Marcos admin’s peace initiatives with rebels
>> Saturday, August 19, 2023
Peace Initiatives
Stephanie M. Florida
PASIG CITY – The
Marcos Administration is determined to continue building on the gains of the
comprehensive Philippine peace process, sustaining its momentum, and pushing
forward the implementation of all signed peace agreements.
This, according to the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., as the national government gears up for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.
“With only a year after he assumed the highest post in the land, President Marcos has demonstrated his steadfast commitment to the country’s comprehensive peace process, as reflected in the major milestones achieved under his administration,” Galvez said.
The government’s Five-Point Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Agenda, he said, is anchored on a whole-of-nation, whole-of-society approach wherein all sectors of society have a vital role to play in the peacebuilding and development process.
“As evidenced by the President’s banner of unity, he has emphasized, time and again, that no one will be left behind. Each and every Filipino can help push forward and benefit from the successful implementation of the nation’s peace process,” Galvez said.
Under the Bangsamoro peace process, he noted that the government has helped reunite two of the country’s major Moro fronts – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) after years of separation.
Through the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), he said the national government shall fast track the transformation of MILF combatants, their families and communities through the decommissioning process.
“To date, a total of 24,844 MILF combatants have successfully undergone the process of decommissioning (phases 1 to 3), which is a vital component of the peace agreement,” Galvez said.
To aid these decommissioned combatants in their transition, he said the government is also providing them with socioeconomic assistance packages, as six of their camps are being transformed into zones of peace and development.
As of 2023, Php 2.484 billion worth of transitional cash assistance were provided to decommissioned combatants apart from in-kind packages such as civil registration, livelihood packages, skills training, employment support programs, and community infrastructure.
Another major development under the Bangsamoro peace process, Galvez said, is the first meeting held between the Government of the Philippine and MILF Peace Implementing Panels under the Marcos administration.
“During the meeting held last July 1, the GPH and MILF panels reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which was contained in a joint statement issued by both parties,” he said.
Under the peace process with the MNLF, Galvez said the government is focused on fulfilling the remaining commitments made under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement it signed with the Moro group.
“Through the Peace Coordinating Committees we have jointly set up with MNLF leaders, we will ensure that our MNLF brothers and sisters shall be able to partake of the dividends of peace and development,” Galvez said.
To realize these aspirations, the OPAPRU recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mindanao State University (MSU) System to roll out the initial interventions for the combatants and their communities under the MNLF Transformation Program.
As a testament to his full support to the BARMM’s development, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessed on July 6, the signing of the Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB) Circular on the Joint Award of Petroleum Service Contracts (PSCs) and Coal Operating Contracts (COCs) in the BARMM, which marks another major milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process.
This, according to the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., as the national government gears up for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.
“With only a year after he assumed the highest post in the land, President Marcos has demonstrated his steadfast commitment to the country’s comprehensive peace process, as reflected in the major milestones achieved under his administration,” Galvez said.
The government’s Five-Point Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Agenda, he said, is anchored on a whole-of-nation, whole-of-society approach wherein all sectors of society have a vital role to play in the peacebuilding and development process.
“As evidenced by the President’s banner of unity, he has emphasized, time and again, that no one will be left behind. Each and every Filipino can help push forward and benefit from the successful implementation of the nation’s peace process,” Galvez said.
Under the Bangsamoro peace process, he noted that the government has helped reunite two of the country’s major Moro fronts – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) after years of separation.
Through the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), he said the national government shall fast track the transformation of MILF combatants, their families and communities through the decommissioning process.
“To date, a total of 24,844 MILF combatants have successfully undergone the process of decommissioning (phases 1 to 3), which is a vital component of the peace agreement,” Galvez said.
To aid these decommissioned combatants in their transition, he said the government is also providing them with socioeconomic assistance packages, as six of their camps are being transformed into zones of peace and development.
As of 2023, Php 2.484 billion worth of transitional cash assistance were provided to decommissioned combatants apart from in-kind packages such as civil registration, livelihood packages, skills training, employment support programs, and community infrastructure.
Another major development under the Bangsamoro peace process, Galvez said, is the first meeting held between the Government of the Philippine and MILF Peace Implementing Panels under the Marcos administration.
“During the meeting held last July 1, the GPH and MILF panels reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which was contained in a joint statement issued by both parties,” he said.
Under the peace process with the MNLF, Galvez said the government is focused on fulfilling the remaining commitments made under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement it signed with the Moro group.
“Through the Peace Coordinating Committees we have jointly set up with MNLF leaders, we will ensure that our MNLF brothers and sisters shall be able to partake of the dividends of peace and development,” Galvez said.
To realize these aspirations, the OPAPRU recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mindanao State University (MSU) System to roll out the initial interventions for the combatants and their communities under the MNLF Transformation Program.
As a testament to his full support to the BARMM’s development, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessed on July 6, the signing of the Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB) Circular on the Joint Award of Petroleum Service Contracts (PSCs) and Coal Operating Contracts (COCs) in the BARMM, which marks another major milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process.
To finally
put an end to the decades-long communist insurgency in the country, the peace
adviser said the government is implementing a revitalized Local Peace
Engagement (LPE) initiative, as well as a Transformation Program for former
rebels (FRs), their families and communities.
The LPE is
among the 12 lines of effort of the National Task Force to End Local Communist
Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which aims to address the roots of the armed
rebellion that has claimed countless lives and destroyed once thriving
communities.
Galvez said
the Marcos administration is also committed to implementing a high-impact,
cross-cutting Transformation Program that is now benefiting members of other
revolutionary organizations who have given up armed struggle and embraced a
peaceful life.
These groups,
he said, include the Cordillera Bodong Administration–Cordillera People’s
Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido Manggagawa ng
Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano
Group (RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG), now known as the KAPATIRAN.
“Through the Transformation Program we are
carrying out for members of the CBA-CPLA and KAPATIRAN, the government is
demonstrating its sincerity to aid these ex-fighters in improving their lives
and helping them earn sustainable incomes,” Galvez said.
Under the Office
of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity’s (OPAPRU)
Social Healing and Peacebuilding Program, he said the government is helping
individuals, families, and communities overcome trauma caused by armed conflict
and build their resilience.
“The SHAPE Program is focused on implementing
interventions such as peace forums, interfaith dialogues, and trauma healing
sessions in order to address the root causes of violence and conflict in
communities,” Galvez said.
To ensure
that genuine peace and sustainable development go hand in hand, he said the
Marcos administration continues to implement the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn
or PAMANA Program parallel to the rigorous initiatives of the Agency.
From 2011 to
2022, PAMANA has implemented projects worth Php 55.2 billion that have
benefitted residents in 16 regions, 50 provinces and over 500 municipalities
and cities in seven geographical zones nationwide.
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