Madaris schools to help address extremism, drug abuse

COTABATO CITY  , Philippines  —   Officials will start 2018 generating fiscal support for Madaris schools and helping address religious extremism and drug abuse in far-flung areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

ARMM officials will also focus in setting up an anti-terrorism task force and a regional anti-drug abuse council in support of Malacañang’s peace initiatives, Kirby Abdullah, ARMM local government secretary said.

The creation of the two inter-agency bodies was approved by members of the regional peace and order council (RPOC) during a meeting in Cotabato City on Dec. 4.

In a resolution, the RPOC enjoined local government units in the region to help bankroll the peace education thrusts of Madaris schools through interfaith dialogues.

There are several Madaris schools in the ARMM employing moderate Islamic theologians teaching peace education on a voluntary basis.

The ARMM’s education department also has a Madaris Education Bureau employing moderate clerics handling religious subjects focused on Islamic humanitarian principles.

The autononous region covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur,  the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said local officials could follow the examples of the city government of Lamitan, Basilan in providing regular stipends to constituent clerics helping prevent the spread of violent religious extremists in their respective communities.

Hataman is the presiding chairman of the inter-agency RPOC, whose members include representatives from the Western Mindanao Command, ARMM police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.