STATEMENT OF THE MINDANAO COALITION OF DEVELOPMENT NGO NETWORKS (MINCODE)

Welcoming the Framework Agreement and Committing to Continue our Work for Peace in Mindanao

The Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks ((MINCODE), made up of twelve CSO networks of close to 500 member NGOs, peoples organizations and cooperatives operating in various communities in Mindanao, commends President Simeon Benigno Aquino III, the members of the GPH and MILF panels and their respective technical working groups,  OPAPP Sec. Teresita Quintos Deles and all those responsible for the forging of the historic “Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro” at the closing of the 32nd Formal Exploratory Talks held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

We join the rest of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao, as well in in other parts of the country and the world, in celebrating this landmark framework agreement that will pave the way for a final resolution of many decades of intermittent conflict and pernicious and dehumanizing poverty in many parts of Mindanao that has been exacerbated by  weak governance, rampant corruption, degraded environment and the political exclusions of peoples.

We, representatives of civil society organizations in Mindanao, commit to supporting all processes that will be undertaken to ensure the full implementation of the Framework Agreement, including the work of the Transition Commission leading up to the establishment of the Bangsamoro, the new autonomous political entity that will replace the ARMM.

We call on political and religious leaders as well our grassroots leaders to support processes that will ensure a broad information dissemination about the details of the Agreement even as they must endeavor to participate in processes that will put flesh to the many provisions in the Agreement. 

We will remain vigilant so that this Framework Agreement will not be undermined and its full implementation will not be sabotaged by individuals and groups who don’t share the dream of every Mindanaoan for a just and lasting peace in our land.   We will also take steps in forging broad CSO support for the Framework Agreement all over the country, through the Caucus of Development NGO Networks, the national CSO platform, of which MINCODE is a member.

In solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters, as well as with our indigenous communities in Mindanao, we, the members of MINCODE, once again renew our commitment to build – through our various programs and projects – social cohesion and harness the productive potential of the culturally diverse population of Mindanao and  create an atmosphere of trust and caring for one another, the very essence of any work for peace. All these we commit to doing so that in our lifetime all the peoples of Mindanao will enjoy the benefits of freedom, justice and peace.

AGRI-AQUA DEVELOPMENT COALITION MINDANAO. ASSOCIATION OF FOUNDATIONS MINDANAO. CONSORTIUM OF BANGSAMORO CIVIL SOCIETY. COUNCIL OF ORGANIZED SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN MINDANAO. COALITION OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, INC SOUTH COTABATO. KAHUGPUNGAN SA MINDANAW. MINDANAO ALLIANCE OF SELF-HELP SOCIETIES SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE CENTER. MINDANAO CONGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT NGOs AND NGIs. PHILIPPINE BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS MINDANAO REGIONAL OFFICE. PHILIPPINE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES IN RURAL AREAS. PARTNERSHIP OF PHILIPPINE SUPPORT AGENCIES. PAMBANSANG KILUSAN NG SAMAHANG MAGSASAKA.