“The believers of the peace process are the poor. Perhaps, this hope is rooted on their conviction that there would never be development if there is no peace. No society is ever mature if it is hounded by chaos, by uncertainty, by war.” — Rey Cuizon, IPO specialist
By DAVAO TODAY
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Most Davaoeños support the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as “a needed step towards a lasting peace and development in the country.”
This was according to the survey conducted among 1,200 respondents by the University of Mindanao’s Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO) from January 26 to February 7.
Rey Cuizon, IPO specialist on culture and peace, said 71 out of 100 respondents expressed support to the FAB, while 29 “are swinging to oppose it.”
For those who support the FAB, 65 percent are hopeful that it will “pave the road to a just and lasting peace” while 35 percent are still doubtful, the IPO said.
Of the hopeful, 93 percent of them believe the FAB “will cater to the economic growth in Mindanao because there will be an effective resource allocation” while 70 percent said the FAB reflect the real sentiments of the people.”
Sixty-nine percent of the hopeful said the GPH and the MILF are “serious and dedicated towards the establishment of peace in Mindanao.”
Cuizon said the fundamental characteristics of the FAB as having economic target, equitable allocation, and bearing sentiments of the people made the FAB an idea better than the 1976 Agreement, which paved the way for the establishment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Tripoli Agreement of 1976 was signed between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front with the participation of the Quadripartite Ministerial Commission Members of the Islamic Conference and the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference.
The survey also showed that single Davaoeños (28 percent) are more supportive to the FAB than the married ones (21 percent). Meanwhile, the younger generations (between 18 to 29 years old) expressed optimism with the success of the FAB with 29 percent of the total respondents, followed by the adults (between 36 to 49 years old) with 26 percent of the total respondents.
FAB’s economic promise, according to IPO, are “much appreciated” by the underemployed with 33 percent of the total respondents followed by unemployed with 28 percent of the total respondents.
Cuizon said low income earning Davaeoños who comprise 84 percent of the total respondents “embrace” the FAB “perhaps with its growth promise.”
“The believers of the peace process are the poor. Perhaps, this hope is rooted on their conviction that there would never be development if there is no peace. No society is ever mature if it is hounded by chaos, by uncertainty, by war,” he added.
Adrian Tamayo, IPO specialist on politics and governance, said the survey used a five percent margin of error, which means that they are 95 percent sure that the findings are correct or represent the population.
He explained that the IPO used sampling interval, in which it ensures that the sample represents the population.
He also said that the survey was based on the political aspect and not religion, that’s why it did not include the religions of the respondents and what party or group they support. (davaotoday.com)
