BARMM Info & Media Summit Tackles Communicators’ Important Role in Preserving the Gains of the GPH-MILF Peace Process

DAVAO CITY (October 19, 2023) — The three-day Bangsamoro Information and Media Summit kicked-off on Wednesday, October 18, tackling various issues and concerns attended by more than 100 information officers of BARMM ministries, private media practitioners, including from Manila.

Also among participants are the regional government’s media partners and civil society organizations (CSOs) across the Bangsamoro region. The event is being  held here at the SMX Convention.

At the summit, Ameen Andrew Alonto, the Executive Director of the Bangsamoro Information Office of the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM-BIO) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) discussed the important role of the communicators in the BARMM region.

Alonto pointed out that as the information office of the Bangsamoro government, they humbly acknowledged the challenges and the gaps with other media partners including multi-stakeholders. He added that they also recognized the opportunity for them to work with other development partners and the communicators and the media in addressing pressing issues in the Bangsamoro region.

He quoted the message of the BARMM Chief Minister, Ahod Balawag “Al-Hajj Murad” Ebrahim, during the 4th Bangsamoro Government Foundation Day in 2023, and says, “Malayo pa pero malayo na!” Alonto said quote inspired him to look forward and find solutions in addressing the problems, challenges and gaps to information and dissemination being the head of the office.

BARMM Chief Minister Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim via a video presentation emphasized that “the role of media is not only to amplify the voices but to bridging the gaps, nurturing the gains of the peace process, to tell the stories of resiliency, and gives hope for the community as an empowered media.”

Meanwhile, Michel Andre P. Del Rosario, undersecretary Office of the Secretary – Presidential Communications Office (PCO), from the Office of the President of the Philippines also defined that “the role of communicators and media is bridging the government and the community..”

Also in attendance are the following: Moh’d Asnin K. Pendatun, Cabinet Secretary from BARMM Government, Head of Communication of the Office of the Member of Parliament of Hon. Rasul Y. Mitmug, Jr., Member of Parliament, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), Mr. Paulino M. Gutierrez, the Undersecretary of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) created seven (7) years ago during the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The BIO as an organizer of the event seeks to achieve their endeavors for the empowering role of communicators and the media in sustaining the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process in support to the leadership of the BARMM Chief Minister. (Faydiyah Samanodi Akmad/BMN/BangsamoroToday)