MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Lanao del Sur Peoples' Council (LDSPC) launched Bae a Tumanor sa Ranaw, or BT'RA, as part of its post-Eid celebration.

The BT'RA was initially organized, March 18, 2023, following the Women Local Mediators: Capacity Development and Strategic Planning Workshop conducted by the Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS). It aims to serve as an organization of local mediators who could participate in conflict resolution either as mediators, counselors, documenters, or members of local government units' Advisory Council and Council of Elders.

The BT'RA consists of the Women Insider Mediators-Rapid Action and Mobilization Platform (WIM-RAMP) Lanao Cluster, women traditional leaders of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, women heads of government agencies, the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade, or BIWAB, a Social Welfare Committee representative, and civil society organizations and non-government organizations focusing on women.

"Presently, we are already mapping all the ridos (family feuds) settled, ongoing rido na proposed to be settled by the Council of Elders with the participation of our local women mediators," said Bae a Tomanor sa Ranaw chairperson Nabiha "Noni" Lao.

She said that aside from conflict resolution, the organization can also participate in other fields such as gender and development and the implementation of other programs.

"Hindi lang itong conflict resolution, pwede ring makibaka ang ating BT'RA sa larangan ng gender and development. Iniisip ko, maybe this BT'RA could be an instrument in the implementation of this Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security (BRAPWPS). And kung maari, with the support of the provincial government and Marawi City, gawin nating pilot ang Lanao at Marawi City for the implementation of the BRAPWPS," she added.

(This is not just conflict resolution; our BT'RA can also join in the field of gender and development. I am thinking that maybe this BT'RA could be an instrument in the implementation of the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security (BRAPWPS). And if possible, with the support of the provincial government and Marawi City, let's make Lanao and Marawi City pilot cities for the implementation of the BRAPWPS)

Aside from the launching of BT'RA, the Lanao del Sur Peoples' Council's post-eid celebration also featured a re-introduction of the organization and the Lanao del Sur Woman Leader in the BARMM Council of Elders under the office of the Chief Minister. (JND/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)