SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES (15 September 2021) — Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. clarified that the PhP 1 million earmarked for each of the decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) combatants is the estimated monetary value of the socioeconomic package they are meant to receive.
According to Galvez, this amount consists of PhP 100,000 in immediate cash assistance, together with non-cash benefits such as study grants, skills training, and social protection based on the result of the needs assessment conducted for each of the decommissioned combatants (DCs).
This was the explanation given by the peace adviser during the hearing called for by the Senate’s Committee on Finance, Sub-Committee “C” on Wednesday, September 15, to discuss the proposed 2022 budget of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
“Na-misinterpret po nila na, actually gusto nila na cash (‘yung PhP 1-million) but we cannot do that, we cannot afford. Yung PhP 1 million na ‘yun ay some sort of tinatawag natin na ten-year program for the combatants,” Galvez said during the hearing chaired by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
“We have no signed agreement on [the provision of PhP1-million per DC]. Ang pinagusapan namin, yung PhP100,000.00 is the initial (cash assistance), then we have continuing [programs] — ‘yung social protection, yung educational program. It (assistance package for combatants) does not say na PhP1-million is to one combatant dahil it includes ‘yung sa community project, Sir,” he said.
Galvez further clarified that OPAPP’s projection for the long-term transformation of the decommissioned combatants includes “individual transformation and then family income generation and community transformation.”
“‘Yung program namin sa OPAPP is basically family and community centered. For example, ‘yung isang combatant, isasama natin sa process na for example, magkaroon tayo ng PAMANA (PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn program), kasama po ‘yun sa computation ‘yung mga road projects, distribution of lands, irrigation projects, farm implements, health insurance, livelihood training and scholarship grants,” he said.
The Task Forces for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities (TFDCC), along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), conduct a needs assessment of the DCs and their families to determine their actual socioeconomic needs which will be the basis for the composition of the socioeconomic packages.
The socioeconomic development program framework for DCs comprises social protection, livelihood and employment, capacity development, and small-scale infrastructure.
Proposed funding to sustain Bangsamoro peace gains momentum
During the hearing, the Senate Committee on Finance approved OPAPP’s proposed budget amounting to PhP 4.7 billion for fiscal year 2022, which will be subject for deliberation in the plenary.
Included in this budget is the PhP 754.6 million budget proposal to accomplish the agency’s deliverables under the normalization track under the GPH-MILF peace process.
“May I respectfully emphasize the need to address and fund the full package of reforms for the GPH-MILF peace process. The security, socioeconomic, confidence building, TJR and all the other encompassing interventions are necessary to fulfill the promise of a comprehensive political settlement,” Galvez stressed.
“This will ensure a lasting solution to the armed conflict with MILF, and guarantee the stability of lives of young men and women for a better future,” he added.
Galvez reported that 30 percent of the 40,000 MILF BIAF combatants have already been decommissioned under the second phase of decommissioning, and have each received the PhP 100,000.00 immediate cash assistance in full.
The Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities (TFDCC) also turned over 30 mobile rice mills to cooperatives within the six previously-acknowledged MILF camps through a partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as well as provided rice assistance to 12,145 decommissioned combatants in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to help them cope with the challenges caused by the pandemic.
These MILF camps are set to be transformed into show windows of peace and development under the confidence-building component of the normalization track.
The TFDCC is also conducting values transformation trainings (VTTs) for DCs in partnership with the Nonviolent Peace Force and the Bangsamoro Development Authority (BDA).
The initiative aims to positively transform the former combatants’ attitudes and practices as they prepare to return to their communities. Around 210 of the target 450 DCs scheduled to be trained in 2021 have already completed the VTT.
“We have also trained and deployed JPSTs (Joint Peace and Security Teams) kasama ang mga pulis, military, at MILF. Makikita po natin talaga na sila ay sama-sama sa isang training. On the management of small arms and light weapons (SALW), the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi have forged a partnership to restrict movement and manage loose firearms in their communities, alongside with the disbandment of private armed groups (DPAGs) in BARMM and Region 12,” explained Galvez.
In its budget proposal, “in order to have an impact of the normalization deliverables in 2022”, OPAPP submitted the “barest minimum an additional PhP 754.6 million” to accomplish the following:
- Completion of the Phase 3 decommissioning comprising of 14,000 MILF combatants;
- The ongoing programs on the DPAGs, SALW, and JPSTs to address security challenges in the Bangsamoro and adjacent areas;
- Roll out of soft projects or components of the Camps Transformation Plan as part of the six-year implementation timeframe of camps development, which aims to transform former MILF areas into peaceful and productive communities; and
- The implementation of the work plan and roadmap of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR).
Due to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the timetable for the implementation of OPAPP’s programs, projects and activities under the normalization track was pushed back, specifically due to travel restrictions and the agency’s budget reallocation.
According to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, the BARMM experienced one of the highest growth rates among all the regions in the country in 2019 and 2020.
The region’s impressive growth rate is being attributed, among others, to the transformation of former MILF combatants into productive and peaceful citizens.
Senate approves OPAPP budget, throws full support to peace process
Galvez said the approval of OPAPP’s budget of PHP 4.7 billion for 2022 will be critical in moving forward the Philippine’s comprehensive peace process.
“I would like to humbly reiterate to boost the funding of OPAPP’s most critical programs in support of the peace process. While our country faces immense challenges in the form of COVID-19 pandemic, the lives of millions of Filipinos should not be compromised by budgetary concerns,” he said.
The P4.7 billion fund OPAPP requested for is composed of the P 1.9 billion proposed budget under the National Expenditure Program, and P2.8 billion under Unfunded Programs.
“I would like to congratulate Secretary Galvez of OPAPP for your peace efforts na ginagawa in particular the whole government in general,” Dela Rosa said.
“I am just very proud to tell you na dahil sa mga barangay development projects, nasemento ang mga lugar, nawala ang mga NPA (New People’s Army), at masayang-masaya ang mga tao doon,” he added.
Other legislators who attended the hearing threw their full support behind OPAPP’s mandate of bringing a just and sustainable peace for all Filipinos, emphasizing that the pandemic will not hinder the government’s work for peace.
“Of course, the peace process deserves to be supported. Pandemic or not, the peace process must move forward. Andito lang po kami (Senate) to help you,” said Senator Koko Pimentel III.
Legislators’ all-out support to the Bangsamoro peace process
The Senate-approved OPAPP budget will include an updated timeline on the Bangsamoro peace process, particularly on the Normalization Program for the decommissioned MILF-BIAF combatants.
Galvez acknowledged the Senate’s instrumental role in pushing forward the country’s peace process, particularly in the Bangsamoro region.
“Napakalaki po talaga ng tulong ng Senado particularly ang pagka-ratify ng Bangsamoro Organic Law. Ang Senado, lalo na po si Senator Zubiri, siya po ang nag-sulong at primary author kasama ang ating Senator Tolentino na uma-agapay sa ating kapayapaan,” he said.
“Let’s keep the peace. Let’s keep the programs of peace going kaya sinuportahan po namin kayo Secretary Galvez,” said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go also expressed his full support for OPAPP’s proposed budget request, saying, “I express my full support for the budget of OPAPP. Mindanao and its people have suffered decades of injustice and social inequity. The government must continuously strive to bring about the much needed reform and development in the Mindanao region.”
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson also underscored the need to fulfill the commitments made by the national government under the normalization program.
“During last year’s budget deliberation of the OPAPP, the original proposal was P8 billion for this current year — this 2021. But NEP instead recommended a miniscule amount of P89.5 million,” Lacson said.
“And since we both realized the seriousness of the commitment made by the government — commitment ‘to eh — so I recommended to the Senate Finance Committee the increase of funding of the program by 3.219 billion,” he added.
It can be recalled that during the September 2020 Senate budget hearing, Lacson also emphasized the need for the normalization program to be given regular funding.
“[F]or the normalization program, it must be funded regularly… Commitment ito. We cannot renege on this otherwise, sayang lang ang efforts sa peace process natin especially with the passage of the BARMM, nung organic act. Medyo kailangan nating pangatawanan ito,” Lacson said last year.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Committee on Local Government, who sponsored Senate Bill No. 2214 which called for the extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) from 2022 to 2025, said that the Senate will be closely monitoring the implementation of measures based on the updated timeline of the GPH-MILF peace process.
The extension of the Bangsamoro transition period, coupled with the approval of the funding for the normalization process, is expected to allow the Normalization Program to catch-up with the implementation of deliverables under the political track.
“This Committee will be guided accordingly on where to focus because as of now, all the timelines that we are looking at are geared towards the 2022 exit agreement,” Tolentino said. END
