The public market at Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Photo: Bobby Timonera

“Peace is the foundation of unity and harmony of the local people of Barangay St. Christine,” said Barangay Captain Merenciano Martizano in his welcome address during the local peace consultation (LPC) held at Purok 4 last October 12-14, 2011. Though it was their first time to experience LPC, the punong barangay happily expressed his gratitude of the peace effort being shared with them, being first of the 13 barangays of the municipality of Lianga, Surigao Sur to under this process.

This workshop-gathering has two main objectives: 1) validating and updating the barangay profile; 2) for further analysis of present key issues and problems of the community; and 3) identify actions or solutions to the problems and make out possible areas of collaboration among the key stakeholders. The Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), in partnership with the local government unit of Lianga, facilitated the three-day activity.

A total of 34 participants came for the consultation. Among them were members of the barangay council, barangay health workers, farmers’ association, tribal council, leaders from the fisherfolks, some representatives from non-government organizations, including the head teacher of St. Christine National High School, Apolonia Sanches.

“Saint Christine has peace-loving people. But how can we achieve peace if we don’t seek for help?” said Mayor Roy Hegino Sarmen as he shared the beginning of the partnership with Balay Mindanaw. Like the barangay captain, he was also thankful for this break for Lianga to experience and to undergo peace initiative. Lianga is a relatively slow but promising town, but perceived by many as a conflict zone, thus considered by people as a dangerous area.

Aside from Mayor Sarmen, key persons who joined the opening of the consultation were Vice-Mayor Robert Lala, Maj. Judith Loayon from the 401st Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of the, Philippines and Lawig Kalinaw leaders from Misamis Oriental who helped facilitate the workshops. A representative from the neighboring town of Barobo – Joseph Porgatorio, the cluster head of the municipality of Barobo and assistant provincial director of the Department of Interior and Local Government, also attended the activity.

Encounters between the Philippine military and the New Peoples’ Army have been part of their problem, although the recent skirmishes are concentrated in the uplands. The last displacement of indigenous peoples happened in 2009, affecting most of the 500 households of the barangay.

Land conflicts and problem on land tenure, and the lack of income and livelihood activities were salient among the identified issues of the farmers who comprise most of the households of the barangay. Thus the acquisition of Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) will be worked out immediately with the Department of Agrarian Reform. Agricultural productivity is equally important in their economic sustenance. Other issues raised were the poor condition of farm-to-market roads, absence of potable water system, as well as lack of latrines in most of the households. The Barangay Technical Working Group agreed to finalize the Barangay Peace and Development Plan for the next five years, based on the output of the consultation.

Charlito “Kaloy” Manlupig, president and chairperson of Balay Mindanaw, was thankful of the trust that the local government of Lianga has imparted for the vision of cultivating peace and development in the barangay.

DILG’s Mr. Porgatorio also said that “the ways to achieve peace are 1) to protect and respect what was created (nature, earth, and environment); 2) to proclaim that we are a family of human beings; and 3) to understand and respect each of our religious freedom because the right to cultivate our personal faith is a sacred right.”

[Jefferson Opaon Syed or “Popoy” is a new volunteer of Balay Mindanaw under the Year of Service Volunteer Program of Xavier University. He is now assigned at the International Center for Peace in Mindanaw (ICPeace) helping in its training, research and documentation activities.]