Sulong Pikit: Creating Space for LGU Participation in the Peace Process

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Creating Space for LGU Participation in the Peace Process

By Maugan P. Mosaid, Ph.D.

If we look back to the failure of the MOA-AD, observers and critics were one in saying that the main culprit has been the lack of consultation at the grassroots level. What happened was we had a high level GRP-MILF peace negotiation that was not well-grounded as it lacked one of the most important ingredients to the recipe of the peace process - the citizen’s input.

Speaking of citizen’s input to the peace process, the MLGUs are the frontline government instrumentality who can spearhead this kind of activity by initiating community dialogues. An LGU-led consultation is a new approach to the peace process or even the settling of community-based disputes.

Giving space for an LGU-led initiative to solicit citizen’s input is a pioneering effort as far as the peace process is concerned. Since 1975 when the formal peace negotiation between the GRP and the MNLF started, no LGU was ever involved, much more, consulted.

This is expected to be a breakthrough in the peace process. However, the LGUs cannot just be poked right away into taking on this new role without considering their capabilities to undertake such initiatives. Certainly, they would need some sort of capability building in terms of conceptualizing the whole thing and equipping themselves with the appropriate tools and techniques to generate substantial inputs and ensure success.

Realizing the importance and significance of all these things, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), an international NGO based in Washington DC, has come to the fore to enable some selected LGUs in the conflict-affected areas of North Cotabato, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, all of Central Mindanao, along the aspects of initiating, facilitating, mediating and resolving conflicts whenever possible at the community level. Some fifteen (15) MLGUs from these provinces were invited to a designing workshop in Davao City on May 13-15, 2009 to run them through the whole process of conflict management and peace negotiation and find out where they would need immediate interventions.

The NDI-sponsored (and supported by the UN Multi-Donor Act for Peace) seminar workshop was aptly titled: “LGUs Creating Space for Citizen Dialogue on Peace and Security: A Designing Workshop”. It basically started with the question: “What would be the constructive role of the LGU in the peace process?”

Taking off from there, we were given a rundown of the presentations of Prof. Rudy Rodil (member of the defunct GRP negotiating panel) on “How Peace Became and Continues to be Mindanao’s Most Compelling Challenge”. We were presented with the root-causes of the so-called Mindanao conflict from its historical perspective. Now, the conflict had grown and expanded from its local and national dimensions to something international since the Organization of the Islamic Conference became interested in helping to resolve the conflict.

The next presentation was that of Director Alex Umpar of the Office of the Presidential Assistance on the Peace Process (OPAPP). It gave us a rundown of the government’s efforts in addressing the issues of peace and security outside the confines of the negotiations. In the interactions with the participants that followed, it was noted that raising the “peace fund” from local source, as for example, the internal revenue allotment, is quite sketchy in terms of its legal basis, unlike the calamity fund which is fixed by law at 5% of the IRA.

The presentation of Mr. Kaloy Manlupig, President of Balay Mindanao, gave us a clear view of how localized negotiation can be made possible by relating to us their experience in negotiating with the RPMM (Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa sa Mindanao), a breakaway faction of the CPP-NPA which operated in Northern Mindanao. It gave us the message that small victories can be won at the community level in the presence of a credible mediator who has mastered the art of transformative mediation.

I have appreciated the non-conventional approach to peace negotiation that was employed. The conventional approach has been the cycle of 1. CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES 2. NEGOTIATION 3. SIGNING OF AGREEMENT, and then 4. ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. The non-conventional approach used in this particular negotiation was 1. CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES 2. EXPLORING THE ROOTCAUSES OF THE CONFLICT 3. EXPLORING SOLUTIONS TO THE CONFLICT 4. TRANSLATING THEM INTO TALKING POINTS 5. NEGOTIATION 6. SINGNING OF AGREEMENT 7. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT, and 7. MONITORING AND FEEDBACKING. The advantage of the latter is that the benefits of negotiation can already be implemented along the way even without the benefit of signed formal agreement. The latter is dependent on the so-called “peace dividend” or the benefits of negotiation is addressed at a much later stage.

Finally, we were given the presentation of Prof. Saturnina Rodil about “Finding Solutions to Complex Problems”. We were made to understand that somehow there is an interconnection between and among existing problems. One may be the cause or effect of the other/s. Then, given the nature and magnitude of the issues or problems, why do we have to dialogue? We need to – because different individuals and groups have different perspectives and appreciation of the issues or problems.

The strategies, solutions and recommendations could vary according to the nature and magnitude of the conflict. We realized that not all conflicts or security concerns can be resolved at the LGU level. Somehow, the LGUs must do something to address the peace and security issues in their respective localities.

Our last activity was the designing workshop which primarily focused on conceptualizing the conduct of community dialogues. At the onset, we were cautioned to do causal look-back so that dialogues can lead to the root-cause of the problem rather than the symptom.

All community dialogues must be issue-based. Before the formal talking starts, there should be substantial leg-working and communication until mutual trust and acceptance are established with respect to the issues, processes and people involved.

After all was said and done, I must confess that the result of the three-day designing workshop to create space for LGU participation in generating the citizen’s inputs to the peace process is very encouraging. When every LGU is able to manage, contain and resolve issues of conflict, peace and security in their respective areas – who needs a high level national or international negotiation. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

Brief History of Pikit

“Pikit” is a Maguindanaon term for ‘joined’ or ‘twin’ referring to a twin hill, one of which is where the present municipal hall is located and the other one was leveled to elevate the area which is now part of the Poblacion. The Davao-Cotabato national road, which was opened in 1935, cut through the middle of that twin hill. Eventually, Pikit became the name of the town when it was created into a regular municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 270 signed by Pres. Elpidio Quirino on September 29, 1949.

Fort Pikit, which is one of the remaining historical landmarks in Pikit, was established by the Spanish conquistadores as evidenced by the presence of the stone walled FORT, hence the place where it is located is called Fort Pikit, one of the 42 Barangays of this town. No recorded data, however, can be traced as to when it was established but it was believed to be constructed some time in the early 1800s when the Spanish expedition to subjugate the Moros of Mindanao was actively pursued by the Spanish government in Manila. Unfortunately, the Spaniards never succeeded in that campaign. When the Americans took over in the early 1900s, the same Fort was utilized in their supervision of the area as well as the nearby towns.

The only recorded event was when Pikit was established as an agricultural colony to implement the Osmeña Colony Act of 1912. Consequently, the first Christian settlers of Pikit were about sixty-five (65) families who came from Cebu on June 17, 1913, henceforth, this date has been remembered and celebrated as “Araw ng Colono”. Pikit was then a wilderness; settlers could only concentrate around the Fort and later moved to other places towards Paidu Pulangi following a homestead road.

The establishment of Pikit has opened a frontier and settlers from the island of Luzon and the Visayas and other adventurous Christians began to flock and established new homes in this place. Pikit, then became the stepping-stone of new frontiers which saw the opening of other settlements in Edcor, Alamada; Doroluman in Magpet; Suralah and Noralah in South Cotabato and in Townsite, Maganoy (now Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao).

The dominant inhabitants of the Pikit at the time were the Maguindanaons who composed the majority of the population, and the Manubos and the Iranons. The Maguindanaons lived in the lowlands and along the Rio Grande de Mindanao. The Manobos lived in the highlands and the Iranons were scattered further in the north of Pikit.

In the year 1924, the Christian settlers saw Pikit as a thriving community; hence there was a need to plan for its future. About seventy-two (72) hectares of the area in Manding were reserved for the town site.

When the road connecting Cotabato and Davao was opened in 1935, Pikit was created into two districts namely: Ladtingan District and Balatikan District. The two districts were separated by this road, thus, all areas south of this road belong to Ladtingan District and areas north of this road belong to Balatikan District.

In 1947 Mr. Gorgonio Initan was appointed District Mayor of Ladtingan District and Datu Tumindeg Sultan was appointed District Mayor of Balatikan District.

This was followed by several attempts by the political leaders for its creation as a regular municipality. However, with the creation of Pagalungan as a regular municipality in 1947 it lost its bid, instead it continued to be two major districts of Pagalungan. After a long struggle for its separation from Pagalungan through the efforts of the late Congressman Datu Gumbay Piang and then Governor Datu Duma Sinsuat, Pikit finally became a regular municipality on September 29, 1949.

Three years after Pikit became a regular municipality, Datu Tumindeg Sultan succeeded as Mayor of Pagalungan from 1952-1956.

The first appointed Municipal Mayor of Pikit was Rasam Afdal who served for four years from 1950 to 1954. For only two years of his administration, Pikit was reclassified from 5th to 3rd class municipality. In the year 1954, Doroteo Palencia was elected as Municipal Mayor who served for three (3) consecutive terms (1955-1964).

Then, in 1965, Datu Abdulkadil Matalam was elected as Municipal Mayor but unfortunately he was not able to finish his term because he died in a shooting incident in 1967. He was succeeded by his brother, Datu Udtog Matalam Jr. who served until 1971.

In 1972, Raymundo P. Flores was elected as the Municipal Mayor who served for six years until 1977. When he resigned, he was succeeded by his son Nicomedes Flores who served only from 1977 to 1979. He resigned as Municipal Mayor and ran for the Provincial Board during the election on January 30, 1980. Then for his unfinished term in 1980, Mrs. Milagros T. Custodio was designated as Officer-In-Charge of the Municipality. In the 1981 election, Mr. Joseas Dandan was elected as the Municipal Mayor who served until 1986.

In 1986-1987 Nicomedes Flores was again designated OIC Mayor. In 1988 Atty. Roberto B. Millendez was also designated OIC Mayor. During the election in the same year Ramon C. Ong was elected Mayor for a four-year term until 1992. Then, in the May 1992 election Datu Motin A. Malingco was elected as the Municipal Mayor who served for three consecutive terms until July 1, 2001. He was succeeded by his wife Farida Malingco who served until June 2004.

In the election in the same year, ex-Mayor Motin Malingco returned and got elected. Unfortunately, he was not able to complete his term because he died of a lingering disease on March 16, 2006. By operation of law, then Vice Mayor Datu Sumulong K. Sultan succeeded as Municipal Mayor who was later elected in the May 2007 election.

Pikit became a 1st class municipality in 1996. Presently, it has forty two (42) barangays namely: Bagoinged, Balabak, Balatican, Balong, Barungis, Batulawan, Bualan, Buliok, Bulod, Bulol, Calawag, Dalingaoen, Damalasak, Fort Pikit, Ginatilan, Gli-gli, Gokotan, Inug-ug, Kabasalan, Kalakacan, Katilacan, Kolambog, Ladtingan, Lagunde, langayen, Macabual, Macasendeg, Manaulanan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, Nunguan, Paidu Pulangi, Pamalian, Panicupan, Poblacion, Punol, Rajah Muda, Silik, Takepan, Talitay, and Tinutulan.

There were 62 barangays which were originally within the political jurisdiction of Pikit but only 42 were left after the Municipality of Aleosan was created on April 6, 1982.

Sulong Pikit

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Creating Space for LGU Participation in the Peace Process

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