TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE — Local government units (LGUs) will now be at the forefront in the implementation of the Normalization Program for decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and communities. (more…)
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) has been awarded the Certificate and Seal of Registration for Data Privacy by the National Privacy Commission (NPC). All Data Processing Systems were successfully registered with the NPC, with OPAPRU Executive Director Andres S. Aguinaldo, Jr. serving as the Agency’s Data Protection Officer. (more…)
PAGADIAN CITY — Zamboanga del Sur celebrated on Sunday, April 21, its third year of being declared as “insurgency-free,” which is a testament to the effectiveness of the whole-of-society effort to finally put an end to the communist rebellion in the province. (more…)
CAMP DARAPANAN, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) formally turned over to the Bangsamoro government on Monday, April 15, the official results of the plebiscite held in the Special Geographic Area (SGA), as the election body also launched its Register Anywhere Project (RAP) here. (more…)
SPECIAL GEOGRAPHIC AREA — Saturday, April 13, marked a historic milestone among the residents of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), following the creation of the new eight municipalities. (more…)
BRGY. KABASALAN, PIKIT CLUSTER II, SGA BARMM — In a show of unity and commitment to promoting education and peace-building, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) through the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC), together with the secretariats of the Government Peace Implementing Panel (GPIP) and the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), spearheaded on March 6 the turn-over of a recently renovated Madrasah here.
This collaborative effort is among the initiatives under the Brigada Madrasah Project, which is in line with the 10th year anniversary celebration of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). (more…)
PICC, PASAY CITY– The Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) agreed to adopt the Localized Normalization Implementation (LNI) as part of national government-led strategies to ramp up the implementation of programs and other interventions that will benefit former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants.
The LNI concept was introduced during the 11th ICCMN meeting on Tuesday, March 19, wherein the body also discussed the status of several pending issues it needs to review and resolve.
PICC, PASAY CITY – Former rebels and decommissioned combatants will now have access to vital health services under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP).
This, after the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the DOH signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Monday, March 4, this city, which formalized their partnership to implement the initiative.
Support to peacebuilding efforts
The implementation of conflict-sensitive health programs such as the one to be carried out by OPAPRU and DOH through the MOA, will allow both agencies to work together to provide recipients with much-needed health services.
It is also seen to strengthen the government’s peacebuilding efforts, as it sends a clear and strong signal that it is determined to improve the lives of the beneficiaries and support their journey towards their complete and meaningful transformation.
The provision of socioeconomic assistance and services is among the key components of the Transformation and Normalization Programs that seek to sustain and build on the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process.
The Transformation Program is a community-driven intervention that is being implemented in parallel with the Local Peace Engagement (LPE) initiative, which aims to uplift the socioeconomic conditions of former rebels, their families, and communities.
On the other hand, the Normalization Program, which is under Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is designed to help decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants return to mainstream society as peaceful and productive citizens.
Synergy of efforts
In his remarks during the signing ceremony, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., underscored that “health and peace must go together.”
Galvez noted that aside from the annual budget allocation of Php 58.8 million that has been allotted under OPAPRU’s budget to fund the PhilHealth premiums of former rebels and decommissioned combatants, the MOA bolsters the provision of healthcare and other medical services to the beneficiaries.
“There are more or less 40,000 former rebels and CPP-NPA [members]na nagbalik loob na sa atin. There are also 727 na mga dating [NPA] Rejectionist Group in the areas of Aklan, Regions 6 and 7, and Davao na magiging beneficiaries na po nito,” he explained.
Under the MAIFIP, the beneficiaries will be able to avail of health services in public hospitals throughout the country with financial and medical assistance provided by the national government.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Paz V. Pecson-Corrales, OPAPRU consultant, noted that “It has always been the end goal of our offices to help those in need in whatever ways we can provide. And through our collective efforts by signing this Memorandum of Agreement between our offices, we will achieve so much more.”
“The MAIFIP has been a program that transcends the concept of extending a helping hand…lives have changed for the better because of this initiative. Families were saved, ailments were cured, [and] assistance was given to those who need it most,” Corrales added.
A dream come true
In his message, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa shared that the joint initiative has long been envisioned by the DOH and OPAPRU and has now finally come into fruition.
According to Herbosa, the MOA is a realization of the national government’s commitment to provide much-needed medical assistance to former rebels and decommissioned combatants.
“Through this MOA, we can provide the medical and financial needs of former rebels…Pilipino rin sila and they are entitled to the assistance of the government, especially of the Department of Health. Para maramdaman nila ang kalinga ng gobyerno, [para maramdaman] ng bawat Pilipino ang kalusugan,” Herbosa said.
For his part, Galvez noted that the collaborative effort between the DOH and OPAPRU is a significant step in addressing the health concerns of beneficiaries and improving their overall well-being.
“Ito ay isa sa mga susi na pwede nating ibigay sa ating mga decommissioned combatants,” he said.
“With this signing of a Memorandum of Agreement, we will be able to improve the delivery of healthcare services. We will be able to effectively address the health conditions of our beneficiaries, especially those who need vital medication or other forms of treatment,” Galvez stressed. ###
SUMISIP, BASILAN — As a testament of his unwavering commitment to bring greater peace, security and stability to this once conflict-ridden island province, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Saturday, March 2, led the smelting of 550 surrendered firearms. (more…)
Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi (29 February 2024) — In a bid to improve residents’ access to reliable renewable energy sources and boost the island-province’s economy, top national, provincial and donor agency officials launched on Thursday, February 28, two solar PV diesel hybrid power plant projects in the coastal communities of Sibutu and Sitangkai.
The launching ceremony was led by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi, Department of Energy, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU). (more…)
Office of the Presidential Adviser
on the Peace, Reconciliation and Unity
5/F Agustin I Building, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig, Philippines
Office of the Secretary: +632 637-6083
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Email: [email protected]
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