DAVAO CITY—Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza challenged barangay leaders here to be models of good governance and agents of peace and development.

“The barangay is the first line of governance. Work towards improving the lives of the people. Create opportunities for development,” Sec. Dureza said, as he addressed the more than 1,200 delegates to the Mindanao Island Conference organized by the Liga ng mga Barangay.

The presidential peace adviser cited the “chicken and egg” analogy, as he asked the participants what should come first – peace or development.

He then quoted President Rodrigo Duterte who has stressed during his talks that “peace and development should not come one after the other, but should be done simultaneously.”

Sec. Dureza said this is the rationale behind the implementation of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process’ PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) program.

“We do peacebuilding [work] while downloading projects [in the communities],” he said.

Sec. Dureza said those who have taken up arms feel they have been ignored by government and excluded from the development process.

“They feel that they have been forgotten by government…Because their needs have not been attended to,” he said. “You have to understand their plight.”

According to the government’s top peace negotiator, the key to resolving the problem of insurgency and armed conflict in the country is to “address its root causes.”

He explained that this is the reason why OPAPP is helping to push for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress.

“The Bangsamoro people have an aspiration…[that] of self-determination,” he said.

Sec. Dureza shared that he was part of the delegation headed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, which visited the island-provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to conduct public hearings on the BBL.

“We are doing everything to involve the people. You have to get their sentiments,” he said. “If there is no support from the general public, the law will not pass.”

The peace adviser said it is necessary for the national government to strengthen the “bigger peace table” which is the general public.

He said that this is where the help of barangay leaders will be crucial, as they will be able to better explain to their constituents how the proposed law will benefit them and their communities.

Once passed, the BBL — crafted by the 21-member Bangsmoro Transition Commission (BTC) — will establish a Bangsamoro autonomous government and territory.

The proposed bill will give flesh to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the national government and the MILF in March 2014. ###