DAVAO CITY – The Marcos administration continues to build on the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process by sustaining its momentum and pushing forward with the implementation of all signed peace agreements.

This was the message of acting Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Isidro L. Purisima’s to participants of the Mindanao Development Forum 2023 spearheaded by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) here on Thursday, May 18.

Speaking to representatives of national line agencies, official development assistance (ODA) community and diplomatic corps, Purisima stressed that peace and development “must always go hand in hand” and should be pursued with the “same level of intensity and vigor.”

He noted that the dividends of peace are now being felt across the island-region, as evidenced by the decreasing poverty rates in the Bangsamoro and the decision of former rebels to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law, among others.

“This is the reason why the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is employing cross-cutting strategies to implement an integrated, transparent, people-centered, and human rights-based peace and security policy,” he said.

Anchored on PDP 2023-2028

According to Purisima, all of OPAPRU’s peacebuilding interventions, particularly in conflict-vulnerable and conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, are dovetailed to the current administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023 – 2028.

In the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace process, he said the agency is focused on ensuring that former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants are able to successfully reintegrate into mainstream society.

“The meaningful transformation of combatants, their families and communities, lies in its community-driven approach,” Purisima said, adding “all members of the community, particularly local government units and residents are part of the peacebuilding process.”

Under the normalization track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the third phase of decommissioning of MILF members will resume this year, as decommissioned combatants and their families are now being provided with socioeconomic assistance.

Purisima said OPAPRU, through the Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities is also transforming six government-acknowledged MILF camps and 33 core barangays in the region into zones of peace and development.

Fostering healing and reconciliation

To promote healing and reconciliation in the Bangsamoro, he said the OPAPRU is also focused on completing the national government’s remaining commitments under the Final Peace Agreement it had signed with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

He said the agency is set to roll out a Transformation Program for MNLF members and their families this year, which aims to capacitate them to become peaceful and productive members of society and actively involve them in the region’s socioeconomic development.

“With the reunification of the MILF and MNLF under the Marcos Administration’s banner of unity, we are confident that we shall continue to achieve more milestones under the Bangsamoro peace process,” Purisima said.

In line with its efforts to fulfill the commitments it had made under peace agreements, he said the OPAPRU is also implementing a similar Transformation Program for KAPATIRAN and Cordillera Bodong Administration – Cordillera People’s Liberation Army members.

Under the CAB’s political track, Purisima said the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization has been reconvened under the Marcos administration to coordinate and mobilize the resources of national government to effectively implement the Normalization Program.

He also reported that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), which is under the leadership of its Chairperson Atty. Leah Tanodra-Armamento, are now being reviewed by the Office of the President.

“Once the NAC’s IRR is finalized, it can already carry out its mandate of accepting and processing the amnesty applications of former (FRs) rebels through the Local Amnesty Board, and determine their eligibility under Proclamation Nos. 1090 and 1091,” Purisima explained.

Ending the communist insurgency, fostering healing and reconciliation

In separate discussions with members of the international development community, OPAPRU Presidential Assistant Atty. Wilben M. Mayor highlighted the national government’s initiatives to resolve the decades-long communist insurgency in the country.

Mayor explained that the agency is now ramping up the implementation of its refreshed Local Peace Engagement (LPE) Framework, which now includes a Transformation Program that is designed to ensure the complete transformation of FRs.

“Through the Transformation Program, we seek to address the security requirements of our FRs and their families and assure them of the government’s sincerity in their sustained transformation,” Mayor said.

He added that the program aims to address the “main drivers of conflict, heal the wounds caused by the insurgency, and ensure that the peace dividends are felt in conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable communities.”

Mayor said that as part of its efforts to promote the culture of peace, mutual understanding and unity in Mindanao, the OPAPRU is also implementing a Social Healing and Peacebuilding (SHAPE) Program in the Bangsamoro and other areas affected by armed conflict.

“Through our SHAPE Program, we want to ensure the meaningful participation and involvement of Mindanao’s most vulnerable sectors which include women, youth and internally-displaced individuals,” he said.

“Strengthening the role of women and the youth in the comprehensive peace process, conflict transformation, and the protection of human rights and International Humanitarian Law are also being mainstreamed as part of the national action plans for women and youth,” Mayor added.

Peacebuilding through education, community-driven dev’t

To strengthen the resilience for peace of communities and vulnerable groups, he said the agency is also promoting the Human Fraternity Document signed by Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in 2019.

Mayor said the OPAPRU has also partnered with the Ateneo de Davao University to implement the Madaris Volunteer Program, which aims to foster an environment of shared learning, respect, and cooperation between Islamic and Catholic schools.

“The OPAPRU aims to promote and integrate the principles of the Human Fraternity Document into the peacebuilding initiatives of various learning institutions and its other peace partners. This is critical in our agency’s efforts to establish the structures of positive peace,” he said.

Mayor said the agency, through its PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or PAMANA Program, continues to carry out high-impact, socio-economic interventions in conflict-affected communities throughout the country, with a major focus in Mindanao.

“From 2017 to 2023, the national government has allocated Php 19.94 billion, of which more than Php 3-billion was invested to fund nearly 2,000 community-driven development sub-projects, and 1,337 sustainable livelihood program sub-projects across Mindanao,” he said.

Crucial role of international dev’t community in peacebuilding and dev’t

Meanwhile, Purisima lauded the international donor community for the crucial role it has played in sustaining the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process, especially in the Bangsamoro region.

“Through the various development and peacebuilding initiatives you have carried out over the years, you are helping the national government in creating a climate that is conducive to peace, development, and economic prosperity. For this, we are most thankful,” he said.

“We are looking forward to continue partnering and working with you, as we build the foundations where genuine peace and sustainable development can take root and flourish,” Purisima said.”###