BAGUIO CITY — Officials of the Cordillera Administrative Region – Regional Development Council’s (CAR-RDC) Development Administration and Good Governance Committee welcomed the proposal of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Thursday, 12 February 2025, to establish the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism for Cordillera Transformation (ICCT).

OPAPRU’s proposal outlined measures on how the national government and CAR leadership can further enhance its collaborative efforts to carry out regional peace and development interventions.

The ICCT will be patterned after the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN), which aims to fast track and improve the delivery of national government agencies in the BARMM.

Proposed ICCT vital to peace and dev’t programs in CAR

“Itong ICCT, this will cater us directly, let’s say to Malacañang to solicit special funds on top of our regular fund na dumadaan pa kung saan saan. Some farm-to-market roads take 20 years to build. This is an opportunity for our region… We have been longing for a special budget for our region, funds that are on top of our usual budget,” Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr., who is also the chair of RDC CAR, noted.

“It was successful in BARMM. Why not do it here in our region? It is a tool for us to implement our development goals,” he added.

“This has been tried and tested in the BARMM that’s why they’re bringing it here. We will endorse this to the body and consult with and hopefully we can follow the timeline,” noted Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.

“The challenge which we aim to address is priority peace and development programs and projects identified by the regional agencies remain unaddressed in a timely manner, thereby, affecting the intended efficient implementation of services,” pointed out OPAPRU Presidential Assistant, Atty. Wilben Mayor, who presented the proposal to members of the CAR-RDC.

“To address this challenge, the provision of coordinated support for the implementation of peace and development programs and projects in CAR, as outlined in the various development plans of the region, is proposed,” he added.

The primary objective of the ICCT is to integrate and consolidate all the peace and development initiatives being carried out by national government agencies in the CAR so that they complement and support each other.

Inspired by ICCMN in BARMM

The ICCMN was established by the Philippine government to ensure the more effective and timely implementation of the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

Created through Executive Order No. 79 in 2019, the ICCMN coordinates and mobilizes various government agencies to deliver initiatives aimed at transforming former combatants and their communities into peaceful and productive members of society.

By facilitating collaboration among national government agencies, local government units, and other stakeholders, the ICCMN plays a crucial role in advancing the Bangsamoro peace process and ensuring the successful implementation of the Normalization Program.

Sustaining the gains of peace

On July 4, 2011, the Government of the Philippines and the Cordillera Bodong Administration – Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement in Malacañang.

The Memorandum of Agreement included the following components: 1) Disposition of arms and forces; 2) Community development projects; 3) Inter-barangay and inter-municipal development; 4) Economic reintegration of CPLA members; 5) Documentation of the CBA-CPLA struggle; and 5) Transformation of CBA-CPLA into a socio-economic organization.

A Five-year Normalization Program (5YNP) was formed, supporting the completion of the GPH – CBA-CPLA peace process. The 5YNP has four components namely: Security, Socio-Economic Reintegration, Healing and Reconciliation; and Confidence Building.

Additionally, the formation of Transformation Program plans for priority provinces is being undertaken to ensure that those who have already surrendered and cleared communities will be resilient to recovery efforts of the CPP/NPA/NDF, and that they fully transition to the normal, democratic way of life.

In line with this, to fully support the comprehensive peace process in the Cordillera, the OPAPRU proposed the establishment of the ICCT, through the issuance of an executive order, is envisioned to facilitate coordinated support to peace and development programs and projects.

This move shall contribute to a more resilient CAR that will be more capable and empowered to sustain the gains of the peace process between the national government and the CBA-CPLA.​

Through the ICCT, all the peace initiatives will be grounded in the Transformation Program plans developed by the CAR’s provinces, ensuring alignment with local priorities and maximizing impact through a collaborative approach.

Directive from PBBM

“This mechanism we aim to implement in the Cordillera Region is inspired by the Inter-Cabinet Custer Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN), which has played a pivotal role in advancing our Normalization Program in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” explained Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

“We are optimistic that the same mechanism will effectively facilitate coordination among concerned agencies, thereby enhancing policy development and resource mobilization,” Galvez said.

According to the peace adviser, he mentioned to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. the OPAPRU’s proposal to establish the ICCT, which was well-received by the President.

Galvez said President Marcos then directed him to immediately engage stakeholders to lay the groundwork for the creation of the said body.

“As underscored by the President, he is determined to put an end to armed struggle and armed conflict during his term. The OPAPRU is committed to help the President make this vision a reality,” he said.###