KAUSWAGAN, a municipality once defined by conflict, has been declared a global model of peacebuilding and ecological regeneration, receiving the Home for Humanity Municipality Award for its extraordinary turnaround.
The recognition highlights the town's evolution from a battleground into a pioneer of holistic, sustainable living.
The award was presented during a historic visit by Home for Humanity Movement co-founders Prof. Alexander Schieffer and Dr. Rama Mani. The ceremony featured a powerful reunion of former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders — once adversaries in the Lanao del Norte conflict — who joined forces on stage.
Among them was Munai Vice Mayor Dante “Kumander Dante” Batingolo. These former combatants have reintegrated into society as leaders in peacebuilding and organic agriculture.
A new page of history
The dialogue was moderated by Kauswagan Vice Mayor Rommel Arnado, the architect of the "From Arms to Farms" program. This initiative is credited with guiding former rebels to lay down their weapons and embrace organic farming as a path to healing and sustainable livelihoods.
Prof. Schieffer described the municipality as a groundbreaking benchmark for the world.
“We could not have chosen a better place to start our epic One Home Journey’s second year than Kauswagan,” Schieffer said. “Today you have written a new page of History: what Kauswagan achieved in just 15 years is a benchmark, for every municipality, city, province and country on Earth to follow your example to transform today’s violence, inequality and become a ‘HOME’ of unity between former enemies, of intercultural peace, of economic wellbeing, and a role model of Earth citizenship, taking care of Nature and each other.”
Global recognition
Dr. Rama Mani, also a Founding Councilor of the World Future Council, emphasized the rarity of Kauswagan’s achievement.
“Not only is Home for Humanity movement proud of this paradigm shifting day where the Kauswagan Municipality and the former commanders-turned peacebuilders of this war zone of Lanao del Norte now turned into a peace camp together on stage to receive two First Ever Home for Humanity awards,” Dr. Mani said.
She added that the World Future Council is proud that Kauswagan is the only recipient of two World Future Policy Awards.
“You are the most outstanding exemplar of true peace and unity between former enemies and of integrated ethical governance for peace, prosperity, wellbeing and ecological regeneration I have experienced in my 35 years of experience worldwide in post-conflict peacebuilding and global governance!” she added.
Leadership and legacy
Dr. Youssef Mahmoud, former UN Under-Secretary General and co-chair of the movement, praised the local leadership culture.
“You exemplify a new paradigm of leadership that the world urgently needs today: ‘LADDERship’: Whereby you do not seek personal glory but build a ladder for others to thrive,” Mahmoud said.
Jean Fabre, founder of the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty, noted that Kauswagan serves as a living inspiration.
“You have proven that the impossible is possible! You have transformed war and neglect and created a culture of care for each other and for nature,” Fabre stated. “People from around the world will come here to learn how to achieve what our human conscience dictates and what UN SDG goals oblige us to do: to end hunger, poverty and illiteracy forever, and to end the scourge of war and deliver freedom from fear, as promised by the UN Charter.”
As the founders continue their seven-year, 200-country "One Home Journey," they carry Kauswagan’s story as proof that peace can be built through land, livelihood, and community-driven transformation.
