Nalapaan and the GINAPALADTAKA Spaces for Peace

Official Title:
The Nalapaan Space for Peace.
GINAPALADTAKA Spaces for Peace and Children as Zones of Peace (or G7)

Location and Geographic Coverage
Nalapaan Barangay (village) in the municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato province. The peace zone covers four sitios of Nalapaan: sitio proper, sitio Baruyan, sitio Maguid, and sitio San Roque in the province of North Cotabato.

Brief Description
Barangay Nalapaan in the municipality of Pikit in North Cotabato province was established as a “space for peace” in 2000 after the “all-out war” of the Estrada Administration against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which resulted in massive internal displacement in the area. It was established by barangay officials and residents upon the proposal of a national relief and rehabilitation NGO Tabang Mindanaw (Help Mindanao), and the Immaculate Conception Parish of Pikit. This mainly involved community leaders negotiating separately with the local commands of the Philippine Armed Forces and MILF to respect this "space for peace" in terms of not making it their battleground. These two contending armed forces acceded and gave their support, as did the municipal government of Pikit, and also a number of local and international NGOs. The Nalapaan “space for peace” program had 12 components: Organizing, Education, Shelter, Sustainable Agriculture, Water System, Livelihood, Health and Sanitation, Supplemental Feeding, Psycho-social intervention, Infrastructure, Land Tenure, and Advocacy. Nalapaan's successful experience led to its clustering with six other barangays in Pikit which in November 2004 declared themselves collectively as G7 or the “GINAPALADTAKA Space for Peace and Children as Zones of Peace.” GINAPALADTAKA is the acronym for the seven barangays (Ginatilan, Nalapaan, Panicupan, Lagundi, Dalengaoen, Takepan, and Kalakakan). The seven barangays often coordinate on security concerns and share peacebuilding resources. The declaration was the culmination of a long process that involved separate negotiations with the armed forces and the MILF Central Committee conducted by the seven barangay captains (village heads) and support NGOs. (Source: Soliman Santos)

Comments/ Updates
In 2011, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), splintered from the MILF and has been perceived to be against the peace process between the Philippine Government and the MILF. The BIFF has conducted sporadic attacks against the Philippine Armed Forces in the provinces of North Cotabato and Maguindanao. In 2012, BIFF movements where cited near the G7 Spaces for Peace which caused alarm among residents in the area.

SOURCES:

Avruch, Kevin and Roberto S. Jose. “Peace Zones in the Philippines.” In Zones of Peace. Ed. Landon E. Hancock and Christopher Mitchell. USA: Kumarian Press, Inc., 2007.

Lee, Zosimo. “Peace Zones as special development areas: A preliminary assessment.” In Building Peace: Essays on Psychology and the Culture of Peace. Ed. A.B.I. Bernardo and C.D. Ortigas. Manila: De La Salle University Press, 2000.

Rodil, B.R. A Story of Mindanao and Sulu in Question and Answer. Davao: MINCODE, 2003.

Santos, Soliman Jr. M. Peace Zones in the Philippines: Concept, Policy, and Instruments. Quezon City: Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute and The Asia Foundation, 2005.

Further Reading:

Iyer, Pushpa. “Peace Zones of Mindanao, Philippines: Civil Society Efforts to End Violence.” CDA Collaborative Learning Projects. October 2004.