MARAWI CITY (PIA) — Women leaders from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and national government representatives gathered at the Bangsamoro Women Leaders’ Forum in Pasig City to discuss peacebuilding, inclusive governance, and gender equality.
Organized by UN Women Philippines and the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC), the forum focused on advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda through dialogue and collaboration.
Hadja Bainon Karon, chairperson of the Bangsamoro Women Commission, led the region’s delegation and highlighted the progress under the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (RAP-WPS), including the proposed BTA Bill No. 336, or the Bangsamoro Gender and Development (BGAD) Code.
In her speech, Karon discussed the consultative process that included input from BARMM’s communities, including Cotabato, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Marawi, and Muslim communities in Metro Manila.
“Its (BGAD) passage is a crucial step toward institutionalizing gender-responsive governance and ensuring the protection and empowerment of all Bangsamoro women and girls,” she said.
The bill, which went through extensive public hearings and committee deliberations from late 2024 to early 2025, is in its final stages. It aims to institutionalize gender equality, covering women’s rights in education, healthcare, employment, protection from gender-based violence, and gender-responsive budgeting, based on Islamic principles and aligned with national laws.
“We remain hopeful that Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua and our Members of Parliament will continue this legacy,” Karon added.
The forum also featured national leaders, including Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who emphasized the need for stronger coordination between BARMM and national agencies on policies for women.
“I also make it my responsibility to ensure that [the government’s] resources fulfill the diverse needs of all Filipinos, including the unique needs of the Bangsamoro—especially its women and children,” said Pangandaman.
UN Women Philippines Country Programme Coordinator Ma. Rosalyn Mesina highlighted the importance of connection and safe spaces for women.
“Knowing that in every space and platform provided for women and women leaders, positive things happen—we wondered how much more when we bring you all together,” she said.
The event concluded with renewed energy to sustain momentum for women’s leadership, peacebuilding, and inclusive governance in BARMM and beyond. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
