To the Mindanao State University (MSU) Maguindanao Chancellor, Doctor Bai Hejira Limbona;   

Mindanao State University (MSU) System President Attorney Paisalin Tago;  

Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) President Amina Rasul Bernardo;  

The UK Government Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Indo-Pacific Regional Governance Program Delivery Lead in Jakarta, Ms. Utami Sandyarani; 

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Assistant Secretary and WPS Center of Excellence Executive Director Susana Guadalupe H. Marcaida;  

Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) Chair Hadja Bainon G. Karon; 

UNDP Peace and Stabilization Programme Team Leader Mr. Sammy Odolot; 

UNDP Philippines Peacebuilding Project Manager Dr. Judith De Guzman; 

And fellow champions of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, good afternoon!  

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  

We have come a long way in bringing women to the center of peacebuilding. I am deeply grateful and inspired to be surrounded by women who share the same vision of sustainable peace.  

In 2014, we witnessed a monumental win for the Philippines towards peace and development as Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the first Filipina chief peace negotiator, led the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)–ending the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao. 

Following this, we have continued to localize the WPS Agenda through the implementation of the fourth generation National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS) 2023-2033. This now serves as our long-term commitment to inclusive and collective peace, especially those affected by armed conflict.  

Peace Education in Mindanao 

Based on the last NAPWPS, strengthening peace education and increasing awareness on WPS initiatives are vital to sustaining peace and transforming our gains into the development of the region.  

Toward this end, I am proud to note that the Mindanao State University (MSU) - Maguindanao Campus has taken the initiative to offer the first post-graduate Diploma in Women, Peace and Security (DWPS) program to encourage, engage, and develop more WPS champions in the country.  

This afternoon, we will witness another significant milestone for MSU as they continue to be at the forefront of promoting peace education in Mindanao: the official launch of the DWPS Learning Book titled “Dialogue Beyond Borders: Reimaging Women, Peace and Security through the Yogyakarta-Bangsamoro Experience.”  

This publication is a product of the hard work of the first 31 cohorts of the DWPS program during their International Learning Exchange with the Rifka Annisa Women’s Crisis Center, the first non-governmental organization (NGO) in Indonesia recognized for their work on the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV).  

This is education in action and I applaud the first batch of graduates of the DWPS program for immersing themselves in real-life conversations on this very sensitive and even traumatic topic to be stronger advocates of WPS. Saludo po ako sa inyo!   

Congratulations at sana po ay mas marami pa tayong mahikayat na maging kasangga at kasama sa ating WPS Agenda.  

WPS Agenda and Open Government Partnership  

We have also made significant strides in advancing the WPS Agenda through our Open Government Partnership (OGP).   

At the 2025 OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting held last February, the Philippine Open Government Partnership worked with UN Women in advocating for WPS under the framework of transparency, accountability, and citizen participation as integral values of an open government.  

In the session, experts from the academe, the national government, and international development organizations shared their insights on how we can recognize the intersectionality of WPS in areas like cybersecurity, governance, and international development.  

As we move forward, let us remember that women are formidable leaders not only in promoting peace and security, but also in spaces and sectors where an equitable open government benefits the greater good. 

The collaboration continues  

For its part, the national government will continue to elevate and collaborate for sustainable and long-lasting peace and development in Mindanao and the rest of the country.  

Makakaasa po kayo na patuloy nating isinasa-prayoridad ang WPS Agenda sa ating national budget–isang patunay na kaisa kami sa pagbuo ng isang Bagong Pilipinas kung saan walang maiiwan lalo na sa usapin ng kababaihan, kabataan, at kapayapaan.  

The DBM remains steadfast in ensuring that our national budget is gender-responsive, transparent, and inclusive. We have policy mechanisms in place to reflect the changing needs of  our nation.  

But as I always say, the government cannot do it alone. We need more allies to advocate for the WPS agenda–allies from civil society, the private sector, indigenous people, our development partners, even and especially the youth to help us in creating spaces beyond halls and rooms that would echo our call for lasting and sustainable peace. 

Conclusion   

Twenty-five years since the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, much has been accomplished but the work continues.  

So let us not get tired—huwag po tayong mapapagod na ipaglaban ang mga kababaihan at ang kapayapaan lalo na para sa kinabukasan ng ating kabataan. 

Let us sustain our collective effort for inclusive peace—from classrooms to communities.  

Together, let us advance, amplify and elevate the WPS Agenda to secure a future of equality, empowerment, and peace for all Filipinos, especially the next generations.  

Insha Allah.  

Maraming salamat po.  

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

END