MANILA, (PIA) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), represented by Advisor for Humanitarian Affairs Aminul Islam and Political Advisor Rolando Modina visited the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and met with NCMF Commissioner and Yes for Peace–Bayanihan ng Bayan Secretary General Yusoph J. Mando to discuss the possibility of high-level bilateral collaboration on humanitarian concerns.

On one hand, the NCMF is a government agency mandated to preserve and develop the culture, tradition, institutions, and well-being of Muslim Filipinos. It plays a crucial role in responding to the humanitarian needs of conflict-affected populations.

On the other hand, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded in 1863 for Humanitarian Help for People Affected by Armed Conflict. Its mission is to protect and assist victims of armed conflict and promote understanding and respect for international humanitarian law.

Activities that can jointly be conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic were discussed, including NCMF's potential role in the humanitarian campaign of ICRC in support of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) in Muslim Communities not only in Mindanao and in other areas of the country where 12,000,000 Muslims reside.

During this pandemic, the NCMF has significantly contributed to raising awareness among the Muslim communities as well as the general public on health protocols to help mitigate the spread of the disease.

It has also provided relief assistance to those badly affected by the pandemic.

Towards this end, the parties eye the possible mobilization of resources to provide humanitarian assistance to low-income families most affected by the pandemic.

Among the areas of common interest that were discussed was Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan (Y4P-BnB), an inclusive, non-religious and non-partisan campaign to encourage the pro-active involvement and mobilize the collective participation of the Filipino people at the grassroots level in the Whole-of-Nation approach to end the internal armed conflicts and reject terrorism.

Aminul Islam expressed the ICRC’s openness to partner with the NCMF to pursue the end goal of Y4P-BnB--a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Philippines propelled by the pro-active involvement and collective participation of the Filipino people.

He cited previous ICRC partnerships with non-government organizations including the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and touched on the possibility of getting the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) involved in activities of Y4P-BnB.

“In behalf of the NMCF and Yes for Peace, I am profoundly and deeply thankful of the ICRC’s initiative to reach out to us to initially explore how we can be partners in pursuing commonly held humanitarian and peace-building goals,” Commissioner Mando said.

He cited RA 9997, which created the NCMF mandate: “The Commission shall preserve and develop the culture, tradition, institutions, and well-being of Muslim Filipinos, in conformity with the country's laws and in consonance with national unity and development.”

Meanwhile, in the recent monthly Zoom meeting of the Bureau of Peace and Conflict Resolution (BPCR) of the NCMF headed by Director Cosanie M. Derogongan, the Y4P-BnB concept was presented by Ernesto Angeles Alcanzare, President and Chief Executive Officer of Yes for Peace, Incorporated.

A consensus among all those present, including all BPCR Regional Directors, was forged to undertake (Y4P-BnB) as one of its undertakings toward Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) that is currently one of the flagship programs of the BPCR.

Derogongan reiterated their commitment during an episode of UP UP (Usapang Pangkaunlaran, Usapang Pangkapayapaan) Pilipinas broadcast program of the Philippine Airforce hosted by BGen Gerardo M. Zamudio.

He noted that the NCMF is empowered to, “Participate in the peace process involving conflicts between Filipino Muslim groups and/or individuals and the government in cooperation with appropriate agencies, individuals and institutions.”

It can be recalled that the adoption and refinement of YFP-BNB was incorporated into the national action plan of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) submitted by National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. and approved by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. (PIA-NCR)