relational, structural and cultural effects of the conflict; (3) initiating peace programs incorporating the short, middle and long range components; (4) designing courses of action that would resolve issues involved in the conflict, restore and rebuild relationships, restructure the Mindanao societal subsystem, in particular, and the Philippine societal system, in general. Diagnosis The proposed Alternative Peace Program is based on, and supported by, the findings of the study. Important findings of the study were as follows: 1. The different peace programs of the Philippine government were perceived by the respondents to be “defective” in both their substance aspect and the procedures adopted in their formulation. 2. On the substantial aspect, the perceived weakness of the GRP peace initiatives is evidenced in the absence of a strong political will from the national leadership to incorporate in its peace efforts those programs having a bearing on the long term (i.e., generational plan for change) resolution of the conflict which would transform the antagonistic relationship between the GRP and the Moro insurgents into a more peaceful coexistence. 3. For the procedural dimension, its defect is seen in the non-involvement of “grassroots” and the “middle actors,” and the limited participation of “outside actors” in the peace process. Whenever these actors are involved in the process, they don’t actually have the authoritative decision binding to the group. Instead, they are just given such titular functions as presiding officer or as observerparticipant in the negotiation proper. 4. The respondents have however indicated some perceived procedural strengths that could warrant the success of the peace process. First, is the democratization of the peace process by allowing the wide and maximum participation of all sectors in the society as well as involving outside neutral party to act not merely as mediator but more importantly as arbiter and enforcer of whatever agreements the government and the Moro fronts may have signed in the future. Substance wise, the respondents have also pointed out the incorporation of political, economic, social and cultural components of the peace programs which could be directed to address immediate issues and generational concerns for change thereby enabling the conflictual interactions between Muslims and Christians towards a harmonious coexistence. 5. Regarding the descriptive aspect of the conflict transformation, the respondents have enumerated the personal, relational, structural and cultural
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