DAVAO CITY, Philippines, 19 August 2026 — Oxfam Pilipinas and the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 18 August 2026, marking their commitment to promote gender equality and women’s leadership, under the Australian Government-supported project Women’s Empowerment for Leadership in Development and Peace in the Bangsamoro (WELD-Peace) Phase 3 Extension.
Oxfam Pilipinas and BWC have been collaborating to enable more women-led organizations to participate in governance and decision-making in Bangsamoro by combining Oxfam Pilipinas’ technical expertise and capacity-building resources with BWC’s leadership. The signing comes at a critical time as the region gears up for its historic first parliamentary elections on 14 September 2026.
Under the new agreement, the organizations will work together to review and finalize the regional Women’s Economic Empowerment Framework toward the development of a regional policy, and help voters decide by showcasing regional political parties in the co-produced episodes of BWC’s program, “Babae, Usap Tayo.”
Lot Felizco, Executive Director of Oxfam Pilipinas, lauded the continuation of the partnership.
“Sa mga ganitong makasaysayang pagkakataon, napagbibigyan tayo na magbalik-tanaw sa deka-dekadang pagsama ng Oxfam Pilipinas sa Bangsamoro sa paglalakbay nito tungo sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran. These historic milestones are proof that the Bangsamoro is blessed with women who possess exceptional intelligence, courage, compassion, and conviction. With your strength and leadership, we have every reason to hope for and look forward to the new possibilities ahead. The signing was one of the highlights of the Assembly of Women Sectoral Organizations (WSO) on Strengthening Women’s Participation in the BARMM Parliamentary Elections held t in Davao City. The event gathered over 100 women leaders from Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, the Special Geographic Area, and the island provinces, including representatives from organizations of women with disabilities.”
Regional political parties presented their plans at the assembly and signed a peace covenant, affirming their commitment to a free, honest, peaceful, and orderly electoral process.
BWC Chairperson Hadja Bainon G. Karon affirmed that these partnerships and advocacy efforts reflect the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that women and marginalized sectors have a meaningful role in shaping the Bangsamoro’s new parliamentary government:
“The first parliamentary government of the BARMM is more than a structure. It is a covenant—a commitment that governance will be just, accountable, and compassionate. It is a commitment that women, young people, and marginalized sectors will not be left behind, but will instead be at the center of shaping our policies. This is about sustaining our peace and building inclusive governance.
Our Commission stands with you not as a partisan voice, but as a partner. We are with you in strengthening women’s participation, protecting peace, and building a Bangsamoro that can serve as a model of inclusive governance.”
The WELD-Peace Project started in 2019, providing women and women-led organizations with opportunities to explore economic and leadership opportunities. This includes recent wins such as participation in consultations, advocacy, and lobbying work that contributed to the development of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC) and the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code (BLGC), including key provisions on gender equality and women’s human rights.
Under the BEC, regional political parties must adopt a women’s agenda, establish women and youth committees, ensure women and youth representation among party officers, and field at least 30 percent of women party nominees. These provisions create opportunities for greater representation of women and more gender-responsive governance in the region.
The project is co-implemented by Oxfam Pilipinas, with partners Al Mujaadila Women’s Association, Community Organizers Multiversity, United Youth of the Philippines-Women (UnYPhil-Women), Women Engaged in Action (WE Act) 1325, and Humanity & Inclusion.
Photo by John Mark Dionson/Oxfam Pilipinas
