As a homegrown institute with in-depth knowledge of the culture and the dynamics of governance and conflict in the southern Philippines, IAG is strategically positioned to undertake pioneering researches on various human security and development issues in the region.

IAG was the first to come up with a comprehensive profile of Non-Moro Indigenous Cultural Communities in the mainland ARMM, which has since informed its work towards the protection and promotion of the rights of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples. IAG completed the gathering of cultural information and baseline data and the generation of cultural maps that built the foundation for the successful formulation of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP), that have been approved and adopted by three of the tribes (Teduray, Lambangian and Dulangan Manobo), a milestone for the Indigenous Peoples.

IAG’s researches on youth vulnerability, traditional madaris and the baseline studies on violent extremism (VE) in the Philippines are driving P/CVE policies and programs in the country.

Its pre-Marawi siege research on youth’s knowledge of and attitude towards VE investigated the vulnerability of Muslim youth in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to radicalization and recruitment  by VE groups. Until the publication of this research, there has been little data available that policymakers can use as a basis for interventions to respond effectively to the threat of VE.

After the Marawi siege, IAG undertook another research on youth and VE, this time with respondents from four areas across Mindanao. The data from this research formed part of the assessment report on the local drivers of VE in the Philippines.

The madaris research, meanwhile, has established IAG’s working relations with 1,473 traditional madaris in the Bangsamoro and adjacent regions in Mindanao. It identified the issues and challenges confronting these institutions and provided policy and program recommendations on how to enhance the traditional madaris so they can contribute to the development of peaceful and prosperous communities.

Previously, IAG has conducted research on urban safety in five urban centers in Mindanao (Cotabato City, Marawi City, Zamboanga City, Isabela City in Basilan, and Jolo in Sulu), a case study on the ARMM, integrated area development plan and comprehensive land use plan for the five Iranun municipalities of Maguindanao (Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Matanog and Parang), and a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Philippine government.

        IAG PROGRAMS

Political Party Building and Development

The main objective of this program is to orient groups and individuals on “genuinely principled” political parties and help them build it. IAG believes that a genuinely principled political party is the basic building block and catalyst for change in the current and future political system in the Bangsamoro region and the Philippines as a whole.

This program gives a chance for individuals to be able to appreciate and interact with co-participants and speakers on politics and political parties in a different perspective. It will seek to expose individuals and groups to the possible roles and responsibilities of joining a political party and the mechanisms that make an authentic party work, steering clear from the current political system into the right track of political process: active participation in politics and the entire political spectrum through the political party. The specialized activities aim to (1) deepen the understanding of the nature, history, concept and practice of political parties in the Muslim region and the Philippines; (2) develop a critical awareness amid the current realities of how political parties are practiced in the Philippines and consequently, here in Mindanao; (3) familiarize the participants on the important processes and principles of building and joining a “genuinely principled” political party; and (4) start a foundation of principled and sustainable political parties banking on informed minds (graduates/recipients of the course) that promote healthy political competition and citizen participation in nation building beneficial to the advancement of democracy, contributing to further democratic growth.

Promoting Political Dialogue for Peace in the Bangsamoro

IAG’s Political Dialogue program seeks to help shape a stable political environment in support of the Mindanao peace process. It engages political leaders in dialogue, capacity-building, research and studies to enhance their informed and principled participation in the crafting and implementation of the roadmap and processes for sustainable peace and development in Mindanao. This program serves as a platform to enhance the productive role and participation of political leaders and local government units in the evolution and implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). It provides technical assistance in institutionalizing the constructive role of political leaders and local government units and their relations with the regional government in regional legislations such as the regional local government and administrative laws.

Mainstreaming Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the BARMM

This program focuses on capacity building for the empowerment and strengthening of Indigenous Peoples’ self-governance as well as advocacy for socio-legal and administrative reforms in the BARMM.

IAG is committed to the development of public policies that promote and protect the rights and welfare of Indigenous Peoples especially in conflict and fragile environments. Autonomy and good governance as paths for peace in the southern Philippines must be responsive to the needs and protection of vulnerable groups most affected by instability and insecurity.

IAG implemented the EU-funded IPDEV, a three-year Indigenous Peoples baseline and advocacy project (2012-2015), that built a strong foundation for informing its policy development work toward the protection and promotion of the rights of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples.

Rule of Law

The Rule of Law program seeks to promote access to justice in a conflict and post-conflict environment. In the envisioned Bangsamoro, the justice system shall have three sub-systems: Shari’ah law, civil courts and indigenous tribal justice system. Alternative dispute resolution is a theme across the 3 sub-systems. IAG contributes to the promotion of the rule of law by strengthening the policies and practice in the 3 sub-systems of justice in the Bangsamoro.

This program adopts the following strategies: 1) Research and developing accurate and relevant baseline data on access to justice towards the formulation of a justice index in the Bangsamoro; 2) Policy research and advocacy towards progressive policies and implementation of the Bangsamoro justice system; 3) Training and capacity building for lawyers, law professors, counsellors, para-legals and court personnel; 4) Developing modules for law schools and public administration courses in colleges and universities; 5) Awareness raising on the state and measures to make the Bangsamoro justice system relevant and effective in resolving disputes. IAG is partnering with relevant institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Philippine Judicial Academy and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) and laws schools and centers for Shariah Law and Islamic Studies in the Bangsamoro.

Promoting Good Governance in the Autonomous Regional Government and Local Government Units

This program trains, mentors and provides technical assistance to promote efficiency, transparency, accountability and citizens’ participation in the affairs of the autonomous regional  government and local government units. It adopts the needs-driven, participatory and collaborative approaches in introducing, developing and entrenching good governance practices in regional and local laws and policies.

It helps LGUs optimize their potentials for local resource generation through tax mapping and efficient collection of taxes and fees, tax information campaigns and client-friendly and efficient business licensing and regulatory practices and in promoting the environment for enhanced business activities in their localities.

It trains and assists LGUs in achieving milestones in transparency and accountability such as getting the Seal of Good Housekeeping and compliance with the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA).

This program promotes civil society participation in local governance by strengthening local development bodies and local special bodies which by law have strong citizen participation. It orients LGUs on accreditation of civil society groups for membership in local bodies. The program provides training to civil society organizations (CSOs) on ways by which they can actively monitor ad participate in local governance. Strategic communication programs to promote dialogue and interaction between LGUs and citizens are developed with LGUs and CSOs.

Enhancing Security Governance

This program provides training and technical assistance to raise capacities of local governments in promoting peace and security in their localities. This program trains and strengthens the Local Peace and Order Councils on conflict resolution and in designing and implementing relevant and effective programs to promote local security and peace. The program strengthens local and indigenous mechanisms for conflict prevention and management.

Developing Economic Clusters

This replicates the successful Iranun Development Council (IDC) project where five (5) municipalities in Maguindanao were assisted by IAG in constituting their areas as one economic development cluster. This program involves raising capacities of LGUs in alliance-building and research, survey and mapping to identify areas for economic collaboration among others. It trains local economic development managers in feasibility studies, business planning and marketing. This program also provides technical assistance in accessing loans and grants and public-private partnerships (PPP) for local economic development.

IAG currently implements this principle of interlocal cooperation, this time with five municipalities on the western seaboard of Basilan province that make up the Western Basilan Alliance.

Policy Advocacy

This program conducts research, workshops and trainings and discussions on political, economic and security issues. It provides technical assistance in crafting public policies and local or national laws, resolution or ordinances especially on the protection and welfare of vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples, elderly, women, children and people with disabilities. Capacity-building for lawmakers and policymakers forms part of this program. Through publications, roundtable discussions and use of traditional and social media, this program can conduct campaigns towards putting in place relevant policies that effectively address public and social concerns.

Updated 19 February 2020

 "The government is a victim of its own success. Now they want to unite the MNLF and MILF, but for many years they just wanted to divide and rule," says Benny Bacani, who runs the Institute for Autonomy and Governance, a public-policy think tank in Cotabato City