Website launched to monitor ARMM conflicts

MANILA, Philippines - A website that monitors violent incidents in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was launched yesterday to help the government and private donors design projects that will address the causes of conflict.

The Bangsamoro Conflict Monitoring System (BCMS) website www.bcms-philippines.info offers comprehensive data about the conflicts in the region, including their causes and costs, since 2011.

The International Alert UK (Philippines Office), a group that aims to help people find peaceful solutions to conflict, and the World Bank are spearheading the project.

BCMS is part of a World Bank program that seeks to promote development in Mindanao.

“Information generated by this system could yield useful insights that could help bring peace and development to Mindanao,” said Francisco Lara, International Alert Country Manager for the Philippines.

“I urge policymakers, peace advocates, academics, researchers and other groups to study the database and contribute to a deeper understanding of violent conflict in the Bangsamoro,” he added.

World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi said the website could promote understanding of the violent conflict and its human and economic costs.

“It will help policymakers in government, civil society and the development community to make smarter decisions to target resources to communities that need them most, to design projects that are conflict-sensitive, and to better monitor the results on security and peace-building,” Konishi added.

Ever Abasolo of International Alert said the website can produce charts, tables and maps for users who want to come up with their own analysis.

“All data can be accessed at the snap of your fingers anytime, anywhere, 24/7 for free,” Abasolo said.

BCMS data uncovers the phenomenon of conflict strings, where identity-based issues like land and clan feuding and shadow economies like the illegal gun and drugs trade are prevalent.

They also reveal that while the so-called shadow economy accounted for 20 percent of violent incidents since 2011, the human costs in terms of deaths, injuries and displacement were outweighed by political violence emanating from rebellion and political competition.

Close to 8,000 people died, were injured, kidnapped or trafficked from 2011 to 2014, BCMS data showed.

The website relies on multi-stakeholder validation groups in different parts of Mindanao. Sources of information include local governments, the security sector, development organizations, faith-based groups and civil society organizations. – With Jose Rodel Clapano