The Php30.9 million program dubbed as Promoting Peace Engagements and Community Empowerment (ProPEACE) Programme was successfully launched on February 18, 2021, at The Farm @Carpenter Hill in Koronadal City. The program funded by the Global Community Engagement and resiliency Fund (GCERF) aims to contribute to the improvement of peace and security, tolerance and respect for the diversity of Tri-People. The activity was highlighted by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DILG 12, DepEd 12, the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani, and eight (8) Municipal LGUs. It will be implemented for 2 years from December 2020-November 2022 at the five (5) Municipalities of Banga, Lake Sebu, Polomolok, Tupi, and Tboli in South Cotabato; and three (3) municipalities of Alabel. Kiamba and Malapatan in Sarangani province. For South Cotabato, the MOU was signed by Mayor Honey Lumayag of Polomolok, Mayor Romeo Tamayo of Tupi, Mayor Floro Gandam of Lake Sebu, Mayor Dibu Tuan of Tboli, represented by Ms. Zoraida B. Empig, Private Secretary; and Mayor Albert Palencia of Banga, represented by Mr. Alex Garcia, Focal Person for ELCAC. Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., represented by Executive Assistant IV Rudy Jimenea said, the province of South Cotabato fully supports the program as seen in the programs and projects it implements.“This program is in line with the main thrust of the province in bringing services and bringing massive intervention to the marginalized sectors of the community especially coming from the far-flung areas,” Jimenea said, He added, the province also supports the Whole of the Nation Approach and the Bottoms Up Budgeting Strategy implemented by the national government to ease poverty and lessen conflicts to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
In its briefer, the program will strengthen the capacities of the Tri-Pople and youth, and harmonize the religious and tribal leaders.
Some of the activities set to be implemented include the conduct capacity building training, focused-group discussions; support and review of madaris curriculum, inter-cultural exchanges among the youth, peer education, counseling activities, among others.
The program will be led by the Mahintana Foundation, Inc.(MFI) in partnership with the OND HESED Foundation Inc. (OHFI), Maguindanao Development Foundation, Inc. (MDFI), Tribal Leaders Development Foundation, Inc. (TLDFI), and Kasilak Development Foundation, Inc.
