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GRASSROOTS PEACE BUILDING INITIATIVE: A CASE STUDY
OF SITIO NEW ALIMODIAN PEACE ZONE

¬¬¬_________________________

An Undergraduate Thesis Presented to the Faculty
of the Department of Political Science,
College of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Mindanao State University,
General Santos City

_________________________

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

_________________________

CLAUDINE MAE L. TISARA

Acknowledgment
To the people behind the success of this study, for the support, financially, spiritually, morally and intellectually I humbly thank you for always having my back. I’ am so grateful for having all of you in my life, and I thank God for letting me have people like you around me, this study became a success because of your help, and His will.
To my friends, Rhea, Mon, Ivy, Kristine and Honey, thank you for being so supportive. Thank you for those reminders and cares that you had given me, as well as for your help.,and to Liezel thank you for helping me out in translating Ilonggo to English, I may not express how thankful I’ am, but I would like to let you know that I really appreciate it. Friends, I appreciate every little things you do for me and I hope for more quality time to spend with you before its too late.
To Gladys, thank you for the suggestion and advise to push for this study, and for the treat the day you suggested about this study, thank you Gladz. And to Rica, Boogs thank you for always reminding me to move for the progress of my thesis and for the encouragement as well. To Pearl, for being so supportive and believing that I can make it, friends, thank you.
To my ENCampus and ENChurch family, thank you for the prayers and encouragement that you had given me for the success of this study as well as for the declaration of good health and provision. To my CG family thank you for listening and encouraging me during the hard times and disappointments, for the CG meeting during Tuesdays, thank you for the prayers and being one of my supporters in doing this study as well as for helping me out doing the narrative, thank you for the love.
To the residents of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone, thank you for the warm welcome and for allowing me not just to interview you but also for the trust you had given me to know your life story. To Kagawad Jessie, uncle, thank you for your support from the very start and ‘till the success of this study. Thank you for the time you spent to share your experiences and insights, thank you for believing in me that I can make it, and for believing that through this thesis, I can help you spread the importance of Peace Zone in your daily life, thank you for the trust and help that you gave me. To the Barangay Banayal officials, thank you for giving me the chance to interview you, and to know your insights.
To my panel members, sir Wulfranie, sir Colt, thank you for the suggestions and corrections for the betterment my study, and I thank you for being considerate and understanding. To my ever amazing adviser sir Ecil, thank you sir for being so humble, for the corrections and for making this study an amazing and interesting one. Thank you sir Ecil, you are the number one person who made this study a success, I’ am honored and blessed to have an awesome adviser, I will always be thankful for everything that you’ve done not only for helping me out with this thesis but for helping me out to become a better person. Sir, you are very well appreciated by us, you are an inspiration to every one of us especially to us, your advisees, we thank you and honor you sir.
To my beloved sisters, thank you for your all out support for this study for being God’s channel to provide for my needs, te, “salamat gid” you all knew how grateful I’ am having sisters like you. Ate Ai-Ai, ate Careen, I don’t know what words to use that could express my gratitude to the both of you, thank you for the sacrifices you made just to provide our needs, te I’ am always grateful and thankful for all you’ve done to me. I love you te.
To my brother, Mar, you may not know or realized how thankful I’ am for your life, but through this I want to let you know that I’ am certainly thankful for being my tagapaghatid-sundo sa high way and even my tagapaghatid-sundo sa Alimodian. Though sometimes daw malupad ko sa kakusog sang pagdrive sa motor kay akig ka, but still I’ am indeed thankful for you.
To my number one supporter, my parents, Mang, Pang, thank you for your undying support and care for me, for those times of unbelief, you’ve gave me courage to believe again. For the worries you had every time I go for interview and every time I go back to GenSan your worries and care made me realized how blessed daughter I’am having such parents like you. Thank you for making my interview with the informants easier because I have a surname like yours. Thank you and I will always honor you in everything I do.
To my number one comforter, provider, and healer, God thank you for your will aligns with mine. Thank you for experiencing Your grace and faithfulness, for being my strength every time I ‘am weak, for being my comfort in every disappointment, for my everything when I have nothing. I thank you for always reminding me that I’ am not alone, that I’ am loved and I’ am appreciated by You. As I look back to the process before the success of this study, I was reminded and realized once again that your grace is sufficient for me, that everything I have right now comes from you. Thank you for the favors you’ve done for me. And above it all, you showed the beauty of your grace and faithfulness. God, thank you for always having my back thank you for the unconditional love you have for me.

Claudine Mae L. Tisara
The Thankful Researcher

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page

I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING 1
Introduction 1
Statement of the Problem 3
Assumptions of the Study 4
Scope and Limitation of the Study 4
Significance of the Study 5
Definition of Terms 5
Conceptual Framework 7
Conceptual Diagram 8

II RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design 9
Research Locale and Respondents of the Study 10
Data Collection Tools 11
Data Gathering Procedure 11
Treatment and Analysis of Data 12
III REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 13
IV PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 19
V SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary of Findings 35
Conclusion 37
Recommendation 38
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
KII Narratives
Interview Guide for Key Informants
Request Letters

LIST OF FIGURES AND MATRICES
Page number
Figure 1. Conceptual Model 8
Figure 2. Research Design 10
Matrix 1. Circumstances/Factors that Led to the Creation
of the New Alimodian Peace Zone (SNAPZ) 22

Matrix 2. Objectives of the New Alimodian Peace Zone 23
Matrix 3.1. Informants’ Concept of Peace 24
Matrix 3.2. Informants’ Concept of Development 25
Matrix 3.3. Informants’ Concept of Quality of Life 26
Matrix 4. Actions, Programs/Projects and Fund Sourcing 27
Matrix 5. Problems and Challenges Faced by the Peace Zone 29
Matrix 6.1. Informants’ View on the Contribution
of Peace Zone (SNAPZ) 30

Matrix 6.2. Reasons Given by Informants Why SNAPZ is Successful 31
Matrix 6.3. Gratifying Experiences of SNAPZ Residents 32
Matrix 6.4. Dissatisfying Experiences of SNAPZ Residents 33

ABSTRACT
This study is concerned with the role and contribution of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone (SNAPZ) in the Municipality of Tulunan, South Cotabato as a grassroots peace building initiative. It addresses the following specific concerns: the objectives of the Peace Zone; the strategies used in maintaining and sustaining the Peace Zone; the problems and challenges; the gratifying and dissatisfying experiences; and the contributions of the Peace Zone.
The study employed a qualitative and descriptive research design. An Interview Guide was designed for the conduct of interview of key informants. A total of twenty key informants were interviewed – selected Peace Zone Council officials and members, Barangay officials, and representatives from the church and NGO. Content and thematic analysis was used in the interpretation of data. Codes and coding were done on the transcriptions of the recorded interviews.
The results of the study show that the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone has played an important role in turning the lives of the residents around from a condition of hopelessness and fear to one that is fulfilling and assuring. The Peace Zone has brought in peace, development, and improvement in the quality of life of the people. The residents demonstrated their strong resolve, resilience, perseverance, and determination in creating, maintaining, and sustaining the Peace Zone. Their journey is a story of success – a triumph of the spirit amidst tremendous odds.

Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Introduction
“Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.”
John F. Kennedy

Conflict is widespread. It is the reason why people seek for the promotion of peace, and undeniably, it becomes a global concern. The United Nations puts efforts in maintaining international peace and security and fosters cooperation in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems.
The Philippine Government contributes to efforts in building a culture of peace. It engaged in peace processes that addressed three internal armed conflicts, namely; communist insurgency, Muslim separatist movement, and military rebellion (Acosta, 2000). Some non-government organizations and other stakeholders backed up the government’s initiative in promoting peace.
Mindanao has a long history of conflict and violence. Many people have been displaced from their communities because of confrontations between armed groups – the government forces and the rebel groups. The Moro rebellion (MNLF and MILF) and the communist insurgency (CPP-NPA) are serious threats to the national security. Armed encounters led to the loss of lives of civilians and damage to properties and crops.
In Mindanao, there are stories of peace building initiatives at the grassroots level. One story of grassroots peace building effort that is worth mentioning is that of zones of peace or peace zones. One such zone of peace is the New Alimodian Peace Zone.
Sitio Alimodian is located in Barangay Banayal, Municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato. Tulunan has a total population of 54,884 as of 2010. It is subdivided into 29 barangays. It had been the site of violent encounters between armed groups. Four (4) communities in Tulunan are declared zones of peace. Two are villages (barangays) and the other two are hamlets (sitios). These are Barangay Bituan Peace Zone, Barangay Nabundasan Peace Zone, Sitio Miatub Peace Zone in Barangay Tuburan, and Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone in Barangay Banayal.
Barangay Banayal is located in the eastern portion of the Municipality of Tulunan. Sitio New Alimodian has 909 total population. Barangay Banayal had been the center of evacuation of displaced inhabitants. The Banayal Elementary school buildings became the shelter of evacuees during evening and stayed under the tree during day time when teachers and students occupied the classrooms. Fr. Ronilo Villiamor, a native of Tulunan and a former parish priest, used the Biblical metaphor to describe the people’s journey to peace in these words: “After the bitter experience of suffering at the evacuation center then comes the enlightenment of the decision for a new life, a new home, a new hope, the exodus to the chosen land, the Peace Zone.”
Because of frequent armed conflicts between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA), with the support of the local church, the residents of Sitio New Alimodian declared their area as Zone of Peace in 1992. This declaration was subsequently formalized through a resolution in February, 1990 that called on all armed actors (AFP, NPA, and local militants) to respect the Peace Zone.
Sitio New Alimodian’s adoption of Peace Zone is a direct response to the armed conflict between the NPA and AFP. The New Alimodian Peace Zone and the other three peace zones in the Municipality of Tulunan were declared by the national government on June 23, 1993 as Special Development Area (SDA). The national government granted financial assistance of five (5) million pesos for each Peace Zone to help bridge the gaps from economic survival situation to start agricultural and livestock production (Municipal Ordinance No. 055-14).
The researcher is interested to study the role and contribution of the New Alimodian Peace Zone as a community-based peace building initiative.
Statement of the Problem
The focus of this study is on the role and contribution of the New Alimodian Peace Zone in Municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato as grassroots peace building initiative. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:
1. What are the objectives of the New Alimodian Peace Zone in the Municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato?
2. What are the strategies used in maintaining and sustaining the New Alimodian Peace Zone?
3. What are the problems and challenges that come in the way of the New Alimodian Peace Zone?
4. What does the New Alimodian Peace Zone contribute to the creation of conditions of peace and development in the community?

Assumptions of the Study
In the conduct of this study the following assumptions are formulated:
1. The creation of a peace zone contributes to the improvement of peace conditions in the community.
2. The maintenance of a peace zone requires strategies such as linkages with stakeholders.
3. The New Alimodian Peace Zone has experienced problems and challenges.
4. The New Alimodian Peace Zone has contributions to the local community in terms of peace building and development.

Scope and Limitation of the Study
The principal objective of this study is to determine the role and contribution of the New Alimodian Peace Zone to peace building and development.
The parameters of the study are limited to the following: the objectives of the New Alimodian Peace Zone; the strategies used; the problems and challenges; and the contributions to peace building and development. Other concerns that are not included in this study are beyond its scope.
No attempt will be made in this study to evaluate the success of the New Alimodian Peace Zone using specific indicators. However, the researcher will request the informants to give their personal views on the success of the Peace Zone.
This research used the case study method. As such, data gathering was done mainly through interview with key informants.
Significance of the Study
This study has relevance to the peace process in communities, either small or large. It provides insights to peace stakeholders who are in search of effective strategies to maintain and sustain peace building initiatives.
The results of this study also provide valuable inputs to government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society groups, and other peace stakeholders in their efforts to improve the conditions in peace zone communities. This study also brought out awareness and knowledge of people on the importance of peace building and development.
This study is a humble contribution to the growing literature on peace building.
Definition of Terms
To avoid ambiguity and for a clearer understanding, the following terms are operationally defined:
Peace. Conceptually, it is a period of harmony between different social groups that is characterized by lack of violence or conflict behaviors, and the freedom from fear of violence. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace). Operationally, it refers to the condition of the people living in the New Alimodian Peace Zone characterized by harmonious relationship.
Peace building. Conceptually, it is an intervention that is designed to prevent the start or resumption of violent conflict by creating a sustainable peace (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacebuilding). Operationally, it refers to a local initiative of the inhabitants of Sitio New Alimodian in the Municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato in establishing a zone of peace.
Peace Zone. Conceptually, it refers to a territorially defined area where, through an agreement, some acts are prohibited and /or others are encouraged, even made necessary (Iyer, 2004). Operationally, it refers to the zone of peace established in Sitio New Alimodian in the Municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato which is the subject matter of this study, a people’s initiative during the conflict or war, a sanctuary and safe haven of civilians.
Development. Conceptually, it is the act of growing or causing something to grow or become larger or more advanced. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public). Operationally, it refers to the improvement in the living conditions of the inhabitants in the New Alimodian Peace Zone. It is the process by which members of society increase their personal and institutional capacities to mobilize and manage their resources for the present and future generation.
Participation¬. Conceptually, it is the act of involving oneself in doing something, or to take part in an activity or event with others (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public). Operationally, it refers to the collective effort of the people and other stakeholders of Sitio New Alimodian in establishing, maintaining and sustaining the Peace Zone.
Conceptual Framework
Peace is an essential element to unify nations, society and individuals. Galtung (1967) formulated two distinctions of peace: the negative peace which means the absence of organized collective violence and the positive peace or the consensual values in the world community of nations.
Conflict is present almost everywhere. Peace is disturbed when armed groups enter the community. Armed confrontations result in collateral damage, and the usual victims are the civilians. The establishment of zones of peace hopes to create conditions of just and durable peace in the local community.
The primary goal of peace zones, as grassroots peace building initiative, is to bring an end to the violence in the hope of less disruption to normal life. There are other goals that are attached to this primary goal (Iyer, 2004).
The conceptual model of this study is shown in Figure 1 on the succeeding page. The model shows the flow of the various concepts used in this study, particularly peace zone, peace, and development.
Figure 1. Conceptual Model

Chapter II
METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the methodology that was used by the researcher in gathering data. It includes the research design, research locale and informants, instrumentation, data gathering procedure, and data treatment and analysis.
Research Design
In this study, the researcher used the qualitative and descriptive research design. This is a case study of a community-based zone of peace in the Municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato known as the New Alimodian Peace Zone.
The strength of qualitative method “lies in its unique capacity, in-depth interviewing and observation to learn and understand the values of individuals and groups.” (Pierce, 2008). Descriptive research is “valuable in providing facts on which scientific judgments may be based, providing essential knowledge about the nature of the objects and persons, and for closer observation into the practices, behavior, methods and procedures” (Calmorin & Calmorin, 2007). Description answers the basic question on what is going on out there in the real world.
Data interpretation was based on content analysis of available documents and thematic analysis of KII-generated data.

Figure 2. Research Design

Research Locale and Informants
This study was conducted in Sitio New Alimodian, Barangay Banayal in the Municipality of Tulunan, located at the northern part of Cotabato. New Alimodian is located in the eastern part of the Municipality of Tulunan.
The key informants for this study are Peace Zone Council officials, Barangay officials, members of the Peace Zone, and other stakeholders. A total of twenty (20) key informants were purposively selected. The distribution of key informants is as follows: three (3) officials of the New Alimodian Peace Zone Council; three (3) officials of Barangay Banayal (Barangay Chairperson and two officials of Peace and Order Council); ten (10) members of the Peace Zone who experienced evacuation during the war; two (2) representatives from POs; and two (2) church leaders (lay cooperator and GKK President).
Instrumentation
Key Informant Interview (KII) was employed as the main tool in gathering data for this study. The researcher designed an Interview Guide which contains general questions that generate data for the sub-problems raised in this study. Follow-up questions were asked in the course of the interview to deepen and enrich the conversation between the researcher and the research participants. The KII was conducted face-to-face personally by the researcher.
A copy of the New Alimodian Peace Zone Declaration and other pertinent documents were secured from available sources.

Data Gathering Procedure
The researcher took the following steps in the gathering of data:
First Step: A letter was prepared by the researcher which was signed by the Thesis Adviser and the Department of Political Science Chairman. The letter was addressed to the Barangay Chairperson of Brgy. Banayal, which purpose is to ask permission to conduct the study.
Second Step: The researcher paid a courtesy call to the Barangay Chairperson to explain the objective of the research. It was important to observe this protocol to gain the trust and confidence of the prospective informants.
Third Step: The researcher sought the assistance of Peace Zone officials and Barangay officials to identify the informants for this study, particularly the Peace Zone members and the other stakeholders.
Fourth Step: The researcher personally conducted the interview of the key informants. She translated the items in the Interview Guide to the language spoken and understood by the informants. Follow-up questions were done in the same manner.

Treatment and Analysis of Data
Qualitative content analysis was used in interpreting data that were obtained from the documents. Internal and external criticism was done on the documents.
For the KII-generated data, narrative and thematic analysis was used. Themes and sub-themes were coded from the transcriptions of the recorded conversations with the informants.

Chapter III
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents the review of related literature of the study. The materials were collected from Banayal Peace Zone Council, Mindanao State University Library, and online sources.
Origins of Conflict
According to Garcia (2015) the causes of armed conflict in Southeast Asia are characterized by the subnational dimension of the conflict. Poverty, inequality, landlessness and livelihood insecurity, a political economy of exclusion, the question of identity and the respect for diverse cultures are the factors that fuelled conflict in the region.
The struggle of the country to attain freedom and democracy has been marked by violence and conflict that resulted to loss of lives and properties. On the other hand, it became an inspiration to people to continue in preserving their democratic gains. The peace movements began as the struggle against exploitation, inequalities in distribution of resources, and violations of human rights. It awakened the general consciousness of every individual, and shaped the direction of government initiatives in future peace processes (Braid, 2000).
A study by Nuňez (1997) showed that the principal source of conflict is the lack of understanding of Islam which encompasses ideology, religion and culture by the Christians and the government. She added that the ethnic factor is an important dimension in understanding the conflict in Mindanao.
Concept of Peace
UNESCO (1996) declared that peace implies that love, compassion, human dignity, and justice are fully preserved. Peace entails that we understand that we are all interdependent and related to one another. We are individually and collectively responsible for the common good, including the well-being of future generations. Peace demands us to respect earth and all forms of life, especially human life. Our ethical awareness requires setting limits to technology. We should direct our efforts toward eliminating consumerism and improving quality of life because peace is a journey – a never ending journey.
The international forum on the culture of peace by the Philippine Government and UNESCO constructed principles building a culture of peace. “Peace is a holistic concept. It is not merely the absence of war but a commitment to build a just, equitable, compassionate, multi-cultural, pluralistic and sustainable society. Building a culture of peace requires enactment and implementation of societal, international and global reforms that meaningfully and democratically address the root causes of conflict. A culture of peace must be underpinned by values, knowledge and practices of environmental care and ecological sustainability. Building and nurturing a culture of peace is enhanced by the infusion of spiritual, moral, and ethical values in all aspects of individual, national, international, and global conduct and relationships. And peace process must seek a principled and non-violent resolution of armed and all other forms of conflict based on reconciliation, justice and dignity for all” (UNESCO, 1997).
Peace may be conceived not only as the absence of physical or structural violence but also positively as harmony between culture and structure. In that case the values of a society must be known in order to assess the degree of peace (Galtung,1981)
Concept of Peace Building
International peace building is one of the outlet in solving civil war- it aimed in facilitating a peace treaty that is potentially lifesaving since peace treaties are highly correlated with an end to violence. (Doyle, Sambanis, 2009)
Paffenholz (2009) draw a conclusion that protection is always high relevance during armed conflict and war. Like cases in Cyprus and Guatemala that it is the level of violence that determines the importance of protection rather than the existence of peace agreement. The special format of protection is related to the issue of migration as chosen by some civil actors.
Children must be protected against discrimination, exploitation, and neglect and let the young people express themselves. But with our unequal world, education is a great challenge for the underprivileged children, and in order to reach them out, we need flexible approaches. (UNESCO, 1995).
Peace process is a communication process, it starts with intrapersonal communications as the individual reflects on his values and attitude toward peace, such as developing respect, acceptance and appreciation of views, beliefs, culture and tradition of others. (Braid, 2000)

Road to Peace
In order to create a global culture of peace there are three strategies to follow. The first would emphasize the importance of international system in creating global cultures of peace, that international system would make it possible to support broader definition of peace such as feminist ideas and structural evidence against individuals as well as against nations and states. The second strategy would stress the bottom up approach to creating global cultures of peace, which we, as individuals should work in our own cultural communities and context to transform our own local cultures into culture of peace. And the last strategy would combine both global and local initiatives, working with international, national and local organizations and groups to create appropriate cultural conditions of peace (Groff & Smoker, 1996).
In “A Common Sense Guide to World Peace” of Ferencz (2010), it is pointed out that the road to world peace requires that “every individual, village, town, city, and nation state has to recognize that peaceful domestic society requires laws to specify what may or may not be done, courts to resolve disputes and decide whether the codes have been violated and a system of effective law enforcement. With the presence of these three conditions, there is a relative tranquility and in the absence of these conditions there is turmoil.”
To attain peace is not about making war unattractive because it is not deterrent, but making peace as attractive as possible, for a country or people to see that they can gain far more from peace than wars (UNESCO, 1996).
Peace Zone
In Peace Zones in Mindanao, the involvement of people in the area is more important than the government because in the first place it is the people who create the maintenance of peace. She added that success in peace building should not be measured by evidence or lack of such dramatic impacts, but, success could weel be seen as incremental process in which there have been some positive changes at first level in the local areas. In a way, Zone of Peace make a contribution by creating conditions for just a durable peace. (Iyer, 2004)
According to Acosta (2000) the establishment of peace zone in Tulunan is considered to be a great accomplishment of people’s initiative that passed through a process of peace building efforts where people/civilians played a major role from conception up to its implementation. The peace zone became the sanctuary and safe havens of civilians who seeks for peace and to escape from any danger especially for the children.

Chapter IV
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
This chapter presents and analyzes the data gathered by the researcher through Key Informant Interview and the from the documents. It is divided into three parts.
The first part discusses the creation and objectives of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone (SNAPZ). It also presents the informants’ concepts of peace, development, and quality of life. The second part deals on the strategies used in maintaining and sustaining the Peace Zone. It includes actions, programs/projects, and fund sourcing. The third part discusses the problems and challenges encountered in the Peace Zone. The last part deals on the contributions of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone. It also includes the reasons for the success of the SNAPZ and the gratifying as well as dissatisfying experiences of the informants.
A. Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone: Creation and Objectives
The Municipality of Tulunan in the Province of North Cotabato has four peace zones. These peace zones are Barangay Bituan Peace Zone, Barangay Nabundasan Peace Zone, Sitio Miatub Peace Zone in Barangay Tuburan, and Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone in Barangay Banayal. Tulunan had bitter experiences of conflicts between the government military forces and the Moro armed groups in the early 1970s after the declaration of martial. Later, armed skirmishes between the government soldiers and the communist insurgents (NPA) forced the residents to leave their houses and properties. Loss of lives and damage to properties took a heavy toll to the affected communities.
The residents of Sitio New Alimodian migrated from a place in Iloilo called Alimodian; hence the name of the community (Acosta, 2000). The residents of New Alimodian used to enjoy peace since its creation as a sitio in 1955. Peace was disturbed in the early 1970s when martial law was declared. Attacks from Moro armed groups displaced the residents from their homes and farms.
In the latter part of the 1970s, the residents of Sitio New Alimodian enjoyed peace again. Realizing the need for stronger unity, the residents decided to form an association with the name “Hiniusang Mag-uuma sa New Alimodian (United Farmers of New Alimodian in 1982. They also organized a sectoral group called “Babaye Barug Alang sa Kalingkawasan” in 1986 (Acosta, 2000). These two organizations were affiliated with the “Kilusang Magbubukid Ng Pilipinas” (KMP), a militant farmers’ association believed to be a front organization of the CPP/NPA. Consequently, the military suspected the residents as NPA members or sympathizers. Military detachments were established in Barangay Banayal and Barangay Tuburan (Acosta, 2000). Fighting between the military forces and the NPA forced the residents to evacuate and joined the exodus to Bituan which became a peace zone.
The New Alimodian Peace Zone (SNAPZ) was established in 1992. On February 5 of that year, the Alimodianons (people of New Alimodian) called a meeting and decided to leave Bituan and go back to their place – Sitio New Alimodian. On February 15 of the same year, they left Bituan and took a journey home to New Alimodian. The event, dubbed as the “second exodus”, was witnessed by representatives from the local and national government, the church, the NGOs and the mass media. A mass celebration with Fr. Ronilo Villamor as presider preceded the journey (Acosta, 2000).
The Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Declaration sets forth the following objectives:
1. Build our cooperation on priority areas: Peace and Security; Capacity Building; Governance and Democracy, Economic Development; and Humanitarian and Social Issues.
2. Build a positive environment of mutual trust and confidence among peoples and institutions in the Zone of Peace.
3. Improve the capacities of our community in partnership with GOs, NGOs and identified cooperators for self-sustaining development programs.
4. Support and strengthen institutional mechanisms to promote collaboration and enhance coordination for continuing peace building and development initiatives.
5. In pursuance of the forgoing undertakings, we hereby declare that:
a. No weapons shall be carried within the peace zone;
b. Any unarmed person can move freely within the peace zone;
c. No illegal, immoral or clandestine activities shall take place within the peace zone;
d. No military/NPA post will be established within the peace zone.

1. Creation of New Alimodian Peace Zone: Circumstances/Factors

Matrix 1. Circumstances/Factors that Led to the Creation
of the New Alimodian Peace Zone (SNAPZ)

Themes and Sub-Themes
Encounter between two armed groups
Recurrent armed conflict between the AFP and NPA
Military operations close to our area
Conflicts and the destruction of the war
Cannot handle the pressure and pain anymore
Traumatic explosions and confrontations between the AFP and NPA
Armed conflict between the AFP and NPA
Could not take the pain and oppression any longer
Frequent confrontation of AFP and NPA
Encounter between the AFP and NPA
Became victim of the war

From the foregoing data, the primary and immediate push factor for the creation of the New Alimodian Peace Zone was the conflict between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA). The armed encounters resulted in psychological trauma of on the part of the residents. To live in peace became an urgent need for them.
2. Objectives of New Alimodian Peace Zone
As to the objectives of the New Alimodian Peace Zone, the data obtained from the key informants indicate the following:

Matrix 2. Objectives of the New Alimodian Peace Zone
Themes and Sub-Themes
Bring an end to conflict in our place
Free from the threats of conflict
Hope, peace and development
Safest place to live with
Protection from harm and danger
Quality of life
Peace to the residents
Safe zone for farming and working
Peace of mind to each individual
Peaceful place where they could improve their way of life
Protection and peace to the residents by prohibiting weapons
Peace, freedom and development

Three basic concepts emerged from the above data: peace, development, and quality of life. Sub-themes include safety, protection, freedom, hope, and security. The immediate objective of establishing the New Alimodian Peace Zone is to achieve peace in the community, that is, the absence of war or threats of conflict between armed groups. The ultimate goal is to attain development and quality of life.

3. Meaning of Peace, Development, and Quality of Life

Peace, development, and quality of life are interrelated concepts. Peace and development are two sides of the same coin. Without peace, development would be difficult to come. Without development, peace would be hollow. When the conditions of peace and development are present, quality of life would follow as a desirable end.
The informants’ concepts of peace, development, and quality of life are presented in the succeeding matrices.

Matrix 3.1. Informants’ Concept of Peace

Themes and Sub-Themes
Absence of war but also the elimination of starvation
People experience freedom to work in the farm
Live in their place without disturbance
Permanent job which is farming with a bountiful harvest
Absence of worries and war which leads to person’s development
Absence of aggression, suppression and violence
Serenity and tranquility in our lives
Absence of war and having solidarity in the community
Free from worries and problems
Calmness in mind
There is peace if you can provide the needs of your family
Soundness you feel when you fall asleep
Harmony with your neighbor, your place and yourself
Freedom to do everything you want, and fear nothing
Road to development

From the informants’ perspectives, peace is associated with the following concepts: harmony, serenity, tranquility, calmness, solidarity, and freedom. The end to conflict relieves the residents from worries, fears, violence, disturbance, aggression and suppression. Peace enables them to work freely in their farms and provides the needs of their families. With peace, they hope to attain development and quality of life.
Notably, the themes and sub-themes in the above matrix suggest both internal peace, i.e., peace within the person, and external peace, i.e., peace with the external environment. Starvation, with reference to poverty, is mentioned as a sub-theme. It is an example of structural or indirect violence.
Matrix 3.2. Informants’ Concept of Development

Themes and Sub-Themes
Progress or improvement
Visible and accessible projects
Product of peace
Comforting and satisfying life
Capable in providing the needs of his family
Quality of life of the family
Improvement of people’s lifestyles
Even providing for those who are needy
Having a job to support the welfare of their family
Capable enough to provide a quality of life to the family
Progress to someone’s lifestyle
Can eat three times a day and you can buy what you want
A life full of provision and abundant food
Sustain their needs
Can send our children to school and be able to graduate
Changes in one’s life and lifestyle into a better one
People are abundant – can eat and provide needs of family

Matrix 3.2 presents the informants’ concept of development. The informants associated development with improvement, progress, change, abundance, comfort, satisfaction, capability, and sustainability. The informants affirmed that the conditions in the Peace Zone are now better than before.
In concrete terms, development means better lifestyle, providing the needs of the family, supporting the family’s welfare, being able to buy what you want, sending children to school, and visible projects. Apparently, the informants believed that meeting their physiological needs, welfare needs, and social needs is very important to attain quality of life.
Matrix 3.3. Informants’ Concept of Quality of Life

Themes and Sub-Themes
One can provide the basic needs of his family
Where one can provide for the needs and wants of his family
Having everything you need
Being comfortable of the life you have
Having a job and opportunity to support the welfare of the family
Having everything you needed
When there is contentment of what we have and what we need
Where there is the absence of hunger
Having the basic needs such as clothing and shelter
Having a productive life – providing needs of family and helping others
Where people have reliable source of income
Having sufficiency in everything
Having your wants and needs

The themes and sub-themes in Matrix 3.3 point to the informants’ concept of quality of life. For them, quality of life means contentment, productive life, sufficiency, absence of hunger, comfortable life, having reliable source of income, and providing for needs and wants of the family.
Notably, the conditions for development are, in many ways, similar with the conditions for quality of life. The bottom line is that, in both development and quality of life, the informants find contentment and, probably, happiness when their basic needs and wants are satisfied. For them, development is a necessary condition to a better quality of life.

B. Strategies in Maintaining and Sustaining the Peace Zone

Maintaining and sustaining the Peace Zone creates opportunities and challenges as well. To realize this, the SNAPZ residents have adopted strategies, which include specific actions, programs/projects, and fund sourcing. The data on these three concerns are lumped in one matrix.

Matrix 4. Actions, Programs/Projects and Fund Sourcing

Themes and Sub-Themes
Consultation meeting of leaders with the NGOs
Dialogue with the armed forces, especially the AFP
Internal talk or communicating with the NPA
Mutual cooperation of the residents to sustain the peace zone
Coordination of the church and the government
Negotiations with LGUs and NGOs
Unity of the residents
Abide by the provisions of the Peace Zone Declaration
Help from the church and the Local Government Unit
Gathering and sharing information from knowledgeable people
Alliance with church, government and NGOs
Participation in every assembly and meeting called by Peace Zone Council
Housing project funded by the European Union
Electricity, drier and farm machineries funded by the national government
Livestock projects funded by OPAPP and other institutions
Funding assistance from OPAPP, DIRECT and CCWA
Water reservoir for potable water funded by DIRECT (Disaster Response Center)
Scholarships funded by CCWA (Christian Children’s Welfare Association)
Pantawid Program (4Ps) – most of the residents are beneficiaries
Trainings for livelihood funded by CRS (Christian Research Service)
Tri-sectoral representation in the Peace Zone Council (church, NGO and youth)
IRA allocation for livelihod projects (Php20,000.00 (per annum)
Day Care Center building funded out of Barangay budget

The themes and sub-themes in Matrix 4 indicate that the residents of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone adopted strategies to maintain and sustain the Peace Zone. These strategies include consultation, dialogue, negotiation, communication, coordination, alliance building, unity, participation, cooperation, and information sharing. When violations of the Peace Zone Declaration were committed by armed groups (by the AFP or by the NPA), the residents caledl for a dialogue as a basic form of engagement. The residents used negotiation and alliance building in getting the support of the LGUs, NGOs, church, and other institutions. Participation and representation were used to forge unity of the Peace Zone residents and mobilize them to action.
The Sitio Alimodian Peace Zone residents are beneficiaries or recipients of programs and projects provided by the government, the LGUs, NGOs, and other funding institutions. Among these programs and projects are electricity, drier, and farm machineries funded by the national government; livestock projects funded by OPAPP and other institutions; reservoir for potable water funded by DIRECT; scholarships funded by CCWA; Pantawid Program (4Ps) of the national government; trainings for livelihood funded by CRS; and Day Care Center building funded out of Barangay budget. All these programs have contributed to the development and quality of life of the residents and the community.
Funds for the foregoing programs and projects were provided by the concerned institutions or agencies, both government and non-government. The SNAPZ also received annual allocation from Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). In addition, the Peace Zone received an award (Php 5 Million), having been declared by the national government as Special Development Area.
C. Problems and Challenges
Matrix 5. Problems and Challenges Faced by the Peace Zone

Themes and Sub-Themes
There are still military harassments and bombings in the area
Violations of the Peace Zone by the military and by the NPA
Under-estimation by other local government officials
Non-support of the mayor of Tulunan in the early stage
Entry of some AFP elements to the Peace Zone bearing weapons
Accusations that we are one-sided; that we are on side of the NPA
A lot were against our will to establish a Peace Zone
Intrusion of the military in the Peace Zone having their firearms
There are people who wanted to abolish the Peace Zone
Interventions from government officials that are against the Peace Zone
People outside would say that the Peace Zone is a nest of NPA

Matrix 5 presents the themes and sub-themes on the problems and challenges faced by the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone. The dominant themes are: violations of the Peace Zone Declaration; and negative perception of some sectors towards the Peace Zone.
The Peace Zone residents experienced intrusions and harassments from the military. Some people, particularly the military, have the suspicion that the Peace Zone is a nest of the NPA. Some residents of the Peace Zone are suspected as NPA sympathizers or members.
Initially, some local government officials, including the Municipal Mayor of Tulunan, were not supportive of the establishment of the Peace Zone. They underestimated the capability of the residents to implement and sustain the Peace Zone. It was only later that the residents were able to convince and get the support of those who doubted the prospects of the Peace Zone.
D. Contributions of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone (SNAPZ)

Matrix 6.1. Informants’ Views on the Contributions of SNAPZ

Themes and Sub-Themes
Many changes to the lives of Peace Zone residents
Improvement in the lifestyle of the residents
Nipa huts before; concrete houses now
Can already plant in their farms
Can afford to send children to college, and there are college graduates now
Permanent source of income now
Have now the freedom that we dreamed of
Improvement of the quality of life of the residents
People are really moving forward and this is evident in their lives
Almost every family here already has a motorcycle
A big change the way people live their lives today compared before
Now confident to go to farm and work for living
Life so difficult before not until the peace zone was created
Hopelessness and darkness before; now development is everywhere

Matrix 6.1 presents the contributions of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone. The dominant themes are change, improvement, moving forward, and development. In concrete terms, these are manifested in having permanent source of income; being able to build concrete houses; having purchased a motorcycle; being able to send children to school; and being free to plant in the farms. A life of “hopelessness”, “darkness” and “difficulty” is now replaced with “development.” There is so much hope that sets in the minds and hearts of the Peace Zone residents despite some challenges.
Matrix 6.2. Reasons Given by Informants Why SNAPZ is Successful

Themes and Sub-Themes
SNAPZ gives us peace and protection from destruction of armed conflict.
SNAPZ has become a road to development that we acquired.
SNAPZ is the reason why we achieved the quality of life.
SNAPZ is the reason behind the improvements in our lives.
SNAPZ is the very tool that united our community and unity brings out peace.
SNAPZ brings peace, development, harmony and unity to the people.
SNAPZ has given us quality of life and a harmonious life.
SNAPZ has brought us development that changed the way we live before.
SNAPZ has given us freedom and protected us from armed conflicts.
SNAPZ has improved our quality of life.
SNAPZ brings progress and development that manifest in the lives of people.
SNAPZ has brought us development and a quality of life.
SNAPZ is a success due to perseverance of the residents in pursuing peace.
SNAPZ has given us permanent address and peace we have been looking for.

The reasons given by the informants for the success of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone are indicated in Matrix 6.2. The dominant themes include peace, development, and quality of life. The sub-themes include protection, improvement, progress, unity, harmony, and freedom.
The informants claimed that the Peace Zone is a haven of peace and development that paves the way for a better quality of life as evidenced by many positive things that have happened to their lives and community. However, five informants said that the Peace Zone is not a success yet. The reasons cited are: threats to peace and violations still exist; there are residents who lack discipline; there are still robbers; and nobody can predict what would happen next. But they asserted that they are trying to achieve success.

Matrix 6.3. Gratifying Experiences of SNAPZ Residents

Themes and Sub-Themes
Having a peace of mind; not thinking about the armed confrontations and gunfire anymore
Having the freedom to plant and cultivate our farm to have a bountiful harvest and having our permanent address
Receiving support from individuals, NGOs and LGU as we implemented the Peace Zone
Enjoying the freedom and the security the Peace Zone gives to me
Being free from fear of harassments when going to work and enjoying sleep at night
Being able to work in our farm without gunshots; it is okay not to be rich than being rich while there’s having war around you
Receiving the freedom that we’ve been desiring for, especially for the children in our place
Having coherence and camaraderie between and among the residents in the Peace Zone
Being free from destruction of war, having comfort, and being able to sleep with a sound mind
Receiving what we’ve been fighting for; those difficulties during the implementation of the Peace Zone are worth it
Receiving an award of Php 5 Million as a Special Development Area which went to projects that helped our lives
Getting the help and support from the members, their courage and determination as well, with me as Chairman of the Council
Achieving development in the Peace Zone that led to improvement of our lives
Having joy in going to the farm without fear and having peaceful nights
Getting assurance of safety and security against armed conflicts that the Peace Zone provides
Receiving help and support from government, NGOs, institutions, and individuals in the creation and implementation of the Peace Zone
Seeing people united and being concerned to one another in the Peace Zone
Having peace of mind that let me sleep at night without worrying where to go the next day, and being able to cultivate our land without fear

The researcher asked the informants about their gratifying experiences in the Peace Zone. Matrix 6.3 shows the themes and sub-themes on the gratifying experiences. The dominant themes are: freedom; coherence; camaraderie; unity; comfort; safety; security; peace; and development. Freedom refers to being free of fear from harassment, being able to work in the farm without gunshots, and without worrying where to go the next day. Coherence, camaraderie, and unity refer to the sense of community of the residents and their concern for each other. Safety, security, and peace refer to assurance of safety from armed conflicts and going to sleep with peace of mind. Development refers to improvement in life.
One may infer that gratification comes with the attainment of peace, development, and better quality of life.

Matrix 6.4. Dissatisfying Experiences of SNAPZ Residents

Themes and Sub-Themes
If there is confrontation between the AFP and the NPA, we, the civilians, are subjected to strafing
Being suspected to be members of the NPA. If the military got an encounter in the mountain they always blame us
When the military still entered our Zone of Peace even if they already knew that carrying firearms within the Peace Zone is prohibited
When someone suspected me and eleven other men as members of NPA; the military arrested and harassed us
When there were certain individuals who did not abide by the rules that are set in the Peace Zone Declaration, particularly the military
Firing of guns by the military towards our area that caused the death of some of our animals like carabao and goats
When the AFP entered the Peace Zone and charged the former president of the Peace Zone Council illegal possession of explosive device.
Violation of human rights; some residents are missing until now for unknown reason; one was salvaged and his livestock were taken away
Non-observance of the provisions of the Peace Zone Declaration by the military
The military planted a bomb in my house and charged me of illegal possession of explosive device but I was found not guilty
Being suspected by the military as an NPA and being suspected by the NPA as an intelligence of the military

Matrix 6.4 shows the dissatisfying experiences of the Peace Zone residents. The dissatisfying experiences gravitate around three themes. These are: violation; harassment; and suspicion. Violation refers to non-observance of the Peace Zone rules by the armed groups; infringement of human rights of residents; and confrontation between the military and the NPA. Harassment refers to firing of guns by the military and filing of charge to suspected residents. Suspicion refers to accusation of some residents as NPA sympathizers or members and as intelligence of the military.
The incidents cited above, which brought about dissatisfying experiences, would suggest that the Peace Zone is not totally free from disturbances. But these things did not happen on a regular pattern. These unfortunate incidents are not sufficient to negate whatever achievements the Peace Zone has done. The gratifying experiences far outweigh the dissatisfying experiences.

Chapter V
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
This chapter presents the summary of findings, conclusion, and recommendation. The data gathered are based primarily on the information given by the key informants.
This study determined the role and contribution of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone in the Municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato as grassroots peace building initiative. The researcher used an Interview Guide as tool in generating data from the key informants. The data were analyzed through qualitative content and thematic analysis.
Summary of Findings
Based on the analysis of data, the researcher came out with the following findings:
1. The armed conflict between the military and the NPA and the desire of the residents to live in peace free from fear and worry were the primary factors that led to the establishment of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone (SNAPZ).
2. The immediate objective of forming the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is to create an environment where the residents can live and work with safety, harmony, and peace.
3. The informants’ meaning of peace embraces the concepts harmony, serenity, tranquility, calmness, solidarity, and freedom. Development, on the other hand, is associated with improvement, progress, change, abundance, comfort, satisfaction, capability, and sustainability. Quality of life relates to contentment, productive life, sufficiency, absence of hunger, comfortable life, having reliable source of income, and providing for needs and wants of the family.
4. The SNAPZ adopted a variety of strategies in maintaining and sustaining the Peace Zone such as consultation, dialogue, negotiation, communication, coordination, alliance building, unity, participation, cooperation, and information sharing.
5. The problems and challenges that faced the Peace Zone are directly related to violations of the Peace Zone Declaration. Distrust and suspicion also emerged as a constraint to achieving total peace.
6. The Peace Zone has contributed to change, improvement, moving forward, and development in the lives of the residents and the community. Concrete manifestations of this include permanent source of income, concrete houses, sending children to school, purchase of motorcycle, and working in the farm free of fear and worry.
7. Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is a success because it has brought peace and development to the residents and the community. These conditions have made quality of life of the people better than it was before.
8. The Peace Zone has brought gratifying experiences in terms of freedom, coherence, camaraderie, unity, comfort, safety, security, peace, and development that the Peace Zone has brought to the residents.
9. The dissatisfying experiences are linked to violations of the Peace Zone provisions, harassments by the military, and suspicion of residents as either NPA member or military asset.

Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, the researcher arrived at the following conclusions:
1. The residents of Sitio New Alimodian in Barangay Banayal mobilized their efforts and resources to establish a peace zone where they can live with harmony and unity and attain development and better quality of life. This peace building initiative was pushed by specific events and circumstances. The armed encounters between the military and the NPA displaced the residents from their homes and properties. Thus, building a peaceful environment became an urgent imperative.
2. Establishing the Peace Zone was beset with difficulties. The lukewarm attitude of some local government officials and the lack of trust and confidence of some sectors posed a tremendous constraint to the peace building initiative. Scarcity of resources was also a major downside factor. To overcome all these obstacles, the residents used various strategies to mobilize the support of the LGUs, the Church, the NGOs, the funding institutions, and other stakeholders. The residents have to be credited for their perseverance and determination. It is a triumph of the spirit amidst daunting odds.
3. Building a peace zone such as the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is not an easy task. Problems and challenges are to be expected and anticipated. One cannot expect and anticipate one hundred percent compliance of the Peace Zone rules and provisions by the armed parties – the AFP and the NPA. The road to peace and development is never trouble-free. What counts most is the strong resolve of the residents to sustain the Peace Zone.
4. Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone plays a very important role in turning around the lives of the residents from a condition of hopelessness and fear to one that is fulfilling and assuring. Peace is evident in the Peace Zone. Development manifests in many ways. Peace and development have improved the quality of life of the people. All of these point to the success of the Peace Zone. Not perfect yet, but undoubtedly this peace building initiative is a great feat by itself. It is a success story worth telling and emulating.
Recommendation
Based on the above findings and conclusions, the researcher would like to recommend the following recommendations:

Policy/Action Recommendation
1. That the Peace Zone Council officers, in close coordination with the Barangay officials, will intensify their efforts in holding dialogue with the military and the NPA regarding violations committed against the Peace Zone provisions and rules;
2. That the Peace Zone Council will file complaints to the Commission on Human Rights and other appropriate agencies for human rights violations committed to Peace Zone members.
3. That the Peace Zone Council will conduct intensive information dissemination and education to all the Peace Zone residents about their obligations as Peace Zone members;
4. That the Peace Zone Council will be more aggressive in submitting proposals to funding institutions/agencies, both government and non-government, for livelihood projects.
Research Recommendation
1. That the future researchers who will be inspired to undertake similar studies will widen the scope of the study by including case studies on violations of the Peace Zone Declaration and to expand the key informants to other stakeholders not included in the present study.
2. That the present study will be replicated in other peace zones for comparative purposes and to see a bigger and more comprehensive picture of grassroots peace building initiative.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Acosta, E. (2000). The Tulunan peace zones: A critical analysis of a people’s
Initiative to peace and development. Unpublished doctoral
Dissertation, Graduate School, Notre Dame University, Cotabato City.
Braid, F. (n.d). The lessons of the Philippine Peace Process. Retrieved from http://www.muslimmindanao.ph/peace_process/the%20lessons%20of%20the%20phil%20peace%20process.pdf
Doyle, M. & Sambanis, N. (2000). International peacebuilding: A theoretical and quantitative analysis. American Political Science Association.
Galtung, J. (1967). Theories of peace; A synthetic approach to peace thinking. Oslow, Sweden: International Peace Research Institute.
Garcia, E. (2015). Southeast Asia; Regional perspectives for the white paper on peacebuilding. Series No. 9:2-5
Groff, L. & Smoker, P. (1996). Creating global-local cultures of peace.
Iyer, P. (2004). Peace ones of Mindanao, Philippines: Civil society efforts to end violence.
Nuňez, R. (1994). Psycho-cultural dimension of the Mindanao conflict: It’s implication to national community.
OPPAP (1995). The second international forum on the culture of peace. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/cpp/uk/projects/manila.pdf
Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 220 (s. 2014). Resolution Enacting an Ordinance, Prescribing the Basic Framework for the Development of Tulunan Peace Zones.
Ordinansa Munisipal No. 055 (2014) Ordinansa nga Nagatalakay sang Sadsaran nga Gambalay Para sa Pagpauswag sang mga Sona sang Kalinong sa Tulunan.

Appendices

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University-General Santos City
Department of Political Science

January 21, 2016

Hon. Azucena F. Lacumbo
Barangay Chairperson
Banayal Tulunan Cotabato

Ma’am:

Greetings of Peace!

The undersigned is 4th year AB Political Science student currently working on an undergraduate thesis entitled “Grassroots Peace Building Initiative: A Case Study of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone”.

In line with this, I would like to respectfully ask your good office to allow me to conduct interviews on the residence of Sitio New Alimodian and other Baranggay Banayal Officials. I would also like to humbly ask your permission to allow me access some data in connection to my topic for me to gather enough information to support my study. Rest assured that the confidentiality of the information will be reserved for this study’s purpose.

I shall be forever grateful for any assistance and accommodations that your good office may extend to me.

Thank you very much and God bless!

Very truly yours,

CLAUDINE MAE L. TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF. PRESCILLANO D. CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser
Attested by:
PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Fatima Niňora,

Greetings of Peace!

I, the undersigned, am a 4th year AB Political Science student of Mindanao State University-General Santos City. In line with this, I am currently undertaking my Undergraduate Thesis entitled “Grassroots Peace Building Initiative: A Case Study of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone”.
Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mr. Norberto Capalla

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mr. Ludivico Andea,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Bernadita Capalla,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Rosita Manliguez,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Lorna Cagud,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Margarita Abehon,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Lucia Walawala,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Helen Andea,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mr. Bonifacio Jamison,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Juanita Camino,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mr. Carlito Aripal,

Greetings of Peace!

Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs.Teresita Paca,

Greetings of Peace!

Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Ma. Fe Calumpita,

Greetings of Peace!

Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mr. Jessie Capasgordo,

Greetings of Peace!

Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mr. Francisco Abejon,

Greetings of Peace!

Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs.Luciosa Campano ,

Greetings of Peace!

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mrs. Azucena F. Lacumbo,

Greetings of Peace!

Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mr. Nestor Debuque,

Greetings of Peace!

Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
General Santos City
________________________________________________________________________

January 21, 2016

Mr. Anderson Calibayan,

Greetings of Peace!

Recognizing you as one of my respondents, I would like to ask for permission to conduct an interview with regards to the Peace Zone.

Rest assured that the data gathered will be used solely for academic endeavour.

Thank you very much for considering this request.

Respectfully yours,

CLAUDINE MAE TISARA
Student Researcher

Noted by:

PROF.PRESCILLANO CAMPADO
Thesis Adviser

Attested by:

PROF. WULFRANIE ARRUBIO
Department Chairman

INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR KEY INFORMANTS
1. What does peace mean to you?
2. What does development mean to you?
3. What does quality of life mean to you?
4. What does Peace Zone mean to you?
5. What are the circumstances or factors that led to the creation of the New Alimodian Peace Zone?
6. Who are the stakeholders (individuals, organizations, officials) behind the establishment of the New Alimodian Peace Zone?

7. What does the New Alimodian Peace Zone aim to achieve?
8. What are the strategies used in implementing, maintaining, and sustaining the New Alimodian Peace Zone?

9. What is your role in the process of forming and implementing the Peace Zone?

10. What are your gratifying experiences in the Peace Zone? Please narrate?

11. What are your dissatisfying experiences in the Peace Zone? Please narrate.

12. What programs/projects have been implemented in the Peace Zone?
13. What are the sources of funds for these programs and projects?
14. What agencies/institutions are involved in the implementation of the Peace Zone?

15. What are the problems and challenges that have cropped up in the implementation of the Peace Zone?

16. What are the contributions of the New Alimodian Peace Zone to peace and development in the community?
17. Do you think that the New Alimodian Peace Zone has led to the improvement of the quality of life of the residents? What makes you say so?

18. Do you think that the New Alimodian Peace Zone is a success? What makes you say so?

KII NARRATIVES
Informant 1: Fatima c. Niňora
(Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
Peace is not only the absence of war but also the elimination of starvation. It is when the people experience freedom to work in the farm and be able to live in their place without disturbance.
When there is peace in a place, we can consider that a certain place undergo changes and development – from being chaotic to peaceful.
Development refers to the progress or improvement that a certain person or a certain place has acquired. For example, we can say that someone is developed when there is progress in his/her life, there is change in his/her lifestyle. When it comes to a place, we can say that a certain place is developed when there are more visible and accessible projects.
When there is development in a certain place, the quality of life of an individual has also improved. I consider a quality of life as when one can provide the basic needs of his family.
A Peace Zone is a place where there is peace and harmony and where there is absence of war in which people can live without fear. It was created because of the encounter between two armed forces – the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army. Through the constant support of the Church by the supervision of Fr. Ronie Villamor, the Peace Zone was established.
The Peace Zone wanted to achieve the true meaning of peace and development. Yes, we can say that this place is already Zone of Peace but we can’t say that this place already achieved the true meaning of peace because there’s still conflict present in this place and some of the people here are still suffering from hunger. The people were not yet fully free where the presence of the military to this place still exists.
For the peace zone to be effective there are strategies that are implemented like consultation meeting of leaders with the NGOs and dialogue with the armed forces specially the AFP. The people wanted to have the Peace Zone and in the case of the NPA, some of the leaders also talked to them but since they do not have an office, we communicated to them through “sulat pamamahayag”. If there are violations, especially by the AFP, we always take an initiative to talk to them and remind them to abide by the provisions for us to protect and maintain the peace zone. Residents of this Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone has a mutual and equal cooperation to sustain the peace zone.
Every member of the Peace Zone has its own role to play so as to facilitate the effectiveness of the Peace Zone. And I, as a member of the Peace Zone, give my contribution by helping the church and by giving my opinion and ideas during meetings.
In the creation of the Peace Zone in Sitio Alimodian, there were gratifying and dissatisfying experiences which I encountered. The most gratifying experience I have in Peace Zone was having a peace of mind, not thinking about the armed confrontations and gunfire anymore. With that, I can say that finally after the chaos and the destruction that we had experienced we are now at ease because of the peace that was brought to us by the Peace Zone. And the dissatisfying was, if there is confrontation between the AFP and the NPA, we, the civilians were subjected to strafing. If something bad happened outside our territory, they blamed us that we are supporters of NPA, that NPAs hide here, and the worst we are suspected to be members of the NPA. . If the military got an encounter in the mountain, they blamed us.
There are programs and projects undertaken at the Peace Zone such as the farm machineries, electrification, drier, carabao and cow dispersal, water reservoir. Programs like trainings were also held in the Peace Zone. The funds of some of these projects came from the 5 Million Pesos that was allocated for us by the OPAPP through Senator Biazon. Some projects are funded by European Union.
The Church, DIRECT, E.D.C.F.C, and LGUs are the agencies that participated in the implementation of the Peace Zone. Even though many participated or supported the implementation of the Peace Zone, it is not inevitable that there were problems and challenges that cropped up in the implementation of the Peace Zone. One of the problems is that Peace Zone lacks legal personality to transact business and there were some provisions of the Peace Zone that were being violated by some. So, to solve this problem every member of the Peace Zone must respect and follow the provisions.
Peace Zone was built through the initiative of the people to bring an end to conflict in our place. Because we were tired of it, we wanted to be set free from the threats of conflict that we experienced. Because of this, Peace Zone became the example to other places, like that of Vietnam. Students from Vietnam visited our place to have an exposure to learn something that can be brought and be adopted to their country. They wanted to learn the strategy and the mechanisms that are used in building the Peace Zone because their country also experienced such conflict.
Peace zone has brought many changes on the lives of people living in this area. The lifestyle of the residents of Sitio New Alimodian has improved. As we can see, there is a big difference happening in our lives because before our houses here were just huts, a “bahay-kubo”. But now, the houses are concrete. The people here can already plant in their farms. Parents can now afford to send their children to college and there are college graduates. There’s permanent source of income. With this, I can say that the peace zone is successful in achieving its goal – giving us peace and protection from the destruction of armed conflict. We are now at ease.
Informant 2: Norberto Capalla
( Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
Unity, cooperation is the road to peace. Its product is development visible by the quality of life that a certain person has attained like for instance having a permanent job which is farming with a bountiful harvest that could provide the needs of the family.
Peace Zone is a harmonious place where people are united. It is created because of armed conflict people evacuated from their place Banayal Elementary School, stayed there for 7 months and their life in the evacuation was never been easy because of the malnutrition and scarcity so they exodus to their mother Peace Zone after 2 years they decided to make their own place a Peace Zone and on February 15, they finally exodus to the Sitio New Alimodian. With the help of the church, mayor Peňafel and Roni Villamor and atty. Andolona the establishment of the Peace Zone was materialized.
The aim of the Peace Zone is to give freedom and peace to residents. The implementation of the Peace Zone was sustained because of the coordination of the church and the government as well as the unity of the residents.
My role in the peace zone is that I was a member of the Peace Zone and for me, my role during the implementation of Peace Zone is giving my full support to the decision that was made. And being the member of the Peace of Zone, I have a gratifying and dissatisfying experiences on its implementation. The gratifying was we, the member of the Peace Zone has already had the freedom to plant and cultivate our farm to have a bountiful harvest and having our permanent address and the dissatisfying experience was that the military are still entering in our Zone of Peace even they already knew that it is in our provision that entering in the Peace Zone with firearms is prohibited. The military entered in the peace zone and particulary in the house of Kagawad Jessie Capasgordo the former chairman of the Peace Zone council, he was framed-up by the military, since military placed an explosive device in the kitchen for them to avoid embarrassment because in fact they found nothing. With that, our former chairman was charged of illegal possession of explosive device, by due process, he found not guilty of the accusation.
The Peace Zone became a beneficiary of projects and programs these are the electrification, cow and carabao dispersal and farm machineries the fund in implementing those project came from the OPAPP, 5 million pesos was rewarded to the peace zone because it was declared by the national government as a Special Development Area and another project was the water reservoir from the DIRECT or Disaster Response Center funded by the European Union. We also received seedlings from the Local Government Unit.
The involvement of the church and the Local Government Unit was a great help in its implementation to attain its success because as for me, the Peace Zone is a success because it changed the way of living that the residents of Peace Zone have.
Informant 3: Ludivico Andea
(Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
Peace is the absence of worries and war which leads to person’s development, because of peace a person is free to do the things that he/she needed, and the person’s perseverance to strive is a route to a quality of life, where one can provide for the needs and wants of his family.
Peace Zone is also considered as a zone of life, since it was the peace zone that preserved the lives of the people, it protects the lives and rights of the people as well as became a hope to every individual for a developed life. Because of recurrent armed conflict between the AFP and NPA, there’s military operations close in our area and we were subjected to mortar shelling and that events obliged every residents to vacate the area and went to Banayal Elementary school on July 1989. About 70 families from Sitio New Alimodian and there are evacuees from two other different places, from Bituan and Sitio Miatub. We stayed there for seven months, and the all evacuees held a meeting and come up to the idea that they should make a place that would protect us. Because of the huge vacancy of land for farming in Bituan unlike the 2 other sitios we decided to move there, so. February year 1990 with the help of the Parish Church led by Fr. Ronnie Villamor we exodus from Banayal to Bituan, and we were stopped by the military and took a group photograph of the people that served for survey record in monitoring the in the Peace Zone. Since there are lot of people in moved to Bituan we shared small portion of land for farming, and after two years we experienced an economic crisis and realized that we should have our own Peace Zone. And in February 15, 1992 we had the Second exodus from the Bituan to Sitio New Alimodian. We started the exodus with a mass in Bituan and ended it with a mass in Sitio New Alimodian led by Fr. Ronnie Villiamor. Father Villamor and other individuals from the local government such as councilor Joel Villiamor brother of Fr. Ronnie, and the former congressman Gregorio Andolana supported us for the implementation of Sitio New Alimodian a Peace Zone. Peace Zone aims to give people hope, peace and development.
To maintain the Peace Zone the leaders conducted dialogue to consult and asked helped from the government officials like councilor Joel Villamor for what decisions to make. And to sustain the Peace Zone, residents abide in the provision of the Peace Zone and residents became united in protecting the Peace Zone. As a member of the Peace Zone it’s a responsibility to participate in the events and every meeting and assembly held in the Peace Zone.
The support that we had received from the individuals, the NGO’s and LGU as we implement the Peace Zone really gratified me knowing that there are people who were willing to help to those people who are in need. While the most disappointing event I had in the Peace Zone was that someone suspected me and eleven (11) other men as a member of NPA, and that information reached to the authority, the following days the army came and arrested us, and brought us to Bansalan, but as were heading to Bansalan we were harassed by the military, and stopped at a muddy place and let us crawl. The following days that person who gave information to the military was found dead and was killed by the NPA.
There are housing skeleton project that was made in the Peace Zone sponsored by the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, and livestock from the government. The church, and the LGU are the institutions that helped us out on the implementation of the Peace Zone.
During the implementation state of Peace zone there are still military harassments and bombings in the area and it means they violated our provision. The military should respect the provision of the Peace Zone.
The Peace Zone could contribute a wider peace in the country. Because of Peace Zone we have the freedom that we dreamed of, it allowed us to work in our farms and could now provide the needs of our family because we have the permanent source of income. Peace Zone is a success since it became a road for us to attain the development that we acquire, and the reason why we had the quality of life.
Informant 4: Bernadita Castaňo
(Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
Peace is what every people wanted to have in his or her life, to have a peaceful living; to be away from every chaos and conflict that the society has. For me, peace is the absence of aggression, suppression and violence that one may experience from the other. We have peace when we stop worrying for what will happen for tomorrow. We have peace when we have serenity and tranquility in our lives.
Peace brought out development in our lives. Through peace, we able to achieve the quality of life that we ever wanted to have. To have what we needed and to provide the family’s needs as well.
Peace Zone is the protected area where one cannot engage war activities, a place protected by the provision where one can live peacefully and a safe haven for those who seek peace.
Due to the conflicts and the destruction of the war between the AFP and the NPA, where many innocent individuals are affected, the Peace Zone was created to protect the civilians from harm caused by the conflict between the AFP and the NPA. By the help of the Church and the Local Government Unit the Peace Zone was implemented with the objective of providing the people the safest place to live with, to protect their lives from harm and danger. To strengthen its aims and aspiration the church and LGU facilitate the implementation of the Peace Zone.
As a member of the Peace Zone I help in achieving the goals and aims of the Peace Zone by following the rules and the provision set in the resolution of Peace Zone. Peace Zone give me a gratifying experience by the freedom and the security it gives to me. But also I have a dissatisfying experience in the implementation of the Peace Zone because there are certain individuals that does not abide in the rules that was set in the provision. Take for instance, the military is still entering in our place bringing their armaments and weaponry to the Peace Zone even if it was restricted.
To achieve the aims of the Peace Zone, they handed projects and programs to the residents of the Peace zone for them to utilize. One of the projects are the water reservoir, farm machinery, carabao and cow dispersal. These projects were funded by the government and other international organizations and institutions such as the LGU, the OPPAP or the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process, the DIRECT or Disaster Response Center which is funded by the European Union, and the CCWA a Japan based funding agent.
There are problems that cropped up during the implementation of Peace Zone like being under-estimated by other local government officials telling us it is impossible to give us what we wanted, it’s like selling a rotten fish that no one would buy. If another situation like this happen in the future, the leaders should support the desire of the people since it would help the people to develop their lives.
The problems of the government on armed conflict was reduced because of the creation of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone. And since the creation of Peace Zone, the kind of life we had has changed to a better one, as a proof to this, we can already eat three times a day, can provide the needs and wants of our family, since the creation of Peace Zone, we are able to work in our own land and had a bountiful harvest.
For me, the reason behind the improvements in our lives because of the peace that was provided to us through the implementation of the Peace Zone, and therefore SNAPZ is a success.
Informant 5: Rosita Manliquez
(Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
Peace is a product of unity of the people and with peace, there is development. Development is a progress one can attain from striving and to make someone’s life comforting and satisfying. And a person who strives hard will be able to reap more than what he has sown, and that person is now capable in providing the needs of his family and to give them quality of life.
Peace Zone is a shelter embracing residents with peace, security and protection, the main reason behind the making of Peace Zone was the continuous conflict between the AFP and NPA. Some of the stakeholders behind the establishment of SNAPZ (Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone) was Congressman Andolana, Fr. Ronie Villamor, and his brother councilor Joel Villamor. SNAPZ aimed to achieve freedom and peace.
Residents gather and share information from the knowledgeable people on how we should maintain the peace in our area. As a member, I’am committed to support every decision that were made by the council.
We’re now free from fear of harassments when going to work and now enjoy sleep at night were some of my gratifying experience in the SNAPZ because before, we can’t sleep well at night and happiness is out of sight. There were always fears and worries, that’s why I really thanked God for never forsaking and leaving us. And there were events in SNAPZ that dissatisfied us, such as the firing of guns of the military towards our area, because of that incident it caused the death of some of our animals like carabao and goats.
There were projects and programs that was implemented in the Peace Zone like the housing skeleton funded by the PRRM or the Philippine Rural Reconstruction movement, and the electricity, drier, and farm machineries the fund used was from the award given to the Peace Zone as a Special Development Area. Other institution like DIRECT, and ECDFC helped us out on implementing Peace Zone through the projects and programs.
The Municipal Mayor of Tulunan was against in making Alimodian a Peace Zone, not having his support is really a problem for us, but with the perseverance of our Peace Zone leaders, they convinced Mayor Faustino to support us.
The contribution of the SNAPZ in the community is promoting peace and development, to avoid and protect the citizen from war. The SNAPZ led to the improvement of the quality of life of the residents, because since the Peace Zone was created, people has already the freedom to work and became a source of their income to provide for the needs of his/her family. For me, SNAPZ is a success, because it was the very tool that united our community, and since there is unity, there is peace.
Informant 6: Lorna Cagud
(Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone member)
Peace is the absence of war and the unity in the community, where someone strive and not put in vain but would led into development and a changed life. Development is gaining while striving and the evidence can be seen in the way he live his life today compared to the days of war. Quality of life is having everything you need, and being comfortable of the life you have.
Peace Zone is also known as zone of life, since people found, protect and preserved their life inside the peace zone. it was created because of the confrontation of the AFP and NPA and because we cannot handle the pressure and pain anymore, that’s why we decided to have our own zone of peace. Fr. Roni became the Moses of our exodus from Bituan to Sitio New Alimodian, he became God’s channel to move to a place where we can build and have a equality of life.
Our strategies to implement, maintain and sustain the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone was heving an alliance with the church, government and non-government organization. We participate and coordinate in every assembly and meetings that the council conducted.
One of the most gratifying experience I had in the Sitio new Alimodian Peace Zone is; we are able to work in our farm without gun shots, because for me it is okay not to be rich than being rich while there’s having war around you.
There are projects and programs that was held in the peace zone such as the housing project from the ECDFC a European Union funded organization, the DIRECT that donated the water system for a potable water funded by the European Union. the poultry raising that was donated by the LGU and the 5 million from the OPPAP that was used to purchased farm machineries, and livestock and used for the electrification in the Peace Zone.
The Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone can be set as an example of the peace and developed community in Tulunan. Since the Peace Zone was implemented, we can see from time to time that people are really into moving forward and this is evident in their lives. You can see that the nipa hut became a concrete house and almost every family here already have motorcycle, and it is because of the Peace Zone, because of the peace it brought us. Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is a success because it brought peace, development, harmony and unity to the people inside the peace zone.
Informant 7: Margarita Abehon
( Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
Peace is the absence of war and having solidarity in the community. While Development can be seen in the life of an individual or in a community through the improvement of their lifestyles which led them having a quality of life, providing the needs of the family and even providing for those who are needy.
Peace Zone is a safe haven for every individual who seek for protection from the armed conflicts and other disturbances. Because of the conflict between the two armed groups, the AFP and NPA, we, the ciivilians became victims, moving from one place to another. July in the year 1989 we evacuated to Banayal Elementary School, for 7 months we’ve been using the classrooms during the night for shelter and in daylight we hid under the tree.and on February 1990, people from three different places who stayed at the evacuation center decided to move to Barangay Bituan and make it a zone of peace. By the leadership of Fr. Ronilo Villamor we exodus from Banayal to Bituan, and we stayed there for 2 years and we realized that there’s no place like home, there’s no assurance for a quality of life since the land that we use for farming is not ours and is limited. O.ur life in Bituan can be compared to a life of a bird, going to farm in the morning andgoing home in the afternoon before twilight. Therefore, the residents of Sitio New Alimodian decided to establish our own zone of peace because we believe that true comfort can be found in a place where we truly belong. BATUNA or Banayal, Tuburan, Nabundasan a non-government organization, the church, and LGU’s conducted a meeting and unite to help us in establishing our own zone of Peace. Fr. Roni Villamor led the exodus part 2 from Bituan to Sitio New Alimodian, we started the exodus with a mass in Bituan and ended it with a mass when we arrived in Sitio New Alimodian. Peace Zone aims to provide a peace to the residents and to attain quality of living to each and every member of the Peace Zone.
The strategies for implementing, maintaining, and sustaining the Peace Zone, we had bayanihan, in which other Peace Zone in the Community of Tulunan helped us when we return to our respective place, negotiation and dialogue with the LGU and the Militaries, meetings and projects were implemented in our area. As a member of the Peace Zone I give my full support to the leaders and make myself committed.
The best thing happened to me in the Peace Zone is receiving the freedom that we’ve been desiring for me and specially for the children in our place.
The programs that were implemented in the Peace Zone were scholarship for children by the CCWA or Christian Children’s Welfare Association. Projects like the reservoir was also implemented in the Peace zone, providing us potable water and was funded by DIRECT a European Union. Now most of the people here are beneficiaries of 4Ps.
There were still violations on our provision from the armed forces of the Philippines such as entering in the zone of peace bringing with them their weapons. As a suggestion, they should respect the provision to avoid conflict.
The SNAPZ can be an example to other local, national and even international community that experiencing such constant struggle for freedom, to do what we had done before, that through unity in the community, they can achieve the peace and development that they ever wanted. Compared to the pre-Peace Zone days, Peace Zone brought development to the residents of Sitio New Alimodian as a proof, people already has had concrete houses, or semi concrete there’s a big change the way people live their lives today compared to the those war days. Peace Zone is a success since it gave us quality of life, and gave us a harmonious life.
Informant 8: Lucia C. Walawala
(Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
Peace is being free from worries and problems, and development is a fruit of peace were there is a gradual change of circumstances into a better way of living. One would know that there is development if there exist peace; the picture of a developed life and a quality of life is everyone having a job where everyone has the opportunity to strive and support the welfare of their family.
Peace zone is where a pleasant life awaits you, a place where you can live life freely and without worrying every second of what sort of attack might happen next. The traumatic explosions and confrontations between the AFP and NPA led us to evacuate to Banayal Elementary School on July 1989, for seven months. The government provided us for our daily food but was blockade by the militaries, children experienced malnutrition. And even in the evacuation there’s still harassment from the military. All evacuees held a meeting and decided to make the Barangay Bituan a Zone of Peace. In February in 1990, we exodus from Banayal to Bituan led by Fr. Roni Villamor. And we stayed at Bituan for two years, and we Alimodianon decided to establish our own Zone of Peace. The second exodus was happened on February 15, 1990 from Bituan to Banayal, with the support of Fr. Roni Villamor, Congressman Gregorio Andolana, Congressman Peňafiel, and other government official. Peace Zone aims to give a peaceful life to the residents, a place without the presence of war and a safe zone for farming and working.
To maintain and sustain the Peace Zone residents unified and encouraging everyone to abide the provisions and pushed everyone into aiming the unimaginable picture of a developing community, as a member we give support to every decision made by the council.
The most gratifying experienced I had in Peace Zone was having coherence and camaraderie between the residents and peace continues to propagate.
Programs from the church like trainings for livelihood the Catholic Research , the CCWA supported for the education of children. They had a funding agencies. Project like from the STAR- CM or Support To Agrarian Reform Communities in Central Mindanao that provided as livestock to support farmers.
The contribution of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone to the community they proved that with unity, people could achieved the peace that they are dreaming of. Compared to the way we lived our lives before, we are now confident to go to farm and work for living. Our life was so difficult before not until the peace zone was created. Peace Zone is a success because it brought us development that changed the way we live before.
Informant 9: Helen Andea
(Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
Peace is the absence of war free from worries about armed conflicts. Development means progress in one’s life and community,development can be achieved if one has a permanent help and is capable enough to provide a quality of life to his/her family, quality of life means having everything you needed.
Peace Zone is a place that rejects war and promotes Peace and development. The conflict between the AFP and NPA, was the reason why Peace Zone was created and it is also to lie low from war and conflict. With the help of the chuch led by Fr. Roni, Governor Penafiel, and other municipal council helped us in making implementing the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone aims to provide peace to the community and peace of mind each individual.
To maintain the Peace Zone we held meeting and assembly to discuss the concern of the community and make plans to solve problems. As a member I’ am committed to peace building in the community and I”am obligated to participate during the meetings and assembly.
Some of the most gratifying experience I had in the Peace Zone is being free from destruction of war, and the comfort that we had, because of this we were able to sleep with a sound mind and the other one was when we are given 5 million pesos as an award for being a Special Development Area, it was gratifying since the projects that was implemented through that money really helped us to develop the lives that we had.
STAR-CM implemented projects in the Peace Zone like poultry and livestock. Housing skeleton project by ECDFC and the projects like farm machineries, and electrification was the product of the 5 million pesos that was awarded to us by the National Government and recognizing us a Special Development Area.
The Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone became a model to the communities who are affected by war, that those community, with unity could also attain a peaceful and developed community. Because of the security that we felt during and after the implementation of Peace Zone we could focus on propagating our farms and that leads to economic development, that provides us our daily needs. For me Peace Zone is a success because it gave us freedom and protected us from armed conflicts.
Informant 10: Bonifacio Jamison
(Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Member)
There is peace if there is the absence of war, oppression and fear, peace also give us freedom. Peace entails development because it allows us to do our thing, having this two, peace and development, leads someone to have a quality of life, meaning having the capability to provide for the needs of our family.
Peace Zone became a tool for the unification of the Sitio New Alimodian, and a place that brought peace, development and a quality life to the residents. Because of the armed conflict between the AFP and NPA people initiated to establish a place that could protect them from oppression and armed conflict. The church leaders and other government officials has a great part in the implementation of Peace Zone since they helped us prepare the resolution to pass in the Sangguniang Bayan and even help us to gain support from other organizations. Peace Zone aims to give a quality of life to every individual residing in the Peace Zone.
Dialogue with the AFP and negotiations with the NGOs and LGUs asking for support are the strategies to implement the Peace Zone, while we help meetings and assemblies for its maintenance and unity of every residents is the tool to sustain the Peace Zone. as a member of the Peace Zone I gave my commitment to it, I gave my support to the decision that has been made by the council.
The most gratifying experience I had in SNAPZ is every anniversary celebration, reminiscing the past and realized its been a tough time for us, but now, we already received what we’ve been fighting for, and I can say that those difficulties during the implementation of the Peace Zone is worth it. The Dissatisfying experience I have here in Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone was those time that the AFP entered in the Peace Zone and charged the former president of the Peace Zone council illegal possession of explosive device. The military are making excuses just to enter in to the Peace Zone, the thing is that, militaries or army are for nation wars and the PNP are for civil crime. When they entered in the Peace Zone, why it was the ARMY not the PNP since the accusation is a civil crime?
From the 5 million that was awarded to the Peace Zone when being recognized as a Special Development Area was used to purchased farm machineries, for the electrification in the area and a warehouse. There are also programs for trainings for livelihood by the CRS or Christian Research Service. The involvement of Church, LGU and CCWA had contributed a lot for the implementation of the Peace Zone.
The Peace Zone’s contribution to the peace and development in the community may be grasp by the government or international community as an instrument to the promotion of peace and development in their own community. The peace that was been given to us by the Peace Zone made a great difference to the lives of every residents, it gave us the opportunity to have our own source of income. For me, Sitio New Alimodian has not yet reached Success since our provision are sometimes overpowered by the military’s intrusion into our Zone of Peace.
Informant 11: Juanita Camino
(SNAPZ – Council President)
Peace is creates calmness in mind. In economy, you will know there is peace if you can provide the needs of your family. It leads to development and this development is evident by absence of war. Development produces progress to someone’s lifestyle. If there is development, you can provide the needs of your family, you can eat 3 times a day and you can buy what you want.
Peace zone is a territory where conflict is forgotten and escaped. It secures the days and nights of the living, the freedom that everyone continues to want to breathe. Before, even the encounter of the NPA and the AFP was not in Sitio New Alimodian they throw explosives here so people were forced to evacuate. We were even accused of hiding the NPA, or that they came from us or we were they for a reason no one knows. Good thing we had our local leaders, barangay officials, of which Teresita Barredo was the chairperson, who stood for our desire of peace. BATUNA and CRS educated the people through seminars, and gave away foods, carabao and livelihood. On the other hand, ECDFC donated the land. The STAR-CM also handed their help. The New Alimodian Peace Zone was established and aimed for the respect of the two armed forces. Until now, they still do not abide to the provision that entering the peace zone with guns is restricted. The ordinance was already approved last 2014 yet we are still hoping for their respect on this provision.
The unity and hard work of every member and the continuous consultation maintained the sustainability of the implementation of New Alimodian Peace Zone. We had our discussions through meetings. The willingness of everyone pushed each one to attaining our goal. It was also my duty to take part in meetings. Every one of us in the council is a volunteer since there is no honorarium in it, and my job was my commitment to it.
As a Chairman of the Council, one of the gratifying experiences I had was the help and support I saw from the members. Their courage and determination was a picture that I will always keep as a treasure of that devastating past. Amidst that tragedy, the beauty of their arising hope gave light to our sacrifices. Although some were still violating our rule of not buying hard drinks and liquor, I believe everyone desired peace.
STAR-CM and OPPAP helped us. We used the 5 million pesos to buy farm machineries, warehouse, crops and livelihood. Since we cannot have our own projects done on our own, we depend to outside organizations for funds and support. The, the National Government (OPAPP) made us a Special Development Area.
We were accused as one sided, telling us that a place for peace is impossible. Since Peace Zone is people’s initiative, we united to ask for the respect of both sides to our approved provision. Peace Zone became a sample for a study conducted to observe its effects and if it is applicable to Muslim Areas. The New Alimodian Peace led to the improvement of the quality of life of the residents. Before, whenever there are conflagration, people are force to evacuate and we are unproductive of our crops but now, we have durable crops where we earn our income. It was a success, progress and development manifests in the lives of our people and in the place as well. When there was yet no Peace Zone, it was a life of hopelessness and darkness, but now development is everywhere and hope is live out.
Informant 12 : Carlito Aripal
( SNAPZ – Council member)
Peace is attained through unity, and camaraderie among the people, and freedom from any disturbance. Peace produces development, because peace allows people to do their thing, to work for the improvement of their lives. Through development, it would give people the quality of life, eating three times a day, sending our children to school and being joyful.
Peace Zone is a place that prohibits the intervention of armed conflict, to protect the civilians, and give the residents peace and development. So the SNAPZ was created because the people could not take the pain and oppression any longer, people became tired from moving to one place to another because of the armed struggle between the AFP and NPA, people took an initiative to make a better place for them to stay. The People’s Organization or HMA ( Hiniusang Mag-uuma sa Alimodian), the Church or specifically the Basic Ecclesial Community, the residents of Sitio New Alimodian, the parish priest Fr. Ronilo Villamor, and his brother councilor Joel Villamor, and Mayor Faustino are those people behind the implementation of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone. The Peace Zone aims to give the very desire of the people, which is a peaceful place to live where they could improve the way of their living.
Strategies used in implementing PZ were dialogue, meetings and seminars, to maintain and sustain the PZ we held assemblies where people solicit their ideas on issues. we help out in making plans and discuss it to all the residents through meetings and assemblies. And as a member of the Peace Zone council,
Peace Zone brought hope and development to each individuals of Sitio New Alimodian because of the farm production; we could provide the every needs of our family and enabled us to send them to college. Our life before the creation of PZ was so hard. Moving from one place to another, because of that we could not cultivate our farmlands we do not have the permanent source of income, so when PZ was created every one of us found hope to develop the way we live our lives, because of the development that we achieved I can say that it is one of the most gratifying experience I had in SNAPZ. The most dissatisfying event I had in Peace Zone was there are people who violated human rights, some residents were missing until now for an unknown reason, particularly Dodoy Amoalia who is still missing until now, and the other one was salvaged and his livestock was taken away from him, and until now they were not given justice.
There are projects that are implemented in the Peace Zone like water reservoir for potable water that was funded by the European Union, the seedling from the LGU, livestock, farm machineries, and electricity from the 5 million that was awarded to us for the recognition as a Special Development Area. The Church and LGU’s were the institutions that helped us in establishing the Sitio New Alimodian a Peace Zone.
Conflict is inevitable; there are times that the military enter in the zone of peace even it is written our provision that we prohibit armed people to enter in the area. I would suggest that both armed groups should abide in our provision to avoid war.
To the communities who is in a constant struggle for independence may replicate our process to attain peace and development in their own community. Peace Zone is the main reason why people improved their way of living, since it gave the residents a place to cultivate their farmlands, which is the main source of their income. For now, I’ am not contented with the peace that we had, because of the presence of militaries around the area, and the only thing that safeguard our security was the provision of the Peace Zone.
Informant 13: Teresita Paca
(Hiniusang Mag-uuma sa Alimodian (HMA)- President)
Peace is harmony with your neighbor, your place and yourself. It is the non-existence of war. It is when you are at rest in the freedom that you can do and go anywhere without any restrictions and barriers. It is the soundness you feel when you fall asleep. When your desires are being possible brought by the development of your lives. A life full of provision and abundant food is a sign of a developing place. You know it is quality of life when there is contentment of what we have, and what we need.
Peace zone is a place where peace is constantly present and individuals living inside are not troubled with the idea of armed conflicts. It was created because of continuous armed conflicts. In July 1989, the residents of Sitio New Alimodian, Brgy. Bituan and Sitio Miatub evacuated to Banayal Elementary School. We stayed there for 7 months and came up with the idea of declaring Brgy. Bituan a Peace Zone, because of the wide vacancy of land farming. We exodus from Banayal to Bituan and engage in farming where the residents offered us a farmland without any compensation in return. When we had a huge harvest, the residents of Bituan started to ask for their share. After 2 years, we decided to make our own place, the Sitio New Alimodian, a Peace Zone. We wanted to return in our own place and cultivate our own land so we passed a resolution to the church, to the barangay and to the municipality to make our own place a peace zone. The church, ECDFC-BATUNA, or Banayal, Tuburan, and Nabundasan and Hiniusang Mag-uuma sa Alimodian (HMA) and Mayor Peňafiel were the stakeholders behind the establishment of the New Alimodian Peace Zone.
Peace Zone aims to bring protection and peace to the residents through the prohibition of weapons inside. Unity and cooperation were of great help and the appointing of the leader, where during that time, men feared to lead because of fear of oppression from the military. And the dialogue between the Government and the military was their main strategy for the approval and implementation of their provision of Peace Zone. As a leader, I set myself an example to other members through abiding to the provision.
I would always remember the joy of going to farm without fear and the peaceful nights I witness. There was a time that the AFP harassed the President of the Peace Zone council inside the Peace Zone. He was frame up and so accused of illegal possession of explosive devices. This is why only a few men standout for the position of leadership, they fear what the military can do against them.
We received 5 million pesos from the OPAPP, used for electrification and purchase of farm machineries, livestock, and seedlings. We had a water reservoir from DIRECT and trainings from Christian Child Welfare Association (CCWA) and Catholic Research Service (CRS).
A lot were against our will of establishment of Peace Zone but we made this an inspiration to push ourselves more to the unity and achievement of peace.
It brought a great impact towards progress to our livelihood and freedom. The New Alimodian Peace Zone improved our quality of life. We now live in concrete houses of our own and are able to send our children to school. With the freedom we experience today, I can say that the New Alimodian Peace Zone is successful.
Informant 14: Ma. Fe Calumpita
(Hiniusang Mag-uuma sa Alimodian Vice president)
Peace means having freedom to do everything you want, and fear nothing, peace brought development to people wherein people became free to work and to earn money for the improvement of his/her lifestyle which leads to a quality life, where there’s the absence of hunger. Having the basic needs of a person such as clothing and shelter and be able to send his/her children to school.
Peace Zone gives us security, it gives us comfort and safety a place that protects us from the disturbance of war, this Zone of Peace was created because of the frequent confrontation of AFP and NPA. The Church led by Father Ronilo Villamor, the BATUNA or Banayal, Tuburan and Nabundasan organization Hiniusang Mag-uuma sa Alimodian, and other government officials became part of the implementation of Peace Zone. Sitio Alimodian Peace Zone aims to give the desired peace and development of people.
The unity and determination of each and every residents of Sitio New Alimodian was the major factor for the creation of the Peace Zone. to maintain and sustain the Peace Zone, we abide the provision and if violated, we discussed about it during the assembly and remind them to not violate on the provision again. Being a member of the People’s Organization or the Hiniusang Mag-uuma sa Alimodian in the Peace Zone Council, I’am the representative to the council and we are part of the planning and decision making.
The assurance of safety and security against armed conflicts that the Peace Zone gives us is the most gratifying experience that I had in the Peace Zone while the non-observance of our provision by the government or military is the most dissatisfying experience I had since it breaks my perception of we being safe in the Peace Zone.
The lot and housing skeleton project were donated to us by the ECDFC, the 5 million from government assistance was purchased for farm machineries like corn Sheller, our water system was donated to us by the DIRECT a European Union funded organization. The CCWA that provides the needs of our children for their education.
The intrusion of the military in the Peace Zone having their firearms with them is one of the problems we encounter on the implementation of the Peace Zone and there are people who wanted to abolish the Peace Zone since they’ve been telling us that we are one sided and we are on the side of the NPA. With this, people outside the Peace Zone should respect the wants of the residents because it is our only hope to attain peace.
Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone became a seedbed of peace and development in the community. Before the implementation of the Peace Zone, we can see a big difference and improvements on how people live their lives today. The Sitio New Alimodian has bald mountains before because we are not free to plant trees fearing we might be a victim of the encounter of AFP and NPA, but now you can see a lot of trees in the surroundings. And parents are now able to send their children to college, and we already have professionals in the Peace Zone, it is really evident that there’s progress in the lifestyle of the residents. For me, even we did not still attain the 100 percent peace; Peace Zone is still a success because it brought us development and a quality of life.
Informant 15: Jessie Capasgorgo
(Peace Zone council vice-president)
Peace is an important element into the lives of people, because if there’s no peace, there can be no development can never be seen. If there’s development but there’s the presence of armed conflict its useless, because people can’t work if there’s war. Having a quality of life is having a productive life, wherein you can provide for the needs of your family and you are able to help others as well, because quality of life is seen if you’re not just helping yourself to develop but helping others to know that they also can.
Peace Zone is a place that lie low from war and any armed conflict, it protects the people residing there by the provision that it has. It was created because of the armed conflict between the AFP and NPA. Before the making of peace zone, we are always subjected into gun fire, because we are being accused that we are sympathizers of NPA, and worst being accused that we are members of the NPA. Because of our constant struggle from war, we gather the people in Sitio New Alimodian and we decided to evacuate to Banayal Elementary school but there are still hindrance of doing so. Because the principal, Ma’am Alice Parian won’t allow us to stay there because we’ll be disturbing the classes of the students, but in the end she allowed us because she doesn’t have a choice anymore. We stayed there for seven months with other evacuees from Sitio Lampagang, Miatub and Bituan. Even we are in the school, we’re still subjected to gun firing and mortar shelling and there is a food blockade by the militaries. Together with the church, we exodus to Bituan believing God will send us to a place where nothing is lacking for us. By the initiative of the people, barangay Bituan was declared a peace zone. We stayed there for two years, and we realized that we needed to have our own peace zone, by then, after the 2nd anniversary of Bituan peace zone on Feb. 12,1992 we made the second exodus from from Bituan peace zone to our very own Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone. Fr. Ronilo Villamor played a great role in making Sitio New Alimodian a Peace Zone. Peace zone aims that the both side from AFP and NPA would respect the provision and to give the residents a war-free zone, that would protect the lives of every residents from any armed conflict.
As for the strategy, we held assembly, for election for set of officers from the three sectors, from the PO “Hiniusang maguuma sa Alimodian” or HMA the other is from the Church and from the youth. And we also held dialogue if there is violations from the outsiders. My role during the implementation of the peace zone is that I look for organization, individuals and government for financial assistance.
One of the gratifying experience I had is that, the government, NGOs are always helping us, like the help they give us during after the second exodus, there are lot of organizations and individual supported us, such as the ICRC that provided us one truck of food supplies. The most dissatisfying experience I had in peace zone was the harassments of the military to me, accusing me having an explosive device in my own house, but they were the one who put that bomb into my kitchen, if that was mine how careless I would be putting it into the kitchen, its to dangerous for my children. I was charged of illegal possession of explosive device and found not guilty.
Programs and projects from the 5 million was used to purchased farm machineries, cows and carabaos, but those livestock was not used in farming because it doesn’t know how to do the farm works, the tendency was selling it and use the money for financial support. Another one is the seedling, they bought seedlings and gave it to the residents but it became useless because they gave it to us during El Niňo season, so the money from the national government was mismanaged.
Peace zone contributed peace in the community wherein the people promotes peace and diminish conflict and war. For me, there’s improvements for the life of the residents that was brought to us by the peace zone, not a huge improvement, but maybe a little improvements in their way of life. And Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is not a success, but we are striving to make it a success.
Informant 16: Francisco Abejon
(Lay Cooperator)
Peace is important in someone’s life, it is peace that gives us freedom to do what we have to. Because of peace people are free to work in their farms and to have their own harvests. Having a quality of life means having peace and development in one’s life, wherein people already has the reliable source of income as a financial assistance to his family.
Peace zone was the very desire of the residents of Sitio New Alimodian, because it gave them the security, freedom from violence and armed conflict between the AFP and NPA. It was created because of the intensifying conflict of AFP and NPA which endangered the inhabitants of Sitio New Alimodian. The Catholic Church led by Fr. Ronilo Villamor, Councilor Limbungan and councilor Joel Villamor push through the implementation of the Sitio New Alimodian. The peace zone aims to eliminate the conflict and danger of the residents of Sitio New Alimodian.
Our strategy for the implementation of peace zone because we never gave up, specially the leaders to push through it. We held consultation with the other members of peace zone in order to gather ideas. And the reason why Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is still thriving is because of the help of NGOs and GOs, as well as the unity of the residents of peace zone. I became a negotiating panel during the implementation of the peace zone, shaing my time and talent as a leader is what I can offer to the people and in the community.
Seeing people united and being concerned to one another in the peace zone is the most gratifying experience I had in the peace zone, knowing that all the efforts, pain and suffering I’ve experienced during the formation and implementation of this peace zone is worth it.
Projects like coconut, and rubber was given to us by the LGU. The water system was donated by DIRECT, funded by the European Union and the 5 million from the national government when they declare the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone a Special Development Areas, the said money was used to purchase farm machineries, livestock and for the electrification in peace zone.
There are violations happened in the Peace Zone by both military and NPA, and through dialogue with the military is the way for us to warn them that they are already violating the provision of the peace zone. while in NPAs since they do not have their own office we have an internal talk with them for them to know that they’ve violated the provision.
Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone contributed peace building initiative to the community for reduction of conflict and to promote peace zone brought improvement to the lives of the residents. Compared to the lives we have during the armed conflict, before we live in a hut, but now, most of the people already have a concrete houses, and they also be able to send their children to college. Peace Zone is therefore a success because of the perseverance of the residents in pursuing peace and unity in the area.
Informant 17: Luciosa c. Campano
(GKK Prsident)
Peace is the absence of war and freedom from fear and worry about the armed conflicts around us. Because of peace we can now become progressive for we do have the freedom to work and to earn money that would give a quality of life to our family, to provide for their needs and wants, quality of life is having sufficiency in everything.
Peace Zone was the tool for the unification of the residents, because of our desire to have peace, we became united to push through the implementation of the Peace Zone. it was created of the conflict between the AFP and NPA, because of that frequent confrontations, we became the victim of the war, since we are obligated to move to one place to another just to save our lives. In July 1989, we evacuated to Banayal Elementary school because of the conflict of AFP and NPA. We stayed there for 7 months and on February in the year 1990, people from the evacuation center decided to make the Barangay Bituan a peace zone, and with the help of the catholic church with the leadership of Fr. Roni, we exodus from Banayal to Bituan Peace Zone. In Bituan Peace Zone, we are still being interrogated by the militaries, that when we bring rice with us as we’re going to do the farm works, they would suspect us that the food we brought wit us will be given to the NPAs. On the sixth month of our stay in Bituan I lost my child, he was just 6 years old then, and the cause of his death is the bullet that he picked and unfortunately detonated that put his life to an end. After 18 months after the death of my son, we, the residents of Sitio New Alimodian had the exodus part two and still led by Fr. Roni, we started our exodus with a mass in Bituan and ended it with a mass in Sitio New Alimodian. Peace Zone aims to give peace , freedom and development to Alimodianons.
Our strategies on the implementation of the Peace Zone, with the help of the church conduct dialogue with the military, government officials and NGOs, and tell them what we are really into. The unity of the residents and the support what we acquire from the NGOs were the reason why we maintained and sustained the Peace Zone. As a GKK president I am one of the representatives of church to the Sitio New Alimodian Council, and we organized an assembly or meeting and plan on what to do.
The most gratifying experience I had in the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is the moment I had a peace of mind that let me sleep at night without worrying where to go the next day, and that we can cultivate our land and having the presence of peace and the absence of fear when going to our farm. And the most dissatisfying experience I had here is that I was being suspected by the militaries as an NPA and NPAs suspected me as an intelligence of the military, because I always go to the town. But in fact, the reason why I always go to the town is because I had a store, and I need to buy the things that I needed in the store.
The Sitio New Alimodian became a recipient of many projects and programs, such as: the lot and housing skeleton project, that was sponsored by the ECDFC funded by the European Union. The water reservoir for potable water donated by DIRECT that is funded by the European Union and the organization CCWA an organization funded by Japan provided the needs of the children for the education. In addition, programs from BATUNA, HMA and CRS that gives training for livelihood.
There are interventions from the government officials that are against the implementation of the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone. They should respect the initiative of the people in pursuing peace in our lives.
Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone promote pace and development in the community encouraging them to do the same if they wanted to have a peace in there lives. For me, the reason behind the improvement of our lives is because of the implementation of Peace Zone, since it brought us peace, and because of that peace it enables us to work and to have the source of income. Peace Zone is a success because it gave us permanent address and the peace that we’ve been looking during the conflict was now available in the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone.
Informant 18: Azucena F. Lacumbo
(Barangay Banayal Chairperson)
Peace is the most important thing in someone’s life, because it is a road to development. Development in terms in economics they have the availability to sustain for their needs. Moreover, we can say that there is development in a place if it could produce more products compared to the former products that was produced, and in the family, we can say that there is development if we can send our children to school and be able to graduate. The presence of peace and development in someone’s life led to a quality of life.
Peace Zone is a safe haven for those people who lie low from the disturbance of armed conflict. It was created because of the encounter between the AFP and NPA. People evacuated from their place from time to time and they felt burned-out, the residents with the help of the Parish Church led by Fr. Roni Villamor and his brother councilor Joel Villamor and other individuals from the LGU declared the Sitio New Alimodian a Peace Zone. And just this year, the Municipal Ordinance No. 055-14 Prescribing The Basic Framework for the Development of Tulunan Peace Zone was passed. The four (4) Peace zones in Tulunan were, Bituan Peace Zone, Sitio Mitub Peace Zone, Nabundasan Peace Zone and Sitio New Alimodian was just being acknowledged by the Local Government Unit, so for 24 years the general guidelines and principles that they follow are based on the provision that they had made and agreed upon.
Since Peace Zone is part of the Barangay, there’s an allocation for them from the IRA, so every year they are given 20,000 pesos intended for projects like livelihood. Since the ordinance was passed last 2014, the next budgeting of the Municipality Peace Zone should have a counterpart to it. The barangay provides for their sports facilities.
In the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone if they caught anyone violating the provision will be directly reported to the authority. If the military is caught violating the provision they will be reported to their commander, while if people would caught the NPA violating the provision, they do not have the office to report them. With this military thought that, it is biased.
If we based it on how the residents of Sitio New Alimodian live their lives during the armed conflict, we can say that there’s a big difference right now. Because the war and conflict disturbed them and their living, every time there’s an encounter the residents vacate their place and they cannot monitor what’s happening in their plants, unlike now, they already had a farm full of crops and became the main source of their income. The implementation of the Peace Zone brought the improvement and development in their lives.
We can say that we reached a perfect peace if there’s no conflict in the community at all, but even in a family there are times that conflict may come up. For now they did not attain a perfect peace because there are still violations on drinking alcoholic drinks and there are still robbers in their area it manifest of lack of discipline. For me, the Sitio New Alimodian did not succeed yet, they are still in the process of achieving it.
Informant 19: Nestor Debuque
( Brgy.Banayal Kagawad)
Peace is the absence of war or conflict, and entails development that brought changes in one’s life, and having a changed lifestyle into a better one. And the quality of life is having your wants and needs, be able to provide for the family.
Peace Zone for the residents of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is a safe haven for them, but for my own interpretation, the politicians used it as a strategy to gain the support of the people from the peace zone. For the resolution was implemented by the initiative of the Municipality upon the approval of the province and not by the initiative by the barangay. The aims of the peace zone is to give peace to the residents. The TCDC or Tulunan Community Development Council facilitated for their provision, led by Rodel Libyano and Jerry Nim.
There’s an incident when the Peace Zone was newly created a person named Dodong Amoalia went missing, and the people suspected that behind that incident was the military, and until now they have not yet seen.
The Barangay has a budget for the peace zone yearly for their livelihood. The Barangay, Municipality and the Province are funding the livelihood programs, it is mandated by the national law. A Municipal fund, Provincial fund and Barangay fund are given to the community of peace zone every year for their livelihood program.
If you ask people outside the peace zone, people would say that it was created to protect the NPAs and it became a nest of NPAs. Because of the provision, militaries cannot easily enter into the peace zone, so it protects the NPAs inside the Peace Zone.
Since the creation of peace zone, it lessens the number of negligence of the law in the barangay. For now, I cannot say if the Sitio New Alimodian is a success because we cannot predict what would happen next because they are still in process.
Informant 20: Anderson Calibayan
(Barangay Banayal Kagawad)
Peace is the absence of war in which people are free in everything they want to do. Development can be seen in a community if the people inside that community also has developed. We can never say that a community having projects is already a developed community; we can conclude that a community has developed if the people living therein in is abundant, that they could eat, and could provide the needs of the family and could considered as a quality of life.
Peace Zone is a safe haven to the people who doesn’t want the presence of war, but for me, not all peace zone wanted the same thing. That peace zone that wanted to be free from war and armed conflict became a place they do not want to have. How can it be free from war if the people inside has guns and weapons with them? Killing my brother who just went there to attend the fiesta my brother is a CAFGU but he doesn’t have his gun with him that time because he knew it is prohibited in the area. My brother was shot in the place they called PEACE ZONE. But it does not apply to every peace zone, and in Sitio New Alimodian I haven’t heard any news like what happened to my brother and I considered that they adopted the real meaning of peace zone.
As a kagawad being assigned in sport committee, we support the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone during their sports events, we’re giving them budget for their sport activities. We have allotted 25,000 pesos allotted budget for their sport events from the SK fund. And we build a day care center in the peace zone with the barangay fund.
For me, the peace zone somehow did not help them improve their way of life because its been 24 years and there’s no evidence that people in peace zone improved their lives compared to the residents of the barangay proper. We also experienced and been victims of war but there’s big difference on how we live our lives today. The problem here is that we also experienced what they have experienced but they claim that they are the only people affected. We are all affected by the armed conflict and we even evacuated to Palma Perez. Since they are Peace Zone, and caught the eye of the government, they received special treatment, because of that they must be more developed than us, but it’s not. We’re not even a peace zone but we attained development in due time, so the development and improvement of ones life depends on the effort we put on our work.
If the Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone is a success, they must be proud living in the peace zone, but, when they are asked in the checkpoint they would say that they live in barangay Banayal, and even during applying for work they put Banayal as their address. Then, if it is a success they must ashamed rather be proud that they live in Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone Barangay Banayal Tulunan North Cotabato, because with what they are doing, they are putting down their own Peace Zone. so I can conclude that Peace Zone is not yet a success.

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Grassroots Peace Building Initiative: A Case Study of Sitio New Alimodian Peace Zone

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