Philippine Canadian Inquirer (National)
Bangsamoro Organic...
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed six years ago,” he noted.
Galvez expressed optimism that “with the mechanisms that are now being put in place, we can surmount all of the challenges we are facing.”
Socioeconomic assistance: A shared responsibility
He, however, clarified that the provision of socioeconomic assistance for the decommissioned combatants “is a shared responsibility of the national and Bangsamoro governments.”
“They (combatants) should understand that the government also has limitations in terms of funding, and has to balance this concern with the equally important fund requirements of other emergency programs,” Galvez said, adding, “Rest assured that the government will fulfill its promise to change the lives of the Moro people through inclusive development.”
Last year, the government has earmarked PHP2 billion for the Normalization Program in which the combatants, their families and communities will receive comprehensive socio-economic packages which include social protection, sustainable livelihood programs, capacity-building trainings, health benefits and educational assistance.
Through these interventions, it is envisioned that the exfighters will be able to return to mainstream society, and the six government-acknowledged MILF camps and communities will be transformed into peaceful, productive and resilient communities.
Under the ongoing second phase of decommissioning process, at least 30 percent or 12,000 combatants will be decommissioned and their weapons put beyond use. Another 35 percent of the MILF forces will undergo the same procedure next year, while the rest will undergo the process until 2022 in time for the Exit Agreement between the government and the MILF.
Peacekeeping forces in the Bangsamoro
Meanwhile, Galvez highlighted the ongoing training being participated in by Moro Islamic Liberation Front-bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILFBIAF), which will qualify them to be part of the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTS).
“The 6th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other training camps of the armed forces are already ready for these [JPST] trainings,” he said.
The JPSTS are composed of representatives from the AFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), and MILF-BIAF. They will serve as peacekeeping forces as the decommissioning process is carried out, and secure the safety of communities in the BARMM.
Senator Ronald de la Rosa lauded the impressive performance of the MILF members of the JPST, saying “It was reported to me that the MILF component of the JPST are snappy and exceed the performance of the AFP and PNP contingents.”
In August 2019, 219 MILF combatants completed their basic military training which is a requirement for JPST membership. In November last year, the second batch of JPST underwent the same training.
Galvez said they are eyeing members of the MILF who underwent the JPST trainings to be part of the AFP and PNP.
Commitment of support from int’l donor community
Representatives from the international donor community who were invited as resource persons during the Senate hearing reaffirmed their continued support to the Bangsamoro peace process.
European Union (EU) Deputy Head of Delegation Thomas Wiersing noted the EU has been one of the “biggest foreign development partners to provide support to Mindanao and the peace process involving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Government of the Philippines.”
“The ratification of the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region constitutes a major step. The EU is pleased to note the progress being made in the Bangsamoro Peace Process,” Wiersing said.
He also bared the EU’S upcoming initiatives to be implemented in the BARMM which includes the Peace and Development in the BARMM (PDBARMM) with a funding cost of 25 million Euros (around PHP1.42 billion), and the Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) with a program cost of 25 million Euros.
Wiersing explained that both programs are designed to address pressing issues that may arise during the BARMM’S transition period and beyond.
On the other hand, Ambassador of Turkey to the Philippines Artemiz Sumer said her government shall continue to carry out socioeconomic interventions that will help sustain the gains of peace in the BARMM.
“We aim to continue contributing with the socioeconomic development of BARMM via the Turkish International Development Agency…[ We] would like to continue to support the transition process with this socio-economic development aid projects, in close coordination of course with relevant Philippine authorities,” Sumer said.
For his part, Embassy of Japan Deputy Chief of Mission Minister Yasushi Yamamoto commended the Philippine government for throwing its full support behind the BARMM as it makes the transition, as well as for the effective implementation of the Normalization Program.
“We also recognize how the Philippine government carries out strong support to the BTA. We highly appreciate the implementation of the normalization process including the decommissioning of combatants and livelihood programs for decommissioned combatants and communities,” Yamamoto said. “We will walk together with the Philippine Government and the Bangsamoro Government for lasting peace and development in the Bangsamoro.”
Meanwhile, British Embassy Chargé d’affaires Alistair Totty shared that his government over the years has been working with the Bangsamoro Region and the BTA to “understand from them what’s the most useful thing the British Government can do to support this process in coordination with our fellow donors and the national government.”
Totty also discussed specific areas where they can provide support to the region, which include programs to capacitate the BTA, as well as empower and educate civil society organizations. The British Government’s financial assistance for the BARMM will amount to 3 million pounds, he said. ■