The project aims to promote Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) practices within academic institutions. It seeks to influence policies, programs, and institutional frameworks, fostering a more inclusive and gender-responsive approach to peacebuilding that empowers women and supports sustainable peace.

Chancellor Bai Hejira Nefertiti M. Limbona of MSU-Maguindanao, one of the key figures behind the development of the Diploma in Women, Peace, and Security (DWPS), was invited to speak. She emphasized that the DWPS program is deeply rooted in the socio-political context of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), drawing from decades of lived experience in conflict and resolution. Chancellor Limbona highlighted the vital role of higher education in developing culturally sensitive, gender-responsive policies, aligning with MSU-Maguindanao’s vision as a national peace university.

The keynote address was delivered by CHED Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero “Popoy” De Vera III. He affirmed CHED’s strong commitment to institutionalizing the WPS agenda across Philippine higher education, calling the DWPS a trailblazing initiative—the first of its kind in Asia. Chairperson De Vera stressed the importance of building academic foundations for peace and praised MSU-Maguindanao for transforming education into a platform for advocacy, equity, and leadership. He also called for stronger collaboration among academia, government, and civil society in mainstreaming WPS principles through teaching, research, and community engagement.

The event also featured messages of support from several national leaders and institutional partners. Among them were DBM Undersecretary Margaux Salcedo (representing Secretary Amenah Pangandaman), OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez, PCW Chairperson Hon. Ermelira Valdeavilla, MSU System President Basari D. Mapupuno, MILG Minister Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, CoE-WPS Executive Director Hon. Susana Marcaida, and Dr. Carolyn Sobritchea, President of UPCWSFI. They underscored the critical role of women in peacebuilding, the transformative power of education, and the urgency of embedding the WPS agenda in both national and local academic frameworks. The ceremony concluded with the symbolic signing of the Pledge Wall, representing a collective commitment to advancing WPS through higher education.

This milestone event represents a major step in embedding the WPS agenda into academic institutions in Mindanao. It builds upon the Philippines’ long-standing efforts—from the Philippine National Action Plan to the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan—to foster gender inclusivity, empower women, and achieve lasting peace through education.

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Photo credit: OPAPRU