09/11/2026
𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒: 𝐍𝐂𝐌𝐅 – 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐔𝐙𝐎𝐍
𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) – North Luzon Regional Office, through its Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Division (PBCRD), in partnership with the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR-DOJ), successfully conducted a three-day Basic Mediation Training on November 3–5, 2026, with the participation of members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa from Barangays AZKCO, Malcolm Square, and Camp Filipino, as well as employees of NCMF North Luzon.
The training aimed to strengthen the participants' knowledge and practical skills in conflict analysis, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and mediation, with particular emphasis on Islamic principles and traditional dispute settlement mechanisms among Muslim Filipinos.
Day 1 – Understanding Conflict and Introduction to ADR
The activity opened with preliminaries and welcome remarks from Atty. Raihanah Sarah T. Macarimpas, Regional Director of NCMF North Luzon, followed by the introduction of the resource speakers by Aquiza M. Pundogar, DMO II of PBCRD.
Atty. Lorna A. Tungpalan-Lugod, Chief of the Legal Division of the Department of Justice – Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (DOJ-OADR), discussed Understanding Conflict and Anatomy and Analysis of Conflict. Meanwhile, Atty. Kristine Joyce M. Magtoles of DOJ-OADR facilitated the session on Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution. The discussions provided participants with foundational knowledge of conflict dynamics and various approaches to peaceful dispute resolution.
Day 2 – Fundamentals and Practical Application of Mediation
The second day focused on the Fundamentals of Mediation, Communication in Mediation, and Stages of Mediation, facilitated by Atty. Tungpalan-Lugod and Atty. Magtoles. These were followed by two practical mediation simulations. The first involved a marital dispute between a Muslim couple in an NCMF mediation setting, highlighting the roles of the parties, and mediator in facilitating reconciliation and addressing concerns on financial support, child custody, and marital obligations. It also highlighted the appropriate referral of matters requiring further adjudication to the Shari'a Court or the Agama Arbitration Council, as applicable. The second simulation involved a neighbor-related dispute handled through barangay mediation before the Punong Barangay, emphasizing impartial facilitation, dialogue, and amicable settlement. Both exercises were followed by debriefing sessions to reinforce the participants' learning and practical understanding of mediation procedures.
Day 3 – Islamic and Traditional Approaches to Dispute Resolution
The third day featured discussions on the Islamic Perspective of Dispute Resolution by Sheikh Abdullah Pundogar, Faculty Head of Ma'had Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Qur'an Learning Center, and Traditional Modes of Dispute Settlement among Muslim Filipinos by Sheikh Abdulwahab Lacsaman of Al-Maarif Educational Center.
An afternoon roundtable discussion followed, during which selected groups presented proposed approaches to settling rido-related conflicts before a panel of evaluators. The presentations were assessed in terms of fairness, safety, documentation, and enforceability, including discussions on harmonizing traditional settlement practices with formal dispute resolution mechanisms. Participants also prepared action plans and accomplished the training evaluation forms.
The activity concluded with an awarding ceremony and closing remarks delivered by Engr. Aslanie M. Muripaga, Chief of PBCRD, who emphasized the importance of applying the knowledge and skills gained in promoting peaceful conflict resolution within communities.
Conclusion and Accomplishment
The three-day training was successfully completed as scheduled, providing participants with foundational knowledge and practical exposure to conflict analysis, ADR, and mediation. Through expert-led discussions, simulations, and group exercises, the activity strengthened the participants' capacity to facilitate dialogue, encourage reconciliation, and address disputes through peaceful and appropriate mechanisms.
The participation of barangay Lupong Tagapamayapa members and NCMF employees further promoted collaboration in community-based conflict resolution. Overall, the activity contributed to NCMF North Luzon's continuing efforts to strengthen local mediation capacities and foster a culture of peace, understanding, and social cohesion in North Luzon.
The NCMF North Luzon Regional Office extends its sincere appreciation to the Department of Justice – Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (DOJ-OADR), particularly Atty. Lorna A. Tungpalan-Lugod and Atty. Kristine Joyce M. Magtoles, for generously sharing their expertise and facilitating the technical sessions. Their valuable contributions greatly enriched the learning experience of the participants and contributed to the successful conduct of the training.