Maguindanao's 'tri-people' get recognition for peace initiative

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - In governance, age doesn’t matter.

Officials cited Monday the “tri-people” senior citizens organization of Upi town, Maguindanao’s pioneer and most well-organized group of elders, for continuously helping in the peace and development initiatives of the local government unit.

The senior citizens of Upi, comprised of “tri-people,” a mix of Moro groups, Teduray communities and Christian settlers, were among the dozens of sectors that participated in Monday’s celebration of the 58th founding anniversary of the municipality, touted as “top corn producer” of the province.

Re-elected Upi Mayor Ramon Piang, an ethnic Teduray chieftain, said it was, in fact, for his “having been patronized politically” by his elderly constituents that no one stood to challenge him during the May 13 mayoral elections.

The senior citizens organization in Upi, led by their federation president, Lucia Cueto-Sinsuat, has also been credited for helping maintain political tranquility in their 23 barangays through dialogues and interventions.

The LGU of Upi boasts of being the first ever to have a well-organized closely-knit senior citizens organization in the province, whose health and social requirements are being provided for generously by the municipal government and the office of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu.

Mangudadatu was one of the several public and military officials that the Upi LGU awarded with special citations Monday as highlight of the closing program for the town's seven-day anniversary festivity.

Upi was created a chartered municipality on June 10, 1955 by virtue of Republic Act 1248.

Piang, in a message during Monday’s program, said it is for the strong tradition, among local folks, of respecting elders and adhering to their decisions pertaining to community concerns that make their senior citizens’ group useful in addressing domestic peace and security issues.

The LGU of Upi provides a P500 allowance to 70-year-old residents and above.

Sinsuat, widow of a former mayor Datu Michael Sinsuat, said it was for Piang and Mangudadatu’s being good sponsors of projects benefiting their organization that they campaigned for them both during the May 13 elections.

“We also chose candidates for the provincial board and the Regional Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that assured us focus on our plight during the campaign period,” Sinsuat said.

Mangudadatu said he will continue to support the senior citizens sector in Upi and even tap its leaders to help him organize similar groups in other towns in Maguindanao.

Piang, who is a member of the government’s peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has traditionally been getting advises from his elderly constituents on how he can best perform his task as member of the GPH panel.