THERE is still a need to intensify the involvement of the Bangasamoro youth in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and related issues.
Salaam Movement coordinator Fatima Star Lamalan said Monday, November 26, during the SM City’s Kapehan, that the Bangsamoro youth are the future leaders and there is a need to pass on the same vision for peace and unity.
“It’s been a month ago na ang issues on inclusions sa Bangsamoro. But we want to start with informing them [Bangsamoro youth] because we cannot really have them fight for these provisions for example kasi they don’t even know the BOL itself,” Lamalan said in an interview with SunStar Davao, adding that The MSummit: National Moro Youth Conference 2018 on November 30 to December 1 at the Ateneo de Davao University will be the avenue of the dialogues.
“We are hoping that these Moro youths that we are convening [will] realize the value of BOL that we are talking about,” she said.
Lamalan said that the event will highlight the cultures of the Bangsamoro communities; discussion on issues of violent extremism, tribalism and casual racism; and hopefully come up with new advocacies and for peace building.
“It actually does not matter if it is B-O-L or A-B-C or whatever three-letter word combination it is. What matter really is the five-letter combination that we want to achieve and that is P-E-A-C-E,” she said.
Meanwhile, Al Qalam Communication Officer Kristelle Alina Rizaldo said that they have chosen one hundred Bangsamoro Youth from more than a thousand applicants to participate in the event.
“MPower is the first time in the history that we are gathering the top of the brightest Bangsamoro youths in the Philippines. This is in line with the Bangsamoro peace process,” Al Qalam Executive Director Datu Mussulini Sinsuat Lidasan said.
“Yung BOL ay nangangailangan ng mga bagong mukha, kaya ito pong proyekto ng Salaam is a way to bridge the gap,” Lidasan added.