SUMISIP/HADJI MOHAMMAD AHJUL, Basilan (October 17, 2024)—Residents here are exchanging their unregistered firearms for agricultural tools and equipment in a bid to shy away from the old gun culture in this island province.
In a turn-over ceremony on Thursday, residents here received a wheel loader, three tractors with disc plough, at least 1,000 free-range chickens, and various farm inputs, while residents in the town of Hadji Mohammad Ahjul were provided with solar-powered ice block machines to ensure the freshness of their produce, a mini delivery cargo van, a tractor with disc plough, 500 free-range chickens, and various farm inputs.
These farm inputs and equipment were turned over after residents in the island province of Basilan turned in at least 771 firearms and stenciled 556 weapons since the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) through the Assistance for Security, Peace, Integration and Recovery for Advancing Human Security in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) or ASPIRE program was launched here last year.
ASPIRE program
The ASPIRE is funded by the Japanese government and facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This program is under the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which aims to reduce the loose firearms in the Bangsamoro Region.
The ASPIRE Program, which targets the registration and stenciling of loose firearms in the identified areas, provides socio-economic interventions in these communities.
The JNC through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) launched the SALW program initially in the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte, and the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, with Basilan being the model province among the three. This effort is part of the implementation of the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
New Narrative for Basilan
Sumisip Mayor Jul-adnan Hataman said the town of Sumisip and the entire island province of Basilan are gradually stripping their old image as a hotbed of lawlessness to a province that is resilient to positive change.
“In the past, Basilan has been defined by stories of conflict. But today, the narrative is shifting. With every project like ASPIRE, we are slowly rewriting our story – a story where peace is the foundation, and development is the path forward,” he shared.
“The equipment we have received today represents more than just tools for farming – they are investments in the future of the people of Basilan. We are entrusted with these resources, not just for economic growth, but to strengthen our communities, build peace, and create a prosperous future for all,” Mayor Hataman emphasized.
Mayor Talib Pawaki of Hadji Mohammad Ahjul said that he does not have enough words but to thank the government agencies and international organizations for assisting his town for a positive transformation.
“Wala po akong masabi kung ‘di magpasalamat. We thank you for choosing our town to be the recipient of ASPIRE,” he said.
“This project is to finally eradicate the loose firearms in our town, and give chances to those who want to change their lives,” he added.
For Basilan Governor Hajiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman, the programs and interventions to help the island province will be maximized to their fullest.
“I just would like to reiterate our commitment to the Japan and national government that we will do everything that we can do to complement [the projects and programs], and we will always be in aligned aspiration of the Bangsamoro people and national government in giving what is best for the people of Basilan,” he affirmed.
“On behalf of the people of Basilan, I would like to thank the national government, the government of Japan, and the UNDP for supporting and giving us the opportunity to be beneficiaries of the ASPIRE,” he added.
According to Gov Hataman-Saliman Sumisip has experienced a fair share of violence, while the coastal town of Hadji Mohammad Ahjul was even “tagged as Somalia of the Philippines” due to the spate of hijacking and kidnapping incidents on international vessels passing through its seas several years ago.
Today, these municipalities are now enjoying favorable peace and order conditions with no cases of kidnappings and violence recorded in recent years.
“Rest assured that we will use these projects based on the expectations,” he vowed.
Gov Hataman-Saliman extended his gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., for the recognition extended to the island province as a pilot initiative of the SALW through ASPIRE and its contribution to the peace process.
Early this year, President Marcos visited the town of Sumisip and lauded the transformation of Basilan, saying: “Our presence in today’s event reaffirms the truth that what was once a Ground Zero of war, is now turned into an epicenter of peace. A province that was once tainted by violence and terrorism is now a zone of peace, made possible not by military might alone but more so by a people saying no to violence.”
Collective Effort for Sustainable Peace
Edwin Carrie, deputy resident representative of UNDP, described the turnover event as a celebration of “our collective commitment to long-term peace and prosperity in Basilan.”
“These interventions go beyond being just a project; they provide necessary lifelines and chances for livelihood, empowerment, resilience, and long-term development in combination with small arms and light weapons’ control,” he described.
“We applaud this community’s courage and spirit, which have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of hardship. Today, we renew our commitment to changing the narrative, ‘replacing weapons with tools for economic growth, collaboration, and harmony,’” he committed.
“The ASPIRE project reflects our joint efforts to support the normalization endeavors in the Bangsamoro. Through these community-driven projects, we strive to cultivate seeds of peace and security,” Carrie said.
“Let us remember that peace is more than just the absence of conflict; it is about creating an environment in which everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to live life to the fullest, which embodies the concept of human security,” he said.
“As we progress, let us work together to turn obstacles into opportunities and ensure that peace and prosperity reach every corner of Basilan,” Carrie added.
Daisuke Nihel, Minister at the Embassy of Japan, who represented Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo, vowed Japan’s continued support to the Bangsamoro peace process.
“In the ongoing normalization process in the region, Japan remains a resolute and steadfast partner. We likewise support an environment conducive to stability, one where generations of BARMM’s citizens can thrive harmoniously with one another,” he said.
According to him, the ASPIRE project “continues to call attention to the risks of possessing Small Arms and Light Weapons and promote alternative livelihood activities to encourage a shift away from reliance on force and harm.”
“With the provision of tractors and a wheel loader, we hope to open more of Sumisip’s people to sustainable livelihoods and support them in pursuing prosperity for their families and communities peaceably,” Nihel said
“In trading destructive arms for beneficial tools, we can further revitalize Sumisip’s economic potential and its people’s hopes for peace. Improved agricultural opportunities can give rise to fruitful businesses and pave roads that no weapon can create sustainably,” he hoped.
Nihel expressed his positive impact of ASPIRE, saying: “For instance, Hadji Mohammad Ajul is surrounded by waters, teeming with potential for fruitful trades and livelihoods. The provision of a solar-powered ice block machine can sustainably preserve the freshness of potential yields longer. Additionally, a tractor and delivery truck can help pave the way for roads, enterprises, and small businesses.”
“In helping Hadji Mohammad Ajul take a further step towards peace, we hope to brighten prospects for stability for the BARMM entirely. When people are empowered to harness the potential of the land peaceably, prosperity is sure to follow for the region,” he said.
He said the Japanese government “hopes that our contributions will continue to embolden BARMM’s citizens to sow the seeds of peace and reap its gains with their own will and determination.”
For years, the Japanese government has been helping the Bangsamoro peace process from the negotiation phase to the implementation of the signed peace agreements.
Commitment to the Bangsamoro Peace Process
Akmad Brahim, Minister of Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy, who spoke on behalf of the BARMM’s Interim Chief Minister and MILF Chairman Ahid Balawag Ebrahim, said the event is an “affirmation of our unwavering commitment in our pursuit for peace and normalization in the Bangsamoro through tapping the socio-economic potentials of our communities by utilizing their skills and resources and becoming productive citizens of our society.”
He said the BARMM leadership recognized “the importance of small arms and light weapons management in normalization and the transition phase like the decommissioning here in the Southern Philippines.”
Ebrahim said the SALW is an integral part of the Annex on Normalization of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which serves as a blueprint of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
“It is an opportune time that we not only aspire to make BARMM a land of promise, but we must make these a reality, where dreams are fulfilled, potentials are unlocked, and we give our people the chance to contribute to the building a Bangsamoro that is empowered, cohesive, and progressive,” he said.
Addressing loose firearms in preparation for the first BARMM election
Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of Western Mindanao Command, said the military will continue its efforts in addressing loose firearms.
“We have successfully facilitated the registration and surrender of small arms and light weapons in our area,” he said, adding that this measure “supports the stability and overall security of the state.”
“We recognize that arms reduction, demobilization, and reintegration to communities of former rebels are crucial in managing the SALW and preventing conflict,” Gonzales said.
The top military commander in the Western Mindanao area said that the military acknowledges that the effort “requires a concerted effort among social and political institutions. Efforts need to be more integrated and coordinated among local, regional, national, and international organizations that resolve to end the problem of SLAW proliferation.”
Brigadier General Alvin V. Luzon, the Commander of the 101st Infantry “Three Red Arrows” Brigade which is based in Basilan, said addressing the unlicensed firearms has reduced the number of violence in the island province by about 78%.
He said that this year alone, residents in Basilan have turned in at least 215 more firearms to the government, including crewserved weapons.
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr., said the management of loose firearms is needed to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible election in the BARMM.
“This program is very crucial, as we gear up for the first parliamentary elections in the BARMM,” he said, while calling to those “who are still in possession of illegal firearms, we have the aspire program to convert your guns into plowshares and bullets as seeds of peace.”
Galvez lauded the high number of weapons that were enrolled under the SALW program, saying that the “figures can speak for themselves.”
“They are a manifestation of the eagerness, commitment, and trust of the beneficiaries to transform their lives, and by doing so, become peaceful, productive, and empowered members of their communities. they now have the power in their hands to chart a better and brighter future for themselves and their families,” he said.
“The gains we have achieved under the ASPIRE project have been made possible through the unwavering focus, dedication, and support of all our stakeholders,” he said.
“As President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has emphasized, time and again, there is a need for us to build on and sustain the gains of peace in the Bangsamoro. with the milestones we have achieved under aspire there is a need for us to work together and ensure its continuity,” Galvez added.###
