The participants were divided into eight groups with each group being assigned a particular topic to work on. Following are the results of their workshops.

Group 1

Issues and Concerns

• The BangsaMoro continue to be deprived of their prerogative to exercise their right to self-determination;
• The Sharia'h law is not recognized as distinct from that of the laws being prescribed and adhered to by the national majority;
• The natural as well as manpower resources of the BangsaMoro homeland continue to be exploited and abused by Trans-National Corporations, Multi-National Corporations, and Monopoly Cartels;
• The national government through its different agencies and local government units continue to usurp the BangsaMoro of their rightful share of basic social services and economic support which has resulted to abject poverty and inferior health conditions in the BangsaMoro homeland;
• The proposed enactment of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is yet another manifestation of the national government's utter disregard to the BangsaMoro's right to self-determination;
• The ongoing peace talks between the MILF and the GRP is very unstable and its outcome is still quite unpredictable;
• The SPCPD and the ARMM has so far failed to provide a viable solution to the socio-economic problems of the BangsaMoro.

Recommendations

• Continue and strengthen the struggle for the right to self-determination and claim back the lost territories that once comprised the ancestral domain;
• Conduct massive educational and organizing campaigns;
• Strengthen further working relations among the Tri-People as well as with other organizations;
• Oppose all forms of development aggression and anti-people government policies;
• Campaign against the implementation of the VFA, the continued militarization, illegal land conversions, and human rights abuses;
• Reinforce and enhance the socio-economic services to the people.

Issues and Concerns

• The BangsaMoro homeland is prone to both man-made disasters and natural calamities (El Nino, La Nina, Militarization);
• Poor or non-implementation of the government's disaster relief and rehabilitation assistance programs in the BangsaMoro homeland;
• The BangsaMoro lack the necessary information and skills on effective disaster management;
• There is rampant exploitation and destruction of the BangsaMoro homeland's natural resources causing irreparable ecological imbalances.

Recommendations

• Demand for the government to institutionalize and strengthen its disaster management program;
• Launch comprehensive educational campaigns for the BangsaMoro regarding disaster awareness and management;
• Establish linkages with both local and international organizations who are involved in relief and rehabilitation as well as disaster management programs;
• Set up an agency capable of coordinating and facilitating an efficient disaster management program in the BangsaMoro homeland;
• Strengthen working relationships with other organizations involved in environment programs;
• Conduct massive educational campaigns on environmental awareness;
• Establish and institutionalize a comprehensive environmental management program.

Issues and Concerns

• The BangsaMoro women continue to suffer the so called "triple burden" (production, reproduction, and household chores);
• The BangsaMoro women are discriminated upon politically, economically, socially and culturally;
• The children continue to be helpless victims of militarization, abuse and violence, social ills, unhealthy environment, and the lack of proper education;
• Among the numerous issues that confront the children, the most prominent are malnutrition, child labor, child prostitution and poverty.

Recommendations

• To improve the relationships between men and women, Feudalism should be eradicated;
• Educate and conscienticize the women on their role, rights and privileges;
• Conduct gender sensitivity and development seminars;
• Recognize and uphold the rights and privileges of women;
• Recognize the rights, role and cpabilities of women in nation building;
• Respect, uphold and protect the rights of children;
• Strengthen programs on child welfare in the communities.

Issues and Concerns

• Disrespect and non-recognition of the ancestral domain of the BangsaMoro and the Lumad in Mindanao;
• Non-implementation of a genuine agrarian reform program nor a comprehensive fisheries law;
• The continued incursion of Trans-National and Multi-National Corporations in the BangsaMoro homeland;
• Unlawful acquisition and conversion of agricultural lands;
• Monopoly control and ownership over vast tracts of land by an elite few;
• Development and Cultural agression;
• Community and Economic dislocation;
• Unstable market for rice, corn and other agricultural products;
• Inaccessibility of post harvest facilities.

Recommendations

• Dismantle the monopoly control of elite few over arable lands and distribute it to responsible tillers;
• Institute policies that would limit and regulate the operations of TNCs and MNCs;
• Strictly enforce fishery laws such as RA 8850 and EO 240;
• Implement a genuine and equitable land and agrarian reform program;
• Establish community-based industries;
• Stop massive conversion of agricultural land into commercial land;
• Provide equal and adequate opportunities for employment;
• Provide sufficient agricultural support services;
• Provide adequate infrastructures and basic social services.

Issues and Concerns

• Economic crisis is worsening brought about by liberalization, deregulation and privatization;
• Local industries are forced to shut down because they cannot compete with the TNCs and MNCs;
• The country has become one of the dumping grounds for surplus products from highly industrialized first world countries;
• The influx of foreign products reinforces and indurates colonial mentality;
• The country persists to be export-oriented and import-dependent;
• Militarization especially in rural areas continues to intensify;
• The people are deprived of their right to reap the benefits of political stability, economic growth, social development and cultural enlightenment.

Recommendations

• Encourage and support a nationalist industrialization program;
• Arouse, organize and mobilize the people to act against forces and all forms of social injustices and development aggression;
• Conduct comprehensive educational campaigns on the impact and the consequences of globalization;
• Strengthen the community-based cooperative movement.

Issues and Concerns

• The continued practice of patronage and elite politics;
• Minimal participation of NGOs and POs in the pursuit of development;
• Unequal and false representation in all agencies and departments of the government (executive, legislative, judiciary and LGUs);

Recommendations

• Discourage the people from supporting traditional politicians by conducting massive educational campaigns that would enlighten them and allow them to be more critical in choosing politicians to support and in participating in the electoral process itself;
• Establish linkages and develop good working relationships between NGOs-POs and government agencies and departments (both local and national).

Issues and Concerns

• The GRP seems to be employing dilatory tactics in dealing with the MILF;
• The GRP is not sincere in negotiating with the MILF as manifested by its non-recognition of all MILF established territories as well as blatant violations by government forces of the truce agreement;
• The peace negotiations being undertaken by the government is a ploy to betray the BangsaMoro;
• The formation of the SPCPD and the ARMM is not the only answer to the BangsaMoro problem;
• Despite the existence of the ARMM and the SPCPD, no significant change has been attained in terms of development and progress in the BangsaMoro homeland;
• There is a proliferation of graft and corruption within the SPCPD.

Recommendations

• Establish a common agenda that would truly foster justice, peace, and economic development for the BangsaMoro;
• Both the GRP and the MILF should be sincere in their participation in the peace talks;
• Both sides should submit their concrete proposals towards forging an agreement that would fully and truly satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the BangsaMoro;
• Oppose all forms of development aggression and anti-people government policies;
• Prosecute corrupt members of the SPCPD and the government officials who tolerate and cuddle them.

Issues and Concerns

• The present educational system is not cognizant nor respectful of the culture and belief of the BangsaMoro;
• Colonial mentality is being reinforced by the current educational system;
• The people are beginning to neglect their spiritual obligations and are beginning to be influenced and become dependent to materialism and consumerism.

Recommendations

• Work for the recognition of the Madrasah School;
• Push for the re-orientation of the curriculums currently being applied in colleges and universities situated in the BangsaMoro homeland;
• NGOs and POs should contribute to the further development of Madrasah Education;
• Revive the rich Islamic cultural heritage of the BangsaMoro;
• Encourage the development of cultures and traditions that do not contradict or offend Islam.