CAMP OMAR, DATU HOFFER, MAGUINDANAO–The Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) successfully completed the third and final leg of its Serbisyo Caravan on Thursday, August 29.
This sprawling Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camp in the heartland of Central Mindanao, which used to be the site of intense battles between government troops and MILF forces years ago, became a virtual one-stop shop of essential government programs and services.

Inside the provincial gymnasium and tents set up in the adjacent grounds were tables lined up with doctors and nurses doing checkups, soldiers conducting briefings on military enlistment procedures, and field workers giving out food assistance packages.

About 700 village folk, mostly decommissioned MILF combatants and their next of kin, patiently lined up to get free medicines, apply for PhilHealth and National ID registration and membership, and learn about the government’s latest interventions.

Bringing gov’t services closer to the people

In her welcome remarks, Datu Hoffer Mayor Bai Bongbong Ampatuan noted that the ICCMN caravan is a very good opportunity for the national government to bring its services closer to the people.

“Ito po ay isang espesyal na pagkakataon para sa amin upang mapalapit ang serbisyo ng ating gobyerno sa ating mga kababayan at masiguro na ang bawat isa ay naaabot ng tulong at suporta na nararapat para sa kanila,” Ampatuan said.

“Ang serbisyo caravan na ito ay bahagi ng ating patuloy na pagsusumikap na mapalawak at mapabuti ang mga serbisyong pampubliko na ating ipinagkakaloob sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.

Better health services

Dr. Mohammad Ariff Baguindali, head of Maguindanao’s Integrated Public Health Office (IPHO), emphasized the significance of the ICCMN caravan, particularly in delivering quality health services to the people.

“Health is one of the most important components of good governance,” Baguindali said, noting that through the caravan, the national government is fulfilling its commitment to enhance the overall well-being of residents.

With Maguindanao being one of the identified implementation sites for universal health care, he thanked the Bangsamoro and national governments for focusing on the improvement of medical and health care services in the province.

Amnesty leads to freedom

Atty. Mohammad Jamalul Giducos of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) explained the national government’s amnesty program and how it can help rebuild the lives of former combatants.

“Kaakibat ng amnesty ay kalayaan,” Giducos stressed, as he said that If there are MILF members who have been imprisoned due to their political beliefs, there is a chance that they can win back their freedom through amnesty.

He reported that as of August 16, the NAC has received 770 amnesty applications, of which 686 come from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA); 42 from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and 35 from the MILF.

Giducos emphasized to MILF members the urgency of applying for amnesty, as the period for accepting and processing applications for amnesty will only be two years. “Nandirito kami para hikayatin ang isa’t-isa na mag apply na po tayo ng amnesty as soon as possible,” he said.

PBBM’s commitment to peace, dev’t in the Bangsamoro

Special Assistant to the President Sec. Antonio Lagdameo, whose message was read by OSAP Director, Atty. Jay Farcon said that “While the road to peace has been quite challenging, I believe that we all agree that it has been a rewarding journey.”

“I would like to reiterate the commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensuring that our countrymen in the Bangsamoro Region have their share of justice, peace and development,” Lagdmeo said.

The ICCMN caravan, he pointed out, “highlighted by the presence of various national government line agencies, provide essential services to community members, which has covered all six former MILF camps, which is an integral element to social inclusion.”

“These services will pave the way for the easier re-integration of former combatants as contributing members of society,” he added.

Strong Bangsamoro, nat’l government partnership

Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., who was represented by OPAPRU Presidential Assistant Cesar Yano, Chair of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Implementing, underscored the importance of the ICCMN caravan.

“Sa pamamagitan ng caravan na ito, ay maipapaabot na sa mga mamamayan ng Omar ang mga programa socioeconomic na inyong kinakailangan. Kasama na dito ang medical services, Philhealth registration, National ID registration at marami pang iba,” Galvez said.

According to the peace adviser, the caravan symbolizes the strong partnership between the Bangsamoro and national governments, which aims to uplift the socio-economic conditions of MILF members and their families and help build and help build a brighter future for them.

“Batid nating lahat na ang edukasyon, kabuhayan, kalusugan at seguridad ang mga haligi ng pagbabago na nagaganap dito sa Omar at iba pang mga lugar sa Bangsamoro. Kaya naman nais nating mas pagtibayin pa ang mga haliging ito,” Galvez said.

“Kaya naman napakahalaga ang pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa nating lahat. Sama-sama po tayo sa pagsulong ng mga inisyatibo upang mas maramdaman ng mga residente ng Omar ang mga dibidendo ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran,” he concluded.

The ICCMN is a multi-agency initiative established by the Philippine government to oversee the effective implementation of the Normalization Program for former MILF combatants, their families and communities.

The normalization process is a critical component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the landmark peace deal signed between the Philippine government and MILF in 2014 which ended decades of conflict in the region. ###