COTABATO CITY (September 16, 2022)—Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) Chairperson Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong personally received policy recommendations from several youth organizations on Sept. 16, in Koronadal City during the Final Refelection Session supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Around 15 policy recommendations were handed-over by Youth Policy Movers, a formation of BYC-accredited youth organizations from Maguindanao, Cotabato City, Special Geographic Areas of North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and Marawi City.
“In BYC, we are doing our best to bring the best that the young people of BARMM deserves,” Chairperson Macasalong said.
“We are now eyeing international engagements to produce opportunities. We should continue making relevant policies that are long term in nature for the future we are dreaming,” Chairperson Marjanie added.
The final reflection session forms part of a series of writeshops and other initiatives under the Support to Conflict Transformation toward Effective Peacebuilding in BARMM (STEP BARMM). The project aims to support peacebuilding initiatives in line with sustaining the gains of the peace process and peacebuilding during the pandemic thru working closely with different community and sectoral groups, including women and the youth.
Youth participants refined and finalized youth-informed policies drafted by the youth policy movers, in coordination with BYC and the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS).
Said policies were the product of over a year of polishing and reflection from the implementation of learning and listening sessions from the ground through their respective organizations.
Other ministries and agencies of Bangsamoro Government also attended the session including the Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism (MTIT), Interior and Local Government (MILG), Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MIPA), Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH), and others to provide comments and statutories to the policy resolutions.
The said accredited youth organizations that were involved and engaged are Lakas Kabataan- Lanao and Maguindanao, Rajahmuda Youth Organization, Young Centrists Union, Inc, MAGUIPYO, United Group of Active Youth Association, Alliance of Magnanimous Youth Leaders, Inc, Advocate Youth Development, Project Salingsing, Maguindanao Alliance of Youth Advocates, Maranao Youth Center, Coalition of Moro Youth Movement, Inc, UNIPYO, Advocates for Sustainable Liguasan, Voices of the Youth for Social Transformation, PHIMSA- Mindanao, Christian Youth Coalition, SAMAKAPA and PICAF Student Government, among others.
These policy recommendations are expected to be enrolled in the BYC En-Banc, to be lodged to members of the Bangsamoro Youth Coordinating Council (BYCC), and to the Bangsamoro Parliament. (BYC PR Unit/RMM)
