profile of bainon g. karon

Bainon Guiabar Karon was born on May 18, 1952 in a small village of Salaman, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat. She was the 6th among the nine children of Datu Kanakan Karon and Bai Sittie Aisha Guiabar. She studied at Salaman Elementary School and Notre Dame of Salaman (High School), both in Salaman, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat. She took up Bachelor of Arts course at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City and earned 27 units in Master of Public Administration (MPA) in the same university.

Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC-BARMM) Chairperson Karon, who is also a former Member of the Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), is widowed by Mujahideen martyr, Datu Ibrahim G. Serna, a Top 300 MNLF Commander and blessed with 2 children, Ms. Rahima K. Silongan, Executive Assistant II/Chief of Staff for BWC-Maguindanao and Atty. Ibrahim K. Silongan, Jr.

Chairperson Karon started her career as an elementary teacher of DECS Maguindanao, ARMM from 1984 to 1991. She was also employed as Records Officer II of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF-ARMM 1991-1996) and later promoted as Acting Chief, Administration and Finance Division of the same department.

When the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) was created after the signing of the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement in September 2, 1996, Chairperson Karon was appointed member of the SPCPD Consultative Assembly from 1997 to 2001. She was then appointed as Regional Secretary of the Department of Social V\/elfare and Development (DSVVD-ARMM) from 2002 to 2005.
In 2006, Chairperson Karon was also appointed one of the Board of Directors of the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) based in Davao City.

In December 22, 2011, she was appointed Regional Vice-Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) until June 30, 2013, and Concurrent Regional Secretary of DSWD-ARMM from February 8, 2012 until June 30, 2013.

Chairperson Karon was very active during the campaign for the ratification of Bangsamoro Organic Law. As an influential Bangsamoro woman leader since the start of the Bangsamoro Struggle, she was appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as one of the 80 members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, BTA and took her oath at Malacanang Palace on February 22, 2019. Given her experiences and perspectives on women’s affairs and issues, she was designated by Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim as Chairperson of the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW-BARMM) effective April 01, 2019 to present.

She initiated the creation of the Bangsamoro Women Commission replacing the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women (RCBW) of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Authored by the Government of the Day, it was introduced during the Special Session #3 in December 11, 2019 entitled “An Act Creating the Bangsamoro Women Commission of the BARMM, Providing for its Powers, Functions and Composition and Appropriating Funds Therefor.” or Cabinet Bill #34. The following day at Special Session #4, Chairperson Karon delivered her Sponsorship Speech which was supported unanimously by all members of the Parliament with no opposition.

As an active organic member of the MNLF Central Committee, she is the Chairperson of the National Women’s Committee. She also organized the Federation of United Mindanawan Bangsamoro Women, MPG, Inc., an umbrella organization comprising various women’s associations in the BARMM. She was the chairperson in 2005-2011 and 2013 to present.

Chairperson Karon is also responsible in crafting the Gender and Development Code of the BARMM which is still on process.

State of the Bangsamoro Women Address

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Office Address: Bangsamoro Government Center, RH 7, Cotabato City 9600
Telephone No.: (64) 421-2562
Email address:  [email protected]
Website: bwc.bangsamoro.gov.ph