From Conflict to Governance: BARMM Special Geographic Area Embraces DPCW for Lasting Peace

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the Philippines, a region with a long history of conflict, is writing a new chapter. Local government units (LGUs) within the Special Geographic Area (SGA) are increasingly adopting resolutions to officially support HWPL and the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), embedding a culture of peace into their official governance.

A Chain of Peace Resolutions across Local Governments

The institutionalization of peace is rapidly gaining momentum in the SGA:

• Kapalawan LGU: Officially adopted Resolution No. 40 (Series of 2025) to declare its formal support for the DPCW.

• Kadayangan LGU: Passed LGU Resolution No. 45 (Series of 2025) during its 2nd Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) regular session.

Through these resolutions, both local governments have officially pledged to promote peace, mutual understanding, and a culture of non-violence rooted in law, education, dialogue, and cross-sector cooperation.

"Peace must be built on the foundation of law and cooperation. To prevent conflict and achieve sustainable peace, institutional frameworks and community collaboration are absolutely essential." — Dr. Ali Zumbaga, SGA Peace Education Officer

The Catalyst: Bridging Public Education and Policy

This administrative breakthrough did not happen overnight. It is the direct fruit of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed in July 2025 between HWPL and the SGA Schools Division of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE-BARMM).

Under the leadership of Schools Division Superintendent Edgar Sumapal, peace education has been actively implemented across 116 local schools, laying the groundwork for community-wide mindset shifts.

Voices of Leadership: Prioritizing a Unified Future

Local leaders and civil society advocates are standing firmly behind this legislative shift, highlighting the importance of community harmony.

• Datu Prince Salman Caron (Chairman of the Committee on Education, Culture, and Heritage, who authored the Kadayangan resolution):

  "To ensure the harmonious development of our society, we must further strengthen peacebuilding activities and collaboration among our communities."

• Musa Damao (Executive Director of the Bangsamoro Dialogue Forum for Peace and Justice):

  "Peace and order must always remain our top priority. Having experienced long-standing conflict, the Bangsamoro region must build a stable, integrated future through collaboration and dialogue." 

Global Inspiration Turning into Local Action

A key turning point for this localized governance was the participation of the SGA delegation—including local education officials and LGU representatives—in the HWPL World Peace Summit held in South Korea. Witnessing the scale and impact of international peace initiatives inspired these leaders to return home and implement practical, legally-backed peace policies in their own municipalities.

The adoption of these resolutions by the Kapalawan and Kadayangan governments demonstrates how grassroots peace education can successfully influence local administration, creating a scalable model of institutional peace for post-conflict societies worldwide.

Source: https://vo.la/OZQokac