MANILA—In culmination of this year’s National Peace Consciousness Month celebration, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) held on Monday, September 30, its Gawad Kapayapaan (GaKap) Awarding Ceremony, which recognized three remarkable individuals and a local government unit that have dedicated their efforts in strengthening and building on the foundations of peace in the country.
This year’s GaKap awardees included Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of the Municipality of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte, and the late Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Founding Chairman Ghazali Jafaar, also known as Hajji Salik B Abu, who was posthumously awarded on September 24, 2024.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Jr., who was represented by ASec. Ria Lumapas, emphasized that “Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to our awardees for their vision, commitment, and action that have brought peace to our communities.”

Lagdameo described Pangandaman and Ferrer as “beacons in the role of women in peace and security.”

“Their respective contributions to the peace process, with Secretary Pangandaman leading the IGRB and Dr. Ferrer’s pivotal role as lead negotiator for the Comprehensive Agreement in the Bangsamoro (CAB), have ushered in a new era of peace in the Bangsamoro,” he said.

Lagdameo noted that the LGU of Kauswagan “is hailed as a symbol of transformative governance.”

“The LGU’s Localized Reintegration Program, which facilitated the return of key MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) leaders to the government, has greatly helped address the root causes of conflict. This shows that not only is the alignment of governance strategies critical for peace and development, but the collective effort of all stakeholders is essential for the success of our programs.”

He, likewise, lauded Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., as well as the OPAPRU, “for their leadership in promoting peace and unity in our nation, as well as in working closely with our partners to ensure the implementation of all our signed peace agreements.”

Lagdameo said that he was pleased with the progress made in the implementation of the normalization process, particularly the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN)-led caravans conducted in the six MILF Camps last August.

Lagdameo underscored President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision, which is “to bring government closer to the people. We remain ever committed in extending the dividends of peace to these communities, especially to the most marginalized sectors.”

“As we deal with emerging realities on the ground, l urge that we continue cultivating a culture of mutual cooperation and understanding. Let us also ensure the authentic and meaningful participation of not only those in the government, but all stakeholders as well to strengthen institutional and popular support for this effort,” he added.

PH’s first women peace negotiator

Significant strides in the comprehensive Philippine peace process have been achieved through the invaluable contribution of women who have dedicated their lives to bringing genuine and lasting peace to the nation.

The first Gawad Kapayapaan Awardee is Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer who, through her peacebuilding work, demonstrated to the world that peace can be achieved through peaceful dialogue.

In traditionally male-dominated peace negotiations, Coronel-Ferrer made the presence of women felt and ensured that the women’s agenda, along with those of minority groups, were integrated in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The CAB is the landmark peace agreement signed between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF in 2014, which ended decades of armed conflict in Mindanao.

Coronel-Ferrer signed the CAB on behalf of the GPH as its chief negotiator. She is the only woman in the world to sign such a peace deal. Her counterpart was then MILF Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

During the negotiations, Coronel-Ferrer, together with her team, upheld the meaningful participation of women in all aspects, including political, social, economic, and cultural, as well as mutual respect, dignity, and rights for all persons regardless of gender.

The successful passage of the CAB highlighted the key role of women in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

In her acceptance speech, Coronel-Ferrer dedicated her award to all the men and women across all sectors who were involved in the Bangsamoro peace process and who are now still part of its implementation.

She pointed out that the CAB is one the many peace agreements all over the world that have not collapsed, “Especially after ten years because most peace agreements actually do not even last that long.”

Coronel-Ferrer revealed that she has shared with many groups around the world the lessons she has learned from all aspects of the peace process.

“So, we are an inspiration indeed and evidence, especially evidence when there’s so much scepticism about what diplomacy can do, what political negotiations can do. So, our evidence [shows] that it is possible to indeed reach a peace agreement through political negotiations,” she explained.

Coronel-Ferrer said the month-long peace month celebration is a testament that “building peace is high-up in the national agenda and certainly should remain that way.”

Citing other successful peace agreements with non-state armed groups, the long-time peace advocate said that she is hopeful on the ongoing peace engagements with the communist group.

“I think it should not be too impossible to think that we will also find a way to finally end all of these armed conflicts with dignity and justice for all,” Coronel-Ferrer concluded.

Mindanao’s peace and dev’t champion

The second Gawad Kapayapaan Awardee is a native of Marawi who is not only a staunch advocate but who has also been at the forefront of the government’s efforts to unleash the full economic potential of Mindanao: Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.

Under Pangandaman’s leadership, the DBM has supported the Marawi Compensation Board, which is tasked to provide reparation to the victims of 2017 Marawi Siege.

Pangandaman also serves as the co-chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), wherein she has led discussions and initiatives that aim to empower the Bangsamoro region.

In her acceptance speech, she underscored that “peacebuilding and socioeconomic recovery in the region are integral to addressing its challenges.”

She believes that “there is no substitute for hard work and a heart for public service,” which is the mark of a true public servant.

The budget chief continues to be an inspiration to women and girls who want to make a positive impact in their communities.

Pangandaman emphasized that the OPAPRU “has been an invaluable partner in my personal advocacy for peace and a better Mindanao.”

“Our work with OPAPRU is more than dreaming peace but turning this dream into a reality. And I am certain we are not only the ones. This is evident as I am joined by three equally inspiring awardees tonight,” she added.

She said that the vision of peace and development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) “is something that lives in my heart—a flame that burns brightly. I have seen first-hand how conflict can scar communities. But I also know that hope and peace can transform lives.”

She encouraged everyone “to reflect on what more we can do, whether big or small, to build a Bagong Pilipinas where peace doesn’t just transform lives but gives every Filipino the opportunity to thrive.”

She dedicated her award “to the people, especially the little girls and boys, whose lives we are rebuilding one peace effort at a time.”

LGUs as peace exemplars

The nation’s journey towards a just and lasting peace has been fraught with many challenges.

In response, the national government has carried out much-needed programs and projects to address individual, social and economic concerns brought about by armed conflict.

This monumental effort, however, needs to be a collective undertaking of the national and local government units, civil society organizations, and the international development community.

The third Gawad Kapayapaan Awardee is the Local Government Unit (LGU) of the Municipality of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte, which has been at the forefront of efforts to bring cross-cutting peace and development initiatives in the community.

Despite Kauswagan’s troubled past, the municipal government demonstrated its steadfast commitment to the peacebuilding process, as they carried out sustainable socioeconomic initiatives that have transformed the area into a zone of peace and development.

The municipal LGU has implemented high-impact projects such as the “From Arms to Farms” program, which has helped reintegrate former MILF and Moro National Liberation Front members and their followers into their communities and uplifted their way of life through organic farming.

This novel initiative has significantly reduced local poverty rates and improved the incomes of the former combatants as well as local farmers.

Their municipality’s innovative peacebuilding strategies have garnered significant local and international recognition, enabling it to win major awards over the years.

In his acceptance speech, Kauswagan Mayor Rommel C. Arnado said that rebuilding the municipality from the devastating effects of war “was a painful, critical, and challenging experience for us to ensure communities and families are restored.”

“By putting food on the table by enabling people to become productive citizens, we aimed for the restoration of dignity and self-respect,” Arnado said.

He explained that they “prioritized the restoration, protection and preservation of the basic unit of society amid devastation and among households and communities.”

Arnado pledged their unwavering dedication to the long-term goal of fostering peace and order in their community.

“Our commitment shall continue beyond any personality, beyond political dynamics. We shall continue to work together and prepare the best plan for our people for the next decades and the generations that will come,” he said.

“Our work deserves utmost attention and commitment because we cannot falter. Our people depend on our determination to continue building our future. As we all know—the Filipino people deserve the best service from us,” Arnado concluded.

From warrior to peacebuilder

The Gawad Kapayapaan also honored one of the remarkable individuals who helped put an end to the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao through peaceful dialogue—the late Ghazali Jafaar, also known as Hajji Salik B Abu, who was posthumously awarded last 24 September 2024 in Cotabato City.

Jaafar played a significant role in pushing forward the peace process between the GPH and the MILF to greater heights.

As chair of the Peace Negotiating Panel for the MILF side, the peace talks between the GPH and MILF gained momentum, leading to the signing of the Agreement of the General Cessation of Hostilities on July 18, 1997.

The ceasefire agreement laid the groundwork for a more comprehensive dialogue between both parties, resulting to the forging of the CAB on March 27, 2014.

Clarion call for collective pursuit of peace

In his remarks, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. reminded everyone that National Peace Consciousness Month is not only an annual celebration, but “Most importantly, it is a clarion call to all that the pursuit of peace must be an inclusive, integrated and collective effort.”

Galvez said this year’s theme, “Peace Month @ 20: Bagong Pilipinas: Transforming Minds, Transforming Lives,” underscored the need for our nation to undergo a holistic transformation that begins in our minds and is reflected in our lives.”

Galvez commended and thanked all the Gawad Kapayapaan awardees for the “unwavering commitment, selflessness and dedication,” that they have demonstrated in promoting peace in the country.

Galvez also noted that two of the awardees “are strong, intelligent, and capable women, which shows the invaluable role that women leaders play in our nation’s peacebuilding process.”

“Your impressive achievements and contributions to peace are what set you apart and worthy of the respect and admiration of Filipinos. I am honored to stand side by side and share the stage with all of you,” he added.

“May your legacies of peace serve as shining examples to our fellow Filipinos and future generations that we have the power in our hands to make a difference in the lives of the people around us.”###