Youth party as sector’s ‘voice’

YOUTH VOICE  --- Participants of the August 14-15 Bangsamoro Young Leaders Assembly held at Shariff Kabunsuan Complex, the provisional seat of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Cotabato City. (PHOTO COURTESY OF BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman has urged the youth to create a political party to have a “voice” in the upcoming Bangsamoro political entity.

“You have the right number as most of the ARMM voters are young. Create a party to act as the voice of the youth sector in the upcoming Bangsamoro parliament,” Hataman told some 200 participants during Wednesday’s (August 15) culmination of the Bangsamoro Young Leaders Assembly in the light of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and movement on federalism at Shariff Kabunsuan Complex here.

The August 14-15 conference was organized by the region’s Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (OBYA), with participants coming from the cities of Marawi and Lamitan and provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Basilan, and Lanao del Sur.

Event co-organizers included the Office of Regional Governor, Department of the Interior and Local Government-ARMM, Regional Darul Ifta, and ARMM Development Academy.

During the event, Nizam Pabil, OBYA executive director, emphasized the importance of the youth’s voice in addressing current social issues.

“With recent major developments such as the Marawi siege, the youth’s participation has become instrumental in solving conflicts,” Pabil said.

He noted that the role of religious leaders is pivotal in preventing violent extremism, saying “religion was used in justifying the problem to some extent, so it is also important to note that religious leaders can also help in addressing the problem.”

“Young Ulama (Islamic scholars) and professionals also gathered for this two-day event to talk about pressing issues. Not only countering violent extremism but to dwell on issues like BOL and the talks on federalism,” he added.

Resource speakers included chairperson Mohagher Iqbal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s implementing panel, Atty. Randolph Parcasio of the Charter change consultative committee, and Dr. Susana Anayatin of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, who talked about the newly-signed BOL and federalism.

Pabil said inputs from the assembly would be discussed by provincial youth leaders with counterparts from their respective areas for OBYA to come out with a common stand on current issues being faced by the region.

“We think that the youth has a different perspective on these issues. That’s why we provided them a space to discuss and create a network,” he said.

Pabil said the youth leaders themselves could create a network of activities and workshops for OBYA to come up with an action plan with sustainable effect on the region's youth sector. (NOEL PUNZALAN, PNA – COTABATO  / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)