MANILA – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity’s (OPAPRU) international development community and private sector partners pledged their full and continued support to the comprehensive Philippine peace process on Thursday, November 14.

In a partners’ forum organized by the OPAPRU, international donor agencies and the private sector took centerstage for their efforts to help the national government bring sustainable peace and development in the country. 

Reliable partners 

In his remarks, European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro said the EU “has been supporting the peace process from the very beginning of it, to the very start of it, aspiring to be a trusted, reliable and neutral partner.”

According to Santoro, the EU has invested in programs that are focused on policy development and institutional strengthening, enhancing the implementation of the Normalization process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the provision of social economic support.

He vowed that the EU will continue to be Philippines’ “partner in promoting sustainable peace and inclusive development.”

For his part, Ambassador of Türkiye to the Philippines Niyazi Evren Akyol emphasized that the gains of the peace process in Mindanao “represent an exemplary shift from conflict to collaboration.

“The peace process has demonstrated that even the most entrenched conflicts can be resolved through dialogue, trust building and the commitment to justice. It is an example to the world that peace is possible even after decades of violence and hardship,” Akyol added.

He also expressed his country’s pride for being one of the Philippines’ strongest partners in pushing forward the country’s peace process,” saying that they have been providing support for decades by, “contributing not only in the negotiations, but also through our humanitarian and development agencies, such as the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, which has supported projects in education, healthcare and infrastructure.”

Türkiye currently chairs the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), which oversees the decommissioning process of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and their weapons, a key component of the Normalization Program for the MILF. 

Türkiye is also a member of the International Contact Group (ICG), one of the peace mechanisms under the government’s peace process with the MILF.

Another reliable partner of the Philippine Government in the peace process is the Government of Japan, which has also played a key role in helping to improve the Philippines’ key infrastructure and address the impact of armed conflict in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao’s Bangsamoro region.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),  Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), recently signed a tripartite memorandum of cooperation for the USD 26 million-worth of project on advancing primary health care towards universal health care in the Bangsamoro.

‘Iconic’ peace process

Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino reiterated his government’s commitment to support the country’s peace process, saying it is “the most iconic [peace] process in the world. I’ve not seen any other peace process which you can actually give light to.”

“I would like to urge, as we move on, countries can take [sic] examples of what the Philippines is doing, and look at how we can solve wars that’s happening from all around the world to many parts of the world, and use you as a shining example,” Castelino added.

Malaysia served as a third-party facilitator during the peace negotiations between the Philippine Government and the MILF.

Ambassador of Brunei to the Philippines Megawati Paduka Haji lauded the OPAPRU for facilitating the activities of Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN); the recruitment of the MILF and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members to the police force; the implementation of socioeconomic initiatives for the MILF; and for batting for the creation of the Department of Peace and the soon to be established National Peace Institute.

She expressed her government’s support to the peace process, stating, “I just wanted to reiterate Brunei’s commitment to the peace process, including through our participation in the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB). We’ll continue to support OPAPRU in this effort to ensure the conclusion of all normalization tracks in the near future.”

Meanwhile, Ireland Ambassador to the Philippines Emma Hickey reflected on her country’s experiences on their peace process, saying that sustainable peace “takes time, patience, inclusive approach and the commitment of everybody.”

Hickey said her country has been supporting grassroots organizations in the Bangsamoro region and looks forward to continuing this initiative.

Secretary of Health Teodoro J. Herbosa recounted his experiences with Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., particularly during the height of COVID-19 pandemic wherein they were tasked to roll out the government’s vaccination program which inoculated 74 million Filipinos against the deadly virus.

Herbosa affirmed his department’s support to the country’s peace process, declaring, “The only thing I can say is that, the Department of Health being full of support [sic]. There cannot be, there cannot be peace, reconciliation and unity without health.”

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss commended the OPAPRU for its peacebuilding work in the Bangsamoro region, pledging that his government will continue to offer scholarships and training programs to students throughout the country.

Thailand Ambassador to the Philippines Trull Traisorat highlighted the partnership between Thailand and Philippines, emphasizing that it is, “built on a strong and extensive cooperation in various dimensions by all stakeholders of the society of the two countries, both government to government, business to business and people to people. Peace and security is one of the most important aspects of our cooperation.”

Traisorat said he “is optimistic we [will] continue to expand our engagement for our future routine rooted in peace, inclusivity and security.”

Private sector support for peace and development

President/CEO Ayala Healthcare Paolo Borromeo drew parallels between fundraising and capital raising in the private sector and the support they have given to the initiatives of Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., saying they believe in his vision for the country’s peace process.

“And most of the time, investors, who invest in businesses, invest in those businesses because they believe in the vision of that business, and they believe in the vision of the management team,” Borromeo noted.

“And I am convinced, Secretary Charlie, when I say the diplomatic corps here, and all your international partners and all your private sector partners, that the messages of support, the initiatives of support, are because you are leading upward and because of your vision for peace, reconciliation and unity for the country. And it is with a belief in all that you stand for,” he said.

For his part, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation Chief Resilient Officer and Chair of OPAPRU’s Multi Sectoral Governance Council, Guillermo Luz, underscored the importance of strong collaboration between the different sectors of society.

“At OPAPRU, we are great believers in partnerships and collaboration between the government, local governments, international partners, and the private sector. We know from our experience that working together will bring about peace and development efforts in the country,” Luz said.

“We know that without peace, there can be no development, and without development, there can be no peace. So, we are firmly committed in the private sector to helping pursue both development and peace,” he added.

Convergence of efforts

In his remarks, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. highlighted the crucial role of the international development community and the private sector in ensuring the success of peacebuilding efforts in the country.

“Over the years, the international development community has been among our agency’s invaluable partners in sustaining the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process, particularly in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” he said.

“From your corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, to enterprise development efforts, these endeavors help us expedite the implementation of our peacebuilding initiatives to our constituents in a timely and efficient manner whose impact is felt from the national down to the grassroots level,” Galvez added.

The private sector, he pointed out, can contribute to all aspects of the normalization process including the provision of basic services particularly in the areas of food security, energy, clean water, education, and health.

According to Galvez, the private sector can also carry out capacity-building measures and business ventures that can help create a better life for the people. 

He also noted that media organizations have played a key role in covering OPAPRU’s various interventions, giving the agency’s peace partners and the general public a better understanding and appreciation of its peace and development efforts. 

The peace adviser highlighted several initiatives that the OPAPRU is currently undertaking, which include the creation of a Department of Peace, the establishment of the National Peace Institute, the operationalization of the Women, Peace, and Security Center of Excellence, and the accelerated implementation of the ​​Localizing Normalization Implementation (LNI).

Galvez called on all stakeholders to support the agency’s initiatives, as he affirmed the vital role of the development and private sector in sustaining and building on the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process.###