Kasibulan for peace in Mindanao

Kasibulan 6-12, the grassroots development program of the Philippine Football Federation, got a morale-boost when the German government through its German Technical Cooperation signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Football Federation adopting the program as its medium in promoting peace in Mindanao.

Dubbed as the German Initiative in Football in Mindanao or GIFT, the project aims to break political and cultural barriers with competition being held among children in Mindanao who are products of Kasibulan 6-12.

Launched in 1999, Kasibulan 6-12, in cooperation with the Department of Education, has conducted "Teach the Teachers" seminars in 15 known conflict areas in Mindanao.

As starters, the area of Tubod Baroy in Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga City and Cotabato City were identified as launching pads for the competitions that would subsequently expand to a total of 15 localities known to be prime conflict areas in the past.

Acting regional head for German Development Projects Herwig Mayer and PFF president Rene Adad signed the MOA last July 11 at the German Embassy. Present during the signing were German Ambassador Herbert Jess, GTZ expert on poverty and conflict management Ute Huebner and German football development expert Bernd Fischer.