BONGAO, TAWI-TAWI –- The Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi will now be among the implementers of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity’s (OPAPRU) Localizing Normalization Implementation or LNI initiative.

This developed as the OPAPRU and the PLGU, represented by Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. and Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael “Mang” Sali, respectively, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on November 19 to formalize the partnership.

“The launching of the LNI in Tawi-Tawi is a major leap forward for the provincial local government as it takes the lead in the implementation of the normalization program in the southernmost part of the country,” Galvez said in his remarks at the event.

The LNI is a testament of the national government’s commitment to bring lasting peace and genuine development in the Bangsamoro region through various socio-economic, security and other transformative programs.

LNI in Tawi-Tawi: A shared commitment

Tawi-Tawi is the fifth province in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to implement the LNI along with Basilan, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

The signing of the agreement, worth Php 8.1M, was witnessed by German Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke and French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel as they also conducted a joint-visit to the province.

The funds allocated for the LNI’s implementation is under the Normalization Program, which aims to uplift the lives of former combatants and their families, and transform their areas into peaceful, productive and resilient communities.

The interventions under the LNI are focused on the areas of socio-economic development, confidence-building and transitional justice and reconciliation, which are anchored on conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting (CSPP) approaches.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the MOA, the OPAPRU will facilitate the implementation of the LNI program in coordination with concerned organizations and agencies; coordinate with the PLGU of Tawi-Tawi on the conduct of LNI-related programs and activities; provide guidelines, inputs, schedules and assessments of the LNI’s implementation to the PLGU; resolve issues and concerns related to project implementation that are directly reported to OPAPRU; provide financial and logistical support and other sources for the LNI program implementation; and assist in resource mobilization coming from local and international donor agencies.

For its part, the Tawi-Tawi Provincial Government will organize and cover expenses related to secretariat meetings with the OPAPRU and other planning and coordination activities in relation to the implementation of the LNI; implement various socioeconomic development projects and camps transformation projects in the province; conduct various IEC and program awareness initiatives, as well as produce print, radio and TV materials and disseminate them to stakeholders.

Moreover, the provincial government will facilitate consultations at various levels to gather input and feedback; ensure inclusivity in the LNI program’s implementation; assist and monitor security-related interventions such as rido settlement in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) commands and brigades in the province; and ensure the compliance, documentation and reporting of the physical and financial progress of the LNI.

Call for shared participation

Galvez called for the continued collaboration among stakeholders, saying “As we begin the rollout of this program in the province, I urge everyone to help build on and sustain this collaborative effort.”

“The success of the LNI in Tawi-Tawi rests largely on our ability to maintain open lines of communication, understanding and cooperation,” the peace adviser added.###