The British government launched a leadership training program in the Philippines Saturday in a bid to help counter Islamic radicalism among the country's Muslim minority. Meg Munn, Britain's minister for Southeast Asia, said there was a need to develop Islamic leaders "who will actively work in reforming the education, health, governance and economic systems in their respective communities, with the ultimate goal of improving human security in the Southeast Asian region." The British government's Philippine partner in the two-year initiative, the Asian Institute of Management, will implement the program with a 14 million peso (US$330,000; €213,480) grant provided by the British government."The confusion and crisis in Islamic leadership allows radical ideology to take root," said Prof. Ernesto Garilao, a former Philippine socio-economic planning minister and an executive director of AIM. "Promoting and nurturing exemplary practice of Islamic leadership is critical." Garilao said the program will train Muslim political, military, business and religious leaders "engaged in promoting development, multiculturalism and diversity."
"The role of Muslim leaders is crucial in ensuring that the Muslim community realizes its full potential," Munn said. "We hope the project will give Muslim leadership effective tools to work more effectively for the good of the communities they represent and for the Philippines as a whole."
The British embassy said in a statement that the project was designed "to foster cross-cultural openness and understanding and enhance skills in peaceful conflict resolution." It said the project will also be implemented in Indonesia and Malaysia if it is successful in the Philippines.