GENERAL SANTOS CITY (October 13, 2022) - The provincial government of Sarangani has conducted a two-day training workshop for young Madaris facilitators of the province to capacitate them to become "role models and influencers" in advocating peace to the Muslim youth.

On October 12-13, a Training Workshop on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Module Development was held at Tierra Montana Hotel which was facilitated by the Ronda Probinsya Kalinaw and Sarangani Bangsamoro Affairs Program (SaBAP) and participated in by young Madaris facilitators of the six coastal municipalities of Sarangani.

"We train them dahil sila mismo ang hihikayat sa mga kabataang Muslim kung paano ba 'yung tamang kaalaman lang para sa Islam, kasi kapag sobra na extremist na 'yun and our young people are very vulnerable to extremism," said Jehanna Pelima, RP Kalinaw and RP SaBAP program manager.

Pelima further said these facilitators were "former Madaris volunteers na magiging replacement sa mga nagresign, nagretire, at namayapa na nating mga Madaris facilitators. That is why we empower them because they are very young and magagaling sila."

The training workshop, Pelima said, "will serve as a review and refresher na lang dahil may background knowledge na sila sa Islamic perspective nitong extremism dahil ginagawa na natin ito at 'yung Tarbiyyah doon sa field."

The Madaris Tarbiyyah is a program created to make sure that the Moro communities in Sarangani get the proper teaching of Islam or the true Islam of peace and to counter the tailor-fit radical Islam which results to extremism.

Governor Rogelio "Ruel" D. Pacquiao also expressed his full-support to the peace-building efforts and endeavors of the province and said he will "allocate more funds" for a "bigger budget" for the projects under his Ronda Probinsya flagship program. 

Provincial Administrator Atty. Ryan Jay Ramos, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Jenric Garcia, Provincial Information Officer Joana Grace Banting-Lapore, and Sarangani Barangay Governance Initiative and Support (SBGIS) Program Manager Paul Allen Villamora also gave their messages of support to the participants. (Jori Mae R. Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

 ? Jake T. Narte