MSU holds MIndanao Peace Summit
 |
2017 Mindanao Peace Summit cum Muslim Business Congress.
LEFT: Dr. Habib Watamama Macaayong, president of Mindanao State University (MSU) System delivered the formal opening address of the two-day 2017 Mindanao Peace Summit cum Muslim Business Congress held in Davao City on March 18-19, 2017 attended by government and non-government leaders and stakeholders.
RIGHT: Dr. Macaayong presented plaque of appreciation to Atty. Guling A. Mamondiong, TESDA director general, who was keynote speaker during the Muslim Business Congress on the event’s second day. TRNS Photo.
|
Davao City, Philippines
March 19, 2017
Various government agencies in Mindanao are now working together for the attainment of lasting peace and sustainable economic development as envisioned by the national leadership.
The Mindanao State University (MSU) System in collaboration with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), with the participation of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP), took the lead in the just concluded two-day 2017 Mindanao Peace Summit cum Muslim Business Congress here Saturday and Sunday.
The two-day event was attended by over 500 participants from various sectors in Mindanao including government officials, the sultanates, the academe, businessmen, Civil Society Organizations (CSO), and other stakeholders.
MINDANAO PEACE SUMMIT
The first day, March 18, was the 2017 Mindanao Peace Summit which had a theme, “Peace and Sustainable Development.”
The Opening Ceremony was formally started by the banging of the Gong by MSU System President Dr. Habib Watamama Macaayong, followed by the invocation led by Dr. Asnawil Ronsing, the dean of MSU-King Fisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies (KFCIAAS) and the singing of the country’s national anthem.
In his opening remarks, Macaayong expressed full support to peace and development policy of the national leadership.
He said “We are gathered here, TESDA, MinDA, OPAPP, ARMM and the Academia represented by the Mindanao State University System, to train our side on the one goal (for) federalism.”
Representing Davao City Mayor Sarah “Inday” Duterte-Carpio, Danny Dayanghirang gave the Welcome address.
He sought the indulgence of the organizers and participants in behalf of the city mayor who could not come due to urgent matter.
He welcomed to Davao City MSU, ARMM, TESDA, OPAPP and everyone gathered here for the Mindanao Peace Summit and Muslim Business Congress.”
Dayanghirang said he was so impressed by the beauty of Lake Lanao and said it should be protected.
He said without peace, we cannot guarantee for Mindanao future.
“Without peace,” he said, “any development that our localities enjoy remain in constant peril.”
The First Day which was the Summit was clustered into five sessions, as follows:
Session 1: Peace Process Under the Duterte Administration with OPAPP Secretary Jesus Dureza as resource speaker, and Atty. Firdausi Abbas, Atty. Raissa Jajurie, and Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo as panelists;
Session 2. Poverty Alleviation Program in the ARMM and Other Conflct Affected Area in Mindanao with TESDA Director General Mamondiong as speaker and Atty. Anwar Malang, and ASec. Sharifa Pearisia Dans as panelists.
Session 3. Inclusive Economic Development Agenda in Mindanao with no less MinDA chairman Abul Khayr Alonto as speaker and Prof. Safrullah Dipatuan and Sultan Pax Mangudadatu as panelists. Alonto had profoundly expounded on his piece.
Session 4. Insight on Peaceful Coexistence in the Philippines with the Prelate of Marawi Bishop Edwin A. dela Pena as resource speaker and Prof. Alih Sakaluran as panelist.
And Section 5. Conflict Settlement: ASEAN Experience with Director Emma Leslie, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Cambodia, as resource speaker and Dr. Urooj Malik, former ADB director, Southeast Asia, and chair/CEO of Hineleban Foundation, as panelist.
After the sessions, President Duterte who was to be the Keynote Speaker during the Summit was represented by Secretary Dureza.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman did not arrive to close the program although his chief of staff, Atty. Rasol Y. MItmug Jr. came in his behalf.
MUSLIM BUSINESS CONGRESS
True to its title, Muslim Business Congress, the second day saw a gathering of Muslim business leaders and like the first day, the congress was clustered into two sessions that followd the keynote speech of TESDA Director General Mamondiong.
Session 1, chaired by Dr. Macabangkit Ati is sub-clustered into three presentations, namely:
RP1. Business Opportunitie, Challenges and Prospects in Mindanao with John Gaisano as resource speaker;
RP2. Empowering the Business Sectortowards Economic Stability in Mindanao with Atty. Ishak V. Mastura, head of ARMM Investment Board; and
RP3. Bangsamoro Economic Potentials and Opportunities: The Role of the Privaye Sectors with Dr. Safrullah M. Dipatuan as resource speaker.
Session 2 is about Prospect of Islamic Banking in the Philippines with Atty. Arifa M. Alauya-Ala from Bangko Sentral ng Pili, pinas and Amin Partylist Representative Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman as resource speakers.
Atty. Saaduddin Alauya Jr., MSU vice chancellor for admin and finance, was session chair while Alexander Bangcola, Amanah Bank president, and Maharlika Jardio Alonto, also of Amanah Bank were panelists.
At the end of the sessions, workshops on Business Opportunities in Mindanao were conducted and outputs were presented later.
Prof. Richard Celeste of MSU-CBAA gave the synthesis.
Dr. Alma E. Berowa, vp for academic affairs gave the closing remarks. TNRS
