Mindanao Peoples Caucus

MPC has been successful in positioning itself as a key player in the talks, having been officially recognized as an observer in the GRP-MILF peace talks, which is unprecedented in the series of talks conducted since 1976.

Bantay Ceasefire is a monitoring mechanism developed by MPC in 2003. Its volunteers do monitoring and field work to help deescalate violence and prevent conflict on the ground. in cooperation with the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (JCCCH) of the GRP and the MILF and with the International Monitoring Team.

Since its creation, part of MPC's mission has been to provide support and advice to indigenous people living in areas affected by conflict stemming from contested ownership of ancestral domain. In helping to resolve conflict within the community, MPC members are not merely involved in public advocacy on question of relief and rehabilitation; rather, they have also been developing local peace agreements bringing military, church, local governments and communities themselves at the negotiating table.

Concept »

Mindalinaw is an independent, non-partisan and inclusive radio programme on peace initiatives. It serves as an ordinary person's forum. It is a combination of live and canned broadcasting that runs weekly for an hour in Cotabato, Maguindanao, Lanao and Sulu areas. Life Springs from a small cassette tape wherein the talks, commentaries, music, advertisements are pre-recorded.

In light of the raging crisis in Mindanao that has put the ongoing peace process in danger of caving in, it is imperative upon the youth to come together and collectively take action. The youth component of MPC takes an initiative to collaborate with other youth network that has also with the same inspiration towards peace and development in Mindanao.

MPC's radio program: A continuation of the Mindalinaw

Untitled Document

(A concept paper)

(TO BE initially AIRED OVER dxND in Kidapawan City , dxMY in Cotabato City , dxGN in Davao City , dxRP in General Santos City, dxMM in Jolo, Sulu)

Background

The Mindanao Peoples Caucus had ran a radio program, the Mindalinaw , for around two years. It served as an effective channel for peace advocacy that highlighted people's participation in the peace process in Mindanao .

Starting with two radio stations, one in Cotabato City and another in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato , the Mindalinaw had its weaknesses but its gains were, no doubt, overwhelming. In 2007, the program expanded in Jolo, though short-lived because of lack of funds. Aside from the Tausogs, the Maranaos of the two provinces of Lanao have also long expressed for the need of a Mindalinaw in their area.

Aside from the above mentioned areas, there were also earlier discussions on the need to expand the peace advocacy through radio program in other areas of Mindanao where the peace constituency is not that vibrant and strong. These include areas where people do not generally bother about the peace process in Mindanao . These are areas where local government officials have also been observed to be less supportive or even against the peace process.

Taking cue from the gains that the Mindalinaw had, the same areas ( Cotabato City , Kidapawan City and Jolo) are still wishing to continue the radio program in the same way as the Lanao areas continue to express the need for a similar program.

While there is no doubt MPC recognizes this need to continue and even expand its radio program, it is, as it has always been, confronted with difficulty of sourcing out funds to sustain it, This is the main bottleneck in running the radio program, hence, a revival of it should first start with considering sustainability.

Second, it also has to reconsider its format to enliven its being an alternative radio program by ensuring an increasing people's participation.

While ensuring its alternative character, it has to, thirdly, be able to blend its being an alternative with that of mainstream radio programming.

Timeslot is also a major consideration in ensuring listener-ship and sustainability. "Primetime," however, varies depending on the listeners in specific areas, though mostly it is from 6:00 to 8:00 in the morning and 5:00 to 7:00 in the evening. Evening primetime has to, however, contend with a very strong competitor-the television, Morning primetime has to contend with station-own or station-ran public affairs programs. Primetime cost is also usually higher from that of the non-primetime slots.

Hereunder are some suggestions:

1. Format

Considering the pacing of the fast flattening world, radio programs' first challenge is making listeners tune in to it. After tuning in to it, the next challenge is hooking the listeners to it from OBB to CBB. This requires a lot of creativity and consideration of the listeners' "taste."

While the Program has to maintain its magazine format, it has to allot considerable time for listeners' participation. The magazine format can be a combination of 1) news, 2) occasional features, 3) music, 4) panel discussions, 5) interviews, 6) peace trivia, and others. This time, the program has to seriously consider other entertaining yet educational and income generating segment. Such segment may be peace ads or commercial ads with peace context or peace advocacy ingredients . (More discussion about ads in Sustainability )

2. Time-span and timeslot

It is also suggested that the program departs from being a one-hour once-a-week radio show to a one-hour twice-a-week program with a projection of making it three times a week to daily (from Monday to Friday) once funds for sustainability allows it.

3. Consider FM stations

It may also be worth to consider FM radio stations as our channel since these stations already command huge share of listeners and they usually do not have public affairs programs, hence, negotiating for a primetime slot may be easier. FM stations also usually wider and broader reach . (The Charm story)

4. Sustainability

Mainstream radio stations are earning so much from ads. The Program also has to earn from ads if we ever think of sustainability. Therefore, we have to ensure in our contract with radio stations that we be allowed to air ads.

To start with, we could solicit sponsors from peace organizations by producing peace ads credited to them (the organizations). Ads from local business establishments, national and multi-national firms should also be considered as revenue source for the radio program.

It would also be good to link radio ads with On-line ads since MPC's website is also being constructed now. If we could do this, it would mean selling ads for radio broadcast and On-line publication. This can actually start with a big Public Launch of both. Before the launch, we shall solicit advertisers whom we shall also invite during the Public Launch. The lay-out for on-line advertisements and produced radio ads must therefore be ready for presentation also during the Launch. We have an edge in soliciting ads because aside from the on-line publication, we also cover different areas in Mindanao .

Instead of submitting project proposals to funding agencies, we may consider letter proposals that would ask them to sponsor a peace ads that will run for a year or more in, say, three radio stations and the website. This marketing strategy may also work with multi-national corporations.

Exchange-deal is also one vast field that could help ensure sustainability. We can, for example, send business proposals to all motorcycle and car companies to give us motorcycles or cars in ex-change for advertisement worth the cost of their products. This can also apply to all other firms with funds for promotion, like Pau De Arco, pharmaceutical products and many/unlimited others.

In ensuring sustainability, we just have to strike a reasonable balance between airtime spent for ads and the essential contents of the program. The most that is tolerable in broadcast is allotting only 40 percent of your timeslot on ads.

5. Branding/promotion

With a new program format and the stress on sustainability, it would be good to consider changing its OBB and CBB. It must also be widely promoted using the mainstream media (radio, print and TV), the net (website and e-groups), alternative media (streamers, posters, etc), and mobilizing communities in a listener-ship campaign.