PASIG CITY — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) ranked first among National Government Agencies in terms of the highest budget utilization rate in the first half of FY2024.

This, according to the report presented by the Development Budget Coordination Committee during the Senate Committee on Finance’s deliberations on the proposed 2025 National Expenditure Program on Tuesday, August 13.

The report showed that the OPAPRU achieved an obligation rate of 84.3% and a disbursement rate of 91.4%, which is considered a milestone for the agency.

“As you may already know, a high budget utilization rate reflects the agency’s absorptive capacity to utilize additional funds. And to give you an update, as of June 30, 2024, agencies with the highest obligation rates include OPAPRU with 84.3%…,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman during the panel deliberations on the NEP 2025 led by Finance Committee Chair, Senator Grace Poe.

“We welcome this development. The report is a testament of the OPAPRU’s commitment to maximize the use of its resources in implementing interventions that will transform the lives of former combatants, their families, and communities,” said Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. in response to the findings of the report.

Galvez said the OPAPRU’s judicious use of its funds will ensure that the agency will be able to efficiently and effectively carry out its mandate of fulfilling the national government’s commitments under all signed peace agreements.

OPAPRU was allocated over Php7 billion for FY 2024, of which Php 4.925 billion was earmarked for the implementation of projects under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program.

As of June 30, 2024, Php4.878 billion or 99.05% of the total budget allocated for the PAMANA Program has already been obligated.

For FY 2024, a total of 127 projects, which include roads, bridges, water systems, housing, and various community-level infrastructure facilities, are being implemented under the PAMANA Program in partnership with national line agencies and local government units in OPAPRU Target Peace and Development Communities

The PAMANA Program is a priority program of the national government that supports the implementation of signed peace agreements and contributes to the goal of achieving a just and lasting peace for all Filipinos and the country.

The OPAPRU’s budget proposal for next year that was submitted to the Department of Budget and Management amounted to Php 10.4 billion, of which only over Php 7 billion has been approved under the 2025 NEP for FY 2025.

The peace agency intends to request for the unfunded Php 3.3 billion, particularly for PAMANA infrastructure in additional priority areas to sustain the momentum of post-conflict reconstruction, rehabilitation and development contributing to the national government’s Agenda for Prosperity and its goal to achieve social and economic transformation.

The OPAPRU is mandated to manage, direct, integrate, and supervise the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Process through promoting and reinforcing reconciliation and unity among the Filipino people.

The implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Process is guided by the “Five-Point Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Agenda” which highlights 1) Completion of peace agreements with the MILF and MNLF towards healing and reconciliation in the Bangsamoro; 2) Ending of armed conflict with the CPP-NPA-NDF and local armed groups by expanding the transformation programs for local conflict peace process and forging political settlement; 3) Completion and sustainment of the gains of the signed peace agreements with the RPM-P/ RPA/ABB and CBA-CPLA; 4) Enhancement of the resilience for peace of communities and vulnerable groups through social healing and peacebuilding approaches in support of the peace processes; and 5) Enhancement of the delivery of Conflict-Sensitive and Peace-Promoting (CSPP)-compliant interventions in addressing the root causes and drivers of conflict through convergence and complementation in support of the peace processes. ###