MINDANAO CONGRESS
OF DEVELOPMENT NGOs and NGIs
OF DEVELOPMENT NGOs and NGIs
M I N C O N
BACKGROUND
The NGOs in Mindanao have one thing in
common, MINDANAO. As NGOs in Mindanao
pursue the social development goal of
creating a Filipino society that is based on
justice, equity and participative democracy, a
good number of Mindanao NGOs underscore
the development of an economically
self-reliant, ecologically-sound and
autonomous Mindanao.
Many of the Mindanao NGOs have played a
role in addressing the major national and
advocacy for peace and democracy. Many of
these NGOs joined national networks of
NGOs to acquire an added voice and hand in
the advocacy and undertaking of some
urgent social development issues and
programs. One of the critical issues was the
existing relationship with the central
government including political, economic and
cultural organizations. This relationship is
characteristically top-buttom, inequitable and
culturally insensitive.
In December 1990, an assembly of
representatives of NGOs in Mindanao was
held in Davao City and there decided to
organize the Mindanao Congress of
development NGOs (MINCON). MINCON is a
concerted effort toward correcting the unjust
structures that have long governed the
relationship between central government and
other national institutions with Mindanao.
The NGOs in Mindanao have one thing in
common, MINDANAO. As NGOs in Mindanao
pursue the social development goal of
creating a Filipino society that is based on
justice, equity and participative democracy, a
good number of Mindanao NGOs underscore
the development of an economically
self-reliant, ecologically-sound and
autonomous Mindanao.
Many of the Mindanao NGOs have played a
role in addressing the major national and
advocacy for peace and democracy. Many of
these NGOs joined national networks of
NGOs to acquire an added voice and hand in
the advocacy and undertaking of some
urgent social development issues and
programs. One of the critical issues was the
existing relationship with the central
government including political, economic and
cultural organizations. This relationship is
characteristically top-buttom, inequitable and
culturally insensitive.
In December 1990, an assembly of
representatives of NGOs in Mindanao was
held in Davao City and there decided to
organize the Mindanao Congress of
development NGOs (MINCON). MINCON is a
concerted effort toward correcting the unjust
structures that have long governed the
relationship between central government and
other national institutions with Mindanao.
PRINCIPLES OF UNITY
MINCON is a movement of Mindanao development NGOs and NGIs,
primarily unaffiliated but including those affiliated with other networks but
are desirous of doing their share in promoting special Mindanao concerns
and advocacies.
The unifying principles that will bind these various groups and individuals
together are:
1. Mindanao for Mindanaoans. For decades, Mindanao had served as the
milking cow of national government and business, as well as multi-national
corporations; in return, it’s been getting “dog food”. For the sake of
Philippine progress and national unity, this situation must change. Such
change, however, wil not happen by its own accord. It will require the
determined and concerted efforts of Mindanaoans. In solidarity with
concerned and sympathetic organizations, institutions and individuals in
the national capital and other parts of the country, Mindanao advocates
must pursue a common development agenda.
2. Harmony in Diversity. Owing to its unique Tripeople composition,
however, Mindanao has to develop and promote a distinctively Mindanao
solution to its peculiar problems and situation. Necessarily, this should
proceed around the idea of forging harmony out of diverse cultures of the
Chritians (migrant settlers), the Muslims, and the Lumads. This is
imperative if Mindanao has to succeed and move forwards; and
3. The development principles of the Philippine commuity of development
NGOs as enunciated in the Covenant of philippine NGOs.
MINCON is a movement of Mindanao development NGOs and NGIs,
primarily unaffiliated but including those affiliated with other networks but
are desirous of doing their share in promoting special Mindanao concerns
and advocacies.
The unifying principles that will bind these various groups and individuals
together are:
1. Mindanao for Mindanaoans. For decades, Mindanao had served as the
milking cow of national government and business, as well as multi-national
corporations; in return, it’s been getting “dog food”. For the sake of
Philippine progress and national unity, this situation must change. Such
change, however, wil not happen by its own accord. It will require the
determined and concerted efforts of Mindanaoans. In solidarity with
concerned and sympathetic organizations, institutions and individuals in
the national capital and other parts of the country, Mindanao advocates
must pursue a common development agenda.
2. Harmony in Diversity. Owing to its unique Tripeople composition,
however, Mindanao has to develop and promote a distinctively Mindanao
solution to its peculiar problems and situation. Necessarily, this should
proceed around the idea of forging harmony out of diverse cultures of the
Chritians (migrant settlers), the Muslims, and the Lumads. This is
imperative if Mindanao has to succeed and move forwards; and
3. The development principles of the Philippine commuity of development
NGOs as enunciated in the Covenant of philippine NGOs.
MINCON’s THRUSTS
In furtherance of these principles, MINCON’s thrusts will consist of the following:
1. To work for the poor and full implementation, and further enhancement of the Local Government Code, is one starting effort
along this line;
2. Undertaking advocacies toward achieving political parity and economic equity and adequate social services for Mindanao
and among Mindanaoans;
3. Taking initiatives that are promotive of better and harmonious relations between Muslims, Christians and Lumads; and
4. To unify and strengthen the MINCON network.
MINCON’s STRATEGIES
In this regard, MINCON aims:
1. To catalyze and support an organized Mindanao lobby;
2. Through its members, to facilitate and help in the capability-building process for NGOs/POs active and effective participation
in local governance;
3. To pursue a systematic advocacy program that put weight on the structural causes rather than ethnic diversity as the root
cause of the Mindanao problem; and
4. To facilitate information access and exchange among its members and with other NGOs.
In furtherance of these principles, MINCON’s thrusts will consist of the following:
1. To work for the poor and full implementation, and further enhancement of the Local Government Code, is one starting effort
along this line;
2. Undertaking advocacies toward achieving political parity and economic equity and adequate social services for Mindanao
and among Mindanaoans;
3. Taking initiatives that are promotive of better and harmonious relations between Muslims, Christians and Lumads; and
4. To unify and strengthen the MINCON network.
MINCON’s STRATEGIES
In this regard, MINCON aims:
1. To catalyze and support an organized Mindanao lobby;
2. Through its members, to facilitate and help in the capability-building process for NGOs/POs active and effective participation
in local governance;
3. To pursue a systematic advocacy program that put weight on the structural causes rather than ethnic diversity as the root
cause of the Mindanao problem; and
4. To facilitate information access and exchange among its members and with other NGOs.