UN and BARMM Leaders Strengthen Cooperation to Support Peace and Development in Mindanao
COTABATO CITY (August 30, 2025) — The United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, Arnaud Peral, recently met with top officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to discuss their shared priorities and the ongoing challenges faced by the region amid the peace process.
During the meeting, Peral reaffirmed the UN’s strong commitment to supporting BARMM’s peacebuilding efforts and enhancing local development. He emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration to address the region’s complex needs, particularly in the aftermath of decades of conflict.
BARMM leaders welcomed the engagement and expressed their gratitude for the UN’s long-standing presence and assistance in Muslim Mindanao, which predates the landmark 2014 peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Officials credited the UN for its role in promoting peace, protecting civilians—including displaced communities—and strengthening the governance capacity of local institutions.
In addition to collaborating with the BARMM government, the UN is actively engaging with non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, including the Teduray and Lambangian communities. Ongoing discussions focus on key issues such as political representation within the BARMM governance structure, protection of ancestral domains, and the upholding of their human rights.
This renewed cooperation highlights the shared goal of building an inclusive, peaceful, and resilient Bangsamoro region that ensures no community is left behind.
Peral met with BARMM Senior Minister Mohammad S. Yacob, MILF Chairman Ahod Balawag Ebrahim; Minister of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal, Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) Director General Mohajirin T. Ali, and leaders from the Teduray and Lambangian Indigenous groups. (Tu Alid Alfonso, BMN/BangsamoroToday)
