KuMuNet conducts Training of Trainers for Pool of Speakers on BOL

• Sep 9, 2018
• Abduladzis Bin Hashim, Luwaran
• HITS: 3246

Davao City – Kutawato Multi-Media Network (KuMuNet) has organized and conducted a training for its 30 members including representatives from the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of North Cotabato as well as other networks of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) at the Eden Nature Park and Resort, Davao City from September 7 to 10, 2018.

The objectives of the said training are ‘to create a pool of speakers who are capacitated in providing accurate information about the BOL to their respective communities and ‘to come up with a unified ‘Information, Education and Communication’ (IEC) materials that capsulate the most significant information that is needed by the communities in making informed decisions during plebiscite.

KuMuNet is a network of CSOs in Central Mindanao that has been existing since 2010. It evolved from series of multi-media workshops organized by Forum Peace Civil Service (Forum ZFD), a German International Non-Government Organization (INGO) funded mainly by the German government. 

The network recognizes the need for a common peace advocacy strategy to address the gap in the understanding of Mindanao conflict, thus using this network as a platform to communication and advocacy components of member organizations through strategic communication skills sharing and development. The focus of KuMuNet activities is the strengthening of each organization’s advocacy work by developing collaborative advocacy/media strategy and effective CSO media-media engagement. 

Program Manager of ForumZFD Philippine Mr. Balazs Kovacs emphasized in his welcome remarks the significance of information disseminations to the people on the ground. 

“You have to educate people on the process; encourage them to register so that they will be able to participate in the plebiscite, Plebiscite is a legitimate political exercise. You have also to inform the grassroots regarding this law The BOL is an important step to be consolidated as a mechanism, so we have to capacitate ourselves to inform our people effectively,” Balazs said.

The Executive Director of Mindanao Action for Peace and Development (MPAD) Mahdie C. Amella provided the overview of the KuMuNet. He said that currently, it utilizes radio as a medium to overcome existing information gaps in the Bangsamoro peace process. The aim of this weekly radio program is not only to diffuse information and knowledge on the Bangsamoro peace process, but also to mobilize people and persuade them to adopt ideas and innovations consistent with the ideals and concepts of conflict transformation. KuMuNet members are advocating and participating in conflict-sensitive approaches of journalism. They underwent extensive training on the subject conducted by forumZFD in partnership with PECOJON and the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC). 

At present, KuMuNet has 14 active members, namely; Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace in the Philippines (BCJP),  Balay Mindanao Foundation Inc. (BMFI), Balay Rehabilitation, the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), DXUP Teleradyo, Kadtuntaya Foundation Inc. (KFI), Mindanao Action for Peace and Development (MAPAD), Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM), Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), Moro Women Development and Cultural Center (MWDECC), Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC), Regional Reconciliation and Unification Commission (RRUC), United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), United Youth of the Philippines (UnYPhil – Women) and Action for the Advancement of and Development in Mindanao (AFADMin). 

Atty. Raissa Jajurie of Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) gave inputs on Understanding the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the Legal and Political Perspectives.

In this regard, Mr. Guiamel M. Alim, Chairman of CBCS will provide inputs on Understanding the BOL in the CSO Perspectives. 

Alim will also facilitate a workshop on coming up with Primer and Frequently Asked Questions on the BOL.

At the end of the 3-day training, a primer on BOL campaign that will be used for advocacy will be distributed to the participants for information dissemination to their respective communities. 

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