WBA begins Training on Institutional Requirements for Alliance Building

A screenshot of the Introductory Session on 
the Training on Institutional Requirements for Alliance Building 

Zamboanga City (November 4, 2020) – Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) begins today, via online Zoom application, its training on institutional requirements for alliance building. Participants from the provincial and municipal governments include Sangguniang Panlalawigan, administrative, planning and agriculture personnel.

MILAB 2 Project manager Noor Saada explains that today's training brings together the capacitation on three pillars of alliance building (hyperlink - legal training commenced on October 21 and financial training on October 28). These pillars were developed into a 3-part training program to conform with the limitations posed by the on-going pandemic and by the demands of the 'new normal'. 

Content expert and training facilitator Kareen Oloroso-Miels starts her introductory session with three (3) major phases of alliance building and together with the participants assess where the WBA is currently situated. There are a dozen key institutional ingredients that Ms Oloroso-Miels articulated to the participants. This includes conceptualizing (availability of champions, having common base and purpose) and studying models which a group from the WBA was able to undertake under MILAB Phase 1 in a visit to Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC) and Central Negros Council for Coastal Resources Development (CENECCORD). Also explained are the 'how' of alliance forming, assessment, strategic planning, resource generation and mobilization, pilot-testing, systematization, scaling, mainstreaming and evolution.

MILAB project coordinator Sheila Marie Acquiatan insures that standardized learning materials are made available and downloadable so that participants can learn and review on their own pace, and ready for their online assessment using Google Forms for comprehension and as a guide to differentiated coaching based on the participants' comprehension. Schedules for team planning and online coaching are also put up.

At the end of the Ms Miels' coaching session, every LGU group is expected to submit their proposed work plan as to how they can build and comply with the institutional requirements, which will be followed through by the WBA office and the MILAB team.

Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.

WBA Radio inks partnership with women's organization Noorus-Salam

WBA radio station manager Zia ulhaq Basa and Noorus-Salam provincial coordinator Sarha Ahmad signs partnership agreement. Present as a witness is Maluso administrator Rahman Sabito (representing Mayor Hans Bud).

Maluso, Basilan (November 4, 2020) – The Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) radio station 99.1 FM inks a partnership today with women's organization Noorus-Salam (NS). Present in the simple signing ceremony today at the radio station are NS Provincial Coordinator Sarha I. Ahmad, Maluso coordinator Ustadja Mariam S. Abdulla, members Melda Abdulla and Nasra Ahmad. The radio station is represented by its manager Zia Ulhaq Basa and deejay Morada Albani. Witnessing the signing is Maluso municipal administrator Rahman B. Sabito. 

Organized sometime in 2009, Noorus-Salam (Arabic for “Light of Peace”) is a national network of Muslim religious women scholars and civil society leaders, as an outgrowth of the PCID's "Empowering the Muslim Women and Aleemat Project"[1]. In October 2018, Noorus-Salam issued a statement in support for the prevention of violent extremism (PVE) that had plague a number of Moro communities in the southern Philippines. It said, the way forward involves continuing support and engagement, active advocacy, creating awareness among vulnerable individuals, community vigilantce; conducting seminars, symposiums, FGDs, inter-faith forums and lectures on PVE; integrating PVE activities in local government plans and programs; integration of PVE and peace education in Madrasah and classroom setting; creative use social media and radio broadcast; provision of livelihood programs; and engaging local leaders and curving opportunities and space to highlight women's participation and creativity. 

According to Provincial Coordinator Sarha I. Ahmad, their Noorus-Salam organization is about empowerment of Muslim women in the Philippines. Base on this partenrship, WBA radio station will allocate a weekly program for the organization, during which NS will disseminate information and discuss current events and issues relevant to Muslim women and girls. 

Station manager Zia Ulhaq Basa said, the WBA radio is happy to provide platform for women to express and discuss their issues and concerns as well undertake radio-based education, advocacy and information dissemination to engage and empower women to better themselves and be positive influence at home, work, community or wherever they are involved. 

Maluso mayor Hans Bud, ably represented by municipal administrator Rahman B. Sabito, expresses his optimism about this partnership believing in the power of media to influence positive change in the community and recognizes the value of women and women participation in community building especially in the Western Basilan alliance. 

The radio station is the first pilot project of the WBA. It was constructed through the “Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan” (MILAB) Phase 1 Project and was turned over by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) to the WBA on October 14, 2019. The Local Government of Maluso is managing the radio station in behalf of the alliance. 

Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded “Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan “ (MILAB) 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments in the province. 

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1 Rasul, Amina. (2011). “A Rock and a Hard Place: Muslim Women and Conflict in Mindanao “, Global Asia, Volume 6, Number 3 - https://www.globalasia.org/v6no3/cover/a-rock-and-a-hard-place-muslim-women-and-conflict-in-mindanao_amina-rasul