Cotabato City (December 09, 2024)– The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) conducted a policy forum on Dec. 6, 2024 in Cotabato City to discuss and promote youth-centered policies to BARMM ministries, Members of Parliament, civil society organizations, and development advocates.
With the theme “Advancing Bangsamoreqro Youth Development through Policy Innovation,” the forum seeks to strengthen BYC’s collaboration with stakeholders and gain their commitment by identifying actionable steps to integrate these policies into regional governance.
The policy briefs, developed through BYC’s initiatives under the Special Development Fund and the Ideation Impact Challenge, aim to address critical issues affecting Bangsamoro youth.
BYC Chairperson Marjanie Mimbantas Macasalong underscored that the policies developed were from the voices of the youth to “ensure their voices are heard and integrated into governance.”
“The policies we present today are not just ideas on paper—they are a reflection of the creativity, resilience, and untapped potential of the Bangsamoro youth,” Chairperson Macasalong said.
BYC officials emphasized that establishing streamlined collaboration and shared efforts with stakeholders can maximize resources and create a lasting impact on the youth, contributing to the overall progress of the Bangsamoro region.
The event highlighted key policy recommendations developed through BYC’s initiatives, including the Special Development Funds projects and the Ideation Impact Challenge. Among the policies presented were:
• Sustainable Economic Reintegration for Former Combatants in Bangsamoro
• Strengthening Community-Based Reintegration Programs for Young Former Combatants
• Accessible Education and Support for Bangsamoro Orphaned Youth
• Strengthening Psychosocial Support and Rehabilitation for Young Former Combatants
• Examining Livelihood Conditions of Sama Bajau Young Women in Tawi-Tawi
• Upcycling Invasive Species of Rio Grande for Menstrual Hygiene Management and Gender Equity
• Gender and Development Awareness in the Bangsamoro
Moreover, Chairperson Macasalong also emphasized that meaningful progress can only be achieved by creating opportunities for youth to co-develop solutions and fully participate in decision-making.
Meanwhile, the forum covered topics such as sports development practices aligned with Islamic culture, psychosocial support for youth development, and youth perspectives on arranged marriage. The following policies were also presented:
• From Combatants to Community Leaders: Women’s Role in the Bangsamoro
• Needs-Based and Context-Specific Reintegration Programming
• What Domains of Sports Development and Sports Management Practices with Respect to Islamic Culture can Predict Sport Success?
• Gender and Development (GAD) in Islam: Awareness, Knowledge, Attitudes, Perspectives, Practices, and Issues of the Young Bangsamoro Women and Men
• Community-Based Participatory Study on Practices that Build Young Moro Women’s Economic and Health Resilience: Search for Policy Recommendations
• Do Adverse Childhoacod Experiences and Accessibility to Mental Health and Psychosocial Suapport Programs Predict Positive Youth Development?
• Exploring Bangsamoro Youth’s Experiences and Perspectives on Arranged Marriage: A Phenomenological Inquiry
These discussions aimed to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to integrate these recommendations into BARMM’s governance framework.
The event concluded with a call for sustained partnerships and the active implementation of youth-centered policies to strengthen the region’s development and progress. (BYC PR Unit/AAA)
The policy briefs are accessible through these links:
