𝐙𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐀, 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐩 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐍 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐓𝐚

𝐙𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐀, 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐩 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐍 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐓𝐚 Strengthening peace, security, and gender-responsive governance across island provinces provinces was highlighted as the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance Inc. (ZABIDA) held its 2026 Annual Planning for the UN Women Project on January 7 and 8. The two-day activity gathered representatives from partner organizations from Nagdilaab Foundation, Tulung Lupah Sug Inc., and Tarbilang, sharing the commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through community based and localized initiatives. The planning opened with a series of field visits aimed at grounding discussions in community realities. Participants visited the K5 Housing sites in Sinunuc and Campo Vida Agricultural Learning Center, allowing partners to assess conditions on the ground and identify opportunities for integrating peacebuilding, protection, and development initiatives within resettlement communities. This was then followed followed by an introductory session on Barangay Peace and Order and Public Safety Plans (BPOPs) in Barangay Sinunuc led by Barangay Captain Pilarica Ledesma. The session highlighted the critical role of leadership in maintaining peace, and integrating gender and WPS perspective into local governance mechanisms. Participants also visited the Sonshine Drug Rehabilitation Center, where they engaged in a dialogue with center's management to explore potential community-based collaboration. Discussions focused on linking rehabilitation efforts, particularly in promoting community reintegration, psychosocial support, and preventive approaches that consider the gendered impacts of substance abuse and conflict. The first day concluded at the ZABIDA office with an in-depth session on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJAR), led by Dayang Karna Bahidjan of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF). The discussion emphasizing healing, accountability, and reconciliation as essential components of sustainable peace, especially in conflict-affected areas and post-conflict affected communities in the Bangsamoro and island provinces. On the second day, participants deepened their strategic discussions through a series of thematic sessions. Aryx Ismael facilitated a session on the Bridging Leadership Framework in implementing the local WPS agenda, highlighting leadership approaches that connect diverse stakeholders, from government and civil society to grassroots communities, to collectively address peace and security challenges. ZABIDA President, Dr. Grace Rebollos then led a session on the implications of the climate crisis on peace and security, drawing attention to how environmental degradation, disasters, and resource scarcity disproportionately affected women and vulnerable communities, and how these factors can exacerbate conflict if left unaddressed. The annual planning concluded with the formulation of the 2026 Annual Plan, including the schedule of roll-out activities on barangay level and workplan for the year.