Community-based Dialogues Project
CBD Core Group Strengthening and Institutionalization Workshop in the Province of Iloilo

PROCESS Foundation-Panay

It was attended by thirty-three (33) participants comprising the marginalized sector/CSOs representing farmers, fisherfolk & indigenous peoples (IPs); concerned government agencies (Department of Agrarian Reform/DAR-VI, Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources/DA-BFAR VI, Council for the Welfare of Children/CWC, Philippine Coast Guard/PCG-VI); security sector (AFP Philippine Army 301^st Brigade & 61^st Infantry Battalion, Police Regional Office (PRO)-VI Complaints, Referral & Monitoring Section/CRMS, Maritime Group, Women and Children Protection Center/WCPC & HRAO); religious/private sector (Social Action Center/SAC, Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter/PRC); and representatives from partner organizations, namely, Commission on Human Rights (CHR), PROCESS Foundation-Panay (PROCESS), and Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF). 

The objectives include: 1) Gather government agencies, LGUs and marginalized sectors to define long-term solutions to the identified problem/s and CBD recommendations; 2) Equip the community / CSO leaders with knowledge and skills relative to the concerned issues as well as relevant basic paralegal skills applicable to the identified issues; and, 3) Formulate monitoring and evaluation plan for regular updating & core group strengthening.  

There was a good mix of participants and majority are from the marginalized sector/CSOs who were very active during the discussions.  As a result, this brought about a productive interaction/exchange of experiences, ideas, insights and information on the actual situation on the ground in relation to the implementation of agrarian reform laws [Presidential Decree 72, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) & Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) and Executive Order 75 (re. land occupation, and awarding & installation of agrarian reform beneficiaries/ARBs)], laws for the protection of children [Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC law, Republic Act/RA No. 11188), Children Involved in Armed Conflict (CIAC), Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC)/internally displaced children, Child Trafficking and Drugs (prostitution, CIAC, deception, Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2022)] and the enforcement of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 as amended by RA No. 10654 (re. illegal fishing).  AFP and PNP disclosed that they have developed CSAC guidelines.

PROCESS Foundation-Panay

The inputs from DAR-VI, DA-BFAR VI, PCG-VI, CWC, PRO-VI CRMS & Maritime Group, AFP-PA 301^st Brigade and 61^st Infantry Battalion, and PRC were ample and appropriate.  The ensuing discussions, facilitated by CHR-VI, focused on the regional situation. 

The plenary action planning and synthesis, facilitated by Mrs. Navallasca, followed after the discussions.  Action points are:  continue partnerships among concerned agencies in terms of communication, cooperation/ collaboration and coordination; strengthen core group (define roles and responsibilities of member-agencies that may serve as CBD clearinghouse for referrals); engage with LGUs in addressing lingering concerns such as in building/providing a halfway house/shelter for children involved in armed conflict and trafficking including support services; develop protected areas for fishing; more information dissemination related to agrarian reform and fishery laws’ implementation given ARBs & fishers’ limited knowledge/unfamiliarity with the process (i.e., modes of land acquisition/terms & conditions of payment schemes); pursue united effort among stakeholders especially in resource generation/sharing;  maintain confidentiality of information concerning children; maximize plea bargain for drug-related offenses; seek DAR-MARO (Municipal Agrarian Reform Office) support in the distribution of individual CLOAs (Certificate of Land Ownership Award); CBD/forum on food security (in Carles municipality c/o CHR with DA-BFAR VI & DAR-VI); request an audience with Sangguniang Panlalawigan/Bayan and/or Committee on Agriculture through the core group led by CHR-VI (2^nd week of August 2022); forum on food security in Carles municipality together with DA-BFAR & DAR; and as much as possible, hold activities closer to beneficiaries.

Areas of concern include lack of impounding area for confiscated fishing paraphernalia and materials, lack of personnel & fuel for patrol vessels engaged in marine protection, overfishing, and limited LGU attention to coastal areas.

PROCESS Foundation-Panay

The resource persons from DAR-VI (Atty. R.Nel Fuentes), DA-BFAR VI (Mr. Glenn Nonifara, OIC), CWC (Ms. Raji Alvarado), PRO-VI (Police Major Terence Paul Sta. Ana & Police Major Janvier Gilza), AFP-PA 301^st Brigade & 61^st Infantry Battalion (Captain Ruel Maglalang, Captain Ferdinand de Vera), PCG-VI (Com. Vico Ibanez) and PRC-Iloilo Chapter (Mr. Gilbert Valderrama, Administrator) are knowledgeable, articulate and responsive. 

A number of participants acknowledged that CBDs are effective in resolving agrarian issues (e.g., after 2 years of holding CBDs, it helped in the distribution of 243 hectares to 81 beneficiaries).  PRO-VI representatives mentioned the positive outcomes of the CBDs such as human rights-related cases were down as issues are being addressed through existing mechanisms (e.g., avail of plea bargain for illegal drug offenses).  AFP, on the other hand, reported about the forging of a CHR-AFP MOA last year to strengthen cooperation on human rights promotion and protection.  The group welcomed the participation of the PNP Maritime Group and the PCG given their important role in providing assistance/ security to DA-BFAR in maritime surveillance/protection.  The Maritime Group provides support to PNP in covering all ports of entry and exit in the country, enforcement of environmental laws focusing on illegal fishing, and in filing of cases and enforcement of court orders.  The group noted a healthy & productive partnership among themselves.  Despite the emerging challenges (e.g., apprehension of violators), CBD was regarded a durable solution in operationalizing the partnership especially at the local level.

CHR-VI Regional Director Atty. J. Dabuco gave the Welcome Remarks and Opening Statement.  HSF Sr. Program Coordinator, Ms. Maria Adelia Co shared Opening and Closing Messages to the partners and participants.  CHR-VI Training Director, Mr. Chris Montano, who served as facilitator during the activity, presented the rationale and objectives of the activity.