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MANILA - Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Philippines Office together with its institutional partner, the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), have started the project DEPAdev to prepare the future autonomous Bangsamoro region for a meaningful autonomy.

Funded by the European Union, the DEPAdev project aims to contribute to the establishment of a pluralistic political landscape in southern Philippines. In particular through the formation of political parties, Muslim, Christian, Indigenous and other underrepresented groups shall be empowered for active political participation under a parliamentary system. For this non-partisan technical support, seminars and training activities will be conducted from February 2016 onwards, addressing existing political parties, members of civil society groups and members of both religious and non-religious groups inside the future Bangsamoro entity.

On 28 January 2016, the start of the project implementation phase was announced during an official project launch at Dusit Thani Hotel in Manila. This public conference was attended by EU Ambassador Franz Jessen among other distinguished guests of the diplomatic corps, the Government and Congress as well as the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

During his welcome remarks, Benedikt Seemann, Resident Representative of KAS in the Philippines, took the opportunity to thank the European Union for their continuous engagement in this conflict-affected part of the Philippines.

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen delivered a keynote address and pointed out the importance of the DEPAdev project for the long-term contribution to the peace process in the Philippines.

Atty. Benedicto Bacani, Executive Director of IAG, highlighted in his presentation that DEPAdev is an important tool of the peace process by encouraging stronger participation of civil society in political affairs.

After the symbolic unveiling of the DEPAdev project solidarity messages were read by representatives of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

After a press conference the event ended with a panel discussion. Moderated by Ma. Lourdes N. Tiquia, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Fancris Xavier Manglapus, Ramon C. Casiple, Prof. Abhoud Lingga and Dr. Patrick Ziegenhain debated on "policy and the peace process".