower technically and politically the Bangsamoro civil society organizations towards a more active participation in achieving justice, peace and human development for the Bangsamoro people.

Goal

The primary goal of the CBCS is to empower the Bangsamoro towards peace based on justice and development which promotes human dignity, honor and prosperity.

Belief and Principles

edit

CBCS adopted a set of principles to serve as a guide and ensures its organizational thrust and direction, to wit:

  • We believe in our collective responsibility to build peace in Mindanao and work for the development of Moro communities through participatory governance and leadership by consultation
  • We believe in maximizing available opportunities for the cause of peace and social justice
  • We commit to advance the struggle for freedom and self-determination of the Bangsamoro through peaceful and civil engagements.
  • We stand for principled partnership, critical collaboration and constructive cooperation approach in relating with existing government institutions and programs.
  • We commit to establish mutual coordination with Moro groups that share the same principles, but thread the alternative nonviolent approaches and the revolutionary path in our common advocacy and activities for Bangsamoro self-determination
  • We strive to increase our constituency by reaching out the less organized and less involved segment of the Bangsamoro society namely; the academe, the intellectuals and business sectors.

Added Value of CBCS

edit

CBCS believes that it brings the following to the greater peace and human rights work in Mindanao:

  • CBCS is an effort to bring together Moro civil society organizations in Mindanao and beyond for a common agenda;
  • Coordinated advocacy efforts are more effective than individual, splintered and un-organized initiatives;
  • Skilled, capacitated and organized Bangsamoro CSOs is the missing link in the peace, human rights and development work in Mindanao;
  • Pooling the resources of Bangsamoro CSOs can become a potent force for positive change and transformation.

Programs and Strategies

edit

CBCS has one (1) major program and three (3) supporting programs. The Regional Management Committees (RMCs) spearhead the implementation of these programs, projects and activities in their respective regions, as the RMCs serve as "linking organ" between the central organs (GA, Council of Elders, Executive Committee, and Secretariat) and its network members within their respective regions. Its major program is the Peace, Governance and Human Rights (PGHR) Program, which centers on the campaign and advocacy of three thrusts, namely: a) Human Rights and Justice (HRJ), b) Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation (PCT), and c) Good Governance and Responsible Leadership (GG-RL).

The PGHR Program has four (4) supporting programs: a) The Human Resource and Development (HRD) Program, which deals with capability build-up of CBCS leaders and institution building/organizational development of member organizations, b) The Research, Documentation, Publication and Information (RDPI) Program, which deals with the effective management of information coming in and out of CBCS, c) The Disaster Management and Rehabilitation (DMR) Program, which deals with, emergency and relief operations, fact finding, and organizing of vulnerable communities, and d) The Social Empowerment (SE) Program, which deals with sustainable economic development interventions. The latter program has recently been launched and is in the process of actualization.

Peace, Governance and Human Rights (PGHR)

edit

PGHR is the flaghip program of CBCS. It is composed of three (3) components: Peace and Conflict Transformation (PCT), Human Rights and Justice (HRJ) and Good Governance and Responsible Leadership (GG-RL).

Peace and Conflict Transformation (PCT)

Promoting the culture of peace and the culture of justice, advocacy, and support for peaceful conflict resolution, and working for conflict transformation, as well as promoting the concept of peace in the context of the history of the Bangsamoro and through their quest to regain their Right to Self-determination as a people and nation, are the basic ingredients for human security and peaceful co-existence in Mindanao.

This program deals with the conceptualization of just-peace at the grassroots level. It gears towards the popularization of peace education.

Human Rights and Justice (HRJ)

Promoting respect for human rights is a divine and collective obligation of the Muslim Ummah. The Bangsamoro right to self-determination is grossly violated by the mere act of denying this inalienable right to them and by their being targets of discriminate arrests and seizures.

This program deals with the raising of consciousness of man of his moral and social well-being. It is geared towards the education and popularization of human rights in its optimum level (e.g. individual rights, collective rights and people’s rights), as contextualized to the Bangsamoro experience.

Good Governance and Responsible Leadership (GG-RL)

Good governance dictates transparency and accountability, democracy, people’s genuine participation, adequate delivery of social services, and prevention of corruption. These are fundamental requisites for peace.

This program deals with the comparative study and analysis of different government systems. It gears towards the development of alternative structures and systems suitable for Bangsamoro system of governance.

Research, Documentation, Publication and Information (RDPI)

edit

This program has three components, namely: Research and Documentation, Publication and Information Management.

Research and Documentation

This component deals with the conduct of relevant and timely research activities, documentation, or the gathering, analysis and consolidation of data about various events and phenomena that directly affect the Bangsamoro people.

Publication

This component deals with the regular dissemination of information through print media to all its member-organizations, the general public, as well as actual and potential partners locally and internationally to win support and sympathy for the Bangsamoro cause. This is substantiated through:

  • The Bangsamoro Journal – a quarterly opinion-based publication highlighting the different thoughts and positions of writers and contributors about the various isues that affect the Bangsamoro people and their struggle for the restoration of their right to self-determination.
  • The Bangsamoro Updates – a monthly news-based publication that highlights human rights violations and conflict situations in the different Moro communities that have been responded to by CBCS, its regional formations, and or its social formations and mechanisms on the ground.

Information Management

The management of relevant information on events, initiatives and cases on peace, on human rights and justice and on good governance is vital in substantiating and giving flesh to the advocacies of the CBCS in order to effectively unify its member-organizations in the service of the Bangsamoro. This is substantiated through:

The Human Resource and Development (HRD)

edit

CBCS strives to enhance the technical capacity and socio-political consciousness of its member-organizations for effective advocacy and internal program management. Its member-organizations must also acquire enhanced skills in organizational development so that they can professionally manage their respective organizations and programs.

This program deals with capacity building and enhancement of manpower resources within CBCS. It is geared towards the capability building of the staff, regional management committee, member-organization heads and leaders, and other community mechanisms whose establishment or formation were facilitated by CBCS.

Disaster Management and Rehabilitation (DMR)

edit

In the anticipation of major calamities or emergency situations, CBCS has a “standby force” that is ready to conduct fact-finding missions, as well as emergency and relief operations to address immediate needs of victims man-made and natural disasters.

Care for Peace

edit

The Care for Peace is a special program of CBCS that is separate and distinct from its PGHR Program. It generally deals with the formation and capacity enhancement of a loose task force-type community-based mechanism composed of civilian volunteers that would respond to the immediate needs of conflict-affected, human-rights affected, and disaster affected communities. The Care for Peace also known as the Civilian Local Peacekeeping Team (CLPT), or the Human Rights and Peacekeeping Watch (HRPW).

The members of the CLPT are selected on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Multi-sectoral leaders in the area who are credible and exert a degree of influence in the community, including heads of people’s organizations and community-based NGOs.
  • Politically and emotionally matured and have a deep grasp and understanding of the Moro issue and the problems of their respective communities and
  • Committed, dedicated and willing to spare the time and the resources to the cause, as well as be ready to assume tasks and responsibilities.

To respond to peace and security-related problems in the barangays (villages), there shall be a community-based group from each barangay (districts) up to the municipal level which shall closely monitor the situation of peace and human rights, especially in conflict-prone areas.

The members of this CLPT are in place in the nine (9) regions of CBCS, with varying names in accordance with the vernacular of the area, namely:

  • Tiyakap Kalilintad in Kutawato, Rajah Buayan, Dabaw and Sibugay Regions,
  • Inengka Ko Kalilintad in Ranaw Region,
  • Cuidar para Zamboanga in Samboangan Region,
  • Bantey Basilan in Yakan Region, and
  • Jaga Lupah Sug in Lupah Region.

Each of these CLPTs has an average size of 35 members.

Soon, the Kasajahitraan Tawi-Tawi shall be formed in Tawi-Tawi, after the Tawi-Tawi Regional Management Committee shall have been formed and operational.

Roles and Functions:

As per envisioned, the Community-based Civilian Local Peacekeeping Teams serves as a mechanism to pursue the promotion of human rights, peacebuilding and emergency and relief in their respective areas of coverage.

A core group of at least 5 barangay-based individuals are trained on various skills of peacebuilding and documentation as well as lobbying to make them effective in their work. The group is composed of concerned individuals coming from different social sectors -- religious, youth, women, community leaders, elders and others -- who are trained on peace building, advocacy, human rights, and lobby work. Later on, this core group can expand to include other community members who shall also become peace advocates. Their tasks include monitoring peace situation in their barangays, documenting cases of HR violations, and coordinating with proper authorities for peaceful resolutions of conflict. They also shall help IDPs in cases of displacement through relief and emergency assistance.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

  • To ensure the faithful observance of the GRP-MILF General Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities and the sincere implementation GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement in areas covered and affected by these peace tracks, as well as monitor, document and report any violation committed thereat, including other related human rights violations;
  • To manage and settle community-based or low intensity conflicts (LICs) conflicts that may directly or indirectly have been brought about by and/or affect the greater peace processes through indigenous and contemporary methods of negotiation, conciliation, mediation, dialogue;
  • To prepare and safeguard the safety and security of local residents during emergency situations or states of calamity;
  • To spearhead the documentation of damage due to calamity and the actual conduct of relief operations;
  • To organize and mobilize the community to address issues or problems affecting them through collective action; and
  • To demonstrate its capacity to provide service to address the plight of the Bangsamoro in war-ravaged areas.

The Municipal level CLPT:

A municipal-wide alliance of CLPT composed of representatives from the barangay-based groups shall be organized. The task of the Municipal group is to coordinate efforts with municipal level stakeholders such as the CHR, formal monitoring teams (e.g. IMT, JMAT, etc.), legal-based organizations and other civil society groups. The Municipal HRP Alliance will present documented cases not only to its local partners but also to the government agencies concerned, the military and the rebel groups.

Data obtained from the barangay-based CLPT would be the basis of lobbying work by the municipal HRP Alliance. The coordination work of the Municipal CLPT will thus be in support for an effective implementation of ceasefire agreements in particular, and the peace process in general.

Structure, Organs and Functions

edit

CBCS is governed by five (5) major organs, namely: The General Assembly, The Council of Leaders, The Executive Committee, The Regional Management Committees, and The Secretariat.

 
The Organizational Structure of CBCS

General Assembly (GA)

edit

The General Assembly is composed of individual NGO/PO members who constitute the highest governing-making body and meets once every two years. These are organizations that believe in the cause of justice, peace, human rights and equitable development.

Council of Leaders (CoL)

edit

The Council of Leaders is composed of representatives from the regional formation whose tasks is to provide specific and concrete guidelines to the implementation of policies formulate by the GA. The COL meets twice a year.

Executive Committee (ExeCom)

edit

The Executive Committee is composed of officials chosen from the Council of Leaders (CoL): The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson for External, Vice Chairperson for Internal, Treasurer, Auditor, Secretary-General, and Deputy Secretary-General. The ExeCom meets four times a year to review policies for the decision of the COL.

CBCS is presently led by the following CoL members and ExeCom officers:

  • Chairperson - Guiamel M. Alim, Executive Director, Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc. (KFI)
  • Vice Chairperson for External – Nathan Insung, Executive Director, Yakan Integrated Resource Development Foundation, Inc. (YIRDFI)
  • Vice Chairperson for Internal – Samie Buat, President, Salam Davao Sur Inc.
  • Treasurer – Mohammad Ali "Ferrer" Marcaban – Executive Director, Moro Tiyakap Foundation, Inc.
  • Auditor – Amenodin "Ding" Cali, Executive Director, Kalimudan Foundation, Inc.
  • Secretary-General – Ismael "Sammy" Maulana, Chairperson, Kabataang Mindanao Para sa Kapayapaan (KAMINKAP)
  • Deputy Secretary-General – Pinky Hadji Ali, President, Salam Women, Inc.

Regional Formation & Regional Management Committees (RMCs)

edit

The Regional Formation is a sub-formation of CBCS at the regional level. It is a clustering of member-organizations per region. There are eight (8) Regional Formations in CBCS. This structuring was developed in order for member-organizations located within a given region to work together in addressing regional situations affecting the Bangsamoro therein, while pursuing Mindanao-wide and national issues together with the rest of the CBCS membership in the other regions.

The Regional Management Committees are attached structures of the CBCS. Each is composed of officers chosen from the Regional Formation. They oversee the implementation of CBCS programs and activities in the region. It also serves as the think-tank of the region’s member-organizations, the regional secretariat, and channel of funds from CBCS. There are currently eight (8) RMCs of CBCS.

The RMCs of CBCS are led by the following Regional Chairpersons:

  • Samaon "Samie" Buat (Salam Davao Sur) – CBCS Dabaw Region
  • Oscar “Oca” Sjkjknnm,julaiman (MAGMOFFI) – CBCS Raja Buayan Region
  • Ustadz Rahib Kudto (UNYPAD National) – CBCS Kutawato Region
  • Dipunudun "Dipsy" Maruhom (GAD) – CBCS Ranaw Region
  • Sultan Maguid “Mags” Maruhom (Ummah Fi Salam) – CBCS Sibugay Region
  • Munib Kahal (Dawat, Inc.) – CBCS Samboangan Region
  • Nathan Insung (YIRDFI) – CBCS Basilan Region
  • Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie (Bawgbug) – CBCS Lupah Sug Region

The Secretariat

edit

jkjkjk bjnm,m.. The Secretariat acts as the workforce for CBCS. Its staff members are responsible for coordinating regional programs, provide and facilitate technical and funding support and administrative functions for the CBCS, including drafting proposals and writing reports. The secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General, who visits each CBCS region every month or more often as the need arises.

The following are the staff members of the CBCS Secretariat:

PGHR / HRD / DMR Programs

  • Ismael “Sammy” P. Maulana – Secretary General, Western Mindanao Cluster Coordinator
  • Ismael “Mike” G. Kulat – Central Mindanao Cluster Coordinator
  • Ahmed Harris “Tommy” R. Pangcoga – Training & Project Development Officer, Western Mindanao Team member
  • Noraida C. Abo – Humanitarian Response Officer, Central Mindanao Team member
  • Atty. Pherham Saiddie – Zamboanga Sub-Office Coordinator
  • Hannan M. Masdoc – Peace Officer, Assistant to the Secretary-General publi
  • Mohamad S. Omar – Technical Staff, Central Mindanao Team

RDPI Program


Admin & Finance

  • Danilo "Danny" T. Mocsin – Admin & Finance Officer
  • Lolita Uka-Tiin – Cashier
  • Meriam G. Abba – Zamboanga Sub-Office Admin. Assistant
  • Jongjong Dalandas – General Services Officer

The CBCS Organigram

edit
 
The Organigram of CBCS

Areas of Coverage

edit

At present, the CBCS has 168 network-members, purely composed of Moro civil society organization from ARMM areas and other parts of Mindanao.

To facilitate the easy implementation and management of programs and services, the CBCS had regionalized the formation of its network-members based on its geographical location, proximity and accessibility and organized CBCS management committee in each region. These regional formations were clustered into two areas, Central Mindanao Cluster and Western Mindanao Cluster:

Central Mindanao Cluster

edit
  • Kutawato Region (Maguindanao, Sharif Kabunsuan, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan and Tacurong)
  • Rajah Buayan Region (South Cotabato, Sarangani and the cities of General Santos and Koronadal)
  • Dabaw Region (Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and the cities of Davao and Digos)
  • Ranaw Region (Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and the cities of Marawi, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro)

Western Mindanao Cluster

edit
  • Sibugay Region (Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Pagadian, Ipil, Dipolog, Dapitan City and Ozamiz)
  • Yakan Region (Basilan and the cities of Lamitan and Isabela)
  • Lupah Sug Region (Sulu Province and Jolo)
  • Samboangan Region (Zamboanga City and the western part of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay)

See also

edit
edit
  • http://www.cbcsi.org The Official website of CBCS
  • http://ranaw.com Ranaw, The lanao del Sur Community
  • http://www.bangsamoro.com ::a new medium for the modern moro::
  • http://www.bangsamoro.info The Bangsamoro Online - The History and Struggle of the Bangsamoro People!
  • http://www.luwaran.com The Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website
  • http://www.morofocus.com The Bangsamoro Documentation Project
  • Amir Butler: The Moro Struggle for Independence
  • http://www.mindanaopeaceweavers.org The Mindanao Peaceweavers
  • http://www.mincode.org The Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks
  • http://www.mindanews.com The Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center
  • http://www.moroherald.com The Moro Herald
  • "Understanding Rido in North Cotabato and Bukidnon for Creative Conflict Management and Resolution" (PDF). Asia Foundation. June 2005. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  • "Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations holds peace rally". Philippine Information Agency. 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2009-04-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • "PEACETALK: Disappointing SC denial of MOAtions for reconsiderationn". Minda News. 2008-11-24. Retrieved 2009-04-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

References

edit
  1. ^ List of Member Networks, | Mindanao Peaceweavers.
  2. ^ Toohey. A. (2005), Social Capital, Civil Society and Peace: Reflections on Conflict Transformation in the Philippines, Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Queensland, Australia.
  3. ^ Securities and Exchange Commission CN:200261624

[[Category:Moro]] [[Category:Organizations based in the Philippines]]