Peace process shifts to reconciliation
THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was renamed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) as the agency expands its mandate to preserve and sustain President Rodrigo Duterte’s legacy of peace in the country.
During the official launching of OPAPRU in Pasay City on Wednesday, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said the agency is not only committed to transform the lives of its beneficiaries, their families and communities, but also in “focusing on improving the organization’s systems, processes, and procedures in order to more effectively and efficiently implement” its sustainable programs and projects.
“Our organization is not only focused on fulfilling the national government’s commitment under all signed peace agreements but also fostering reconciliation and unity among our people and nation,” Galvez said in his speech.
“Despite the many challenges we continue to face with the pandemic and the emerging realities on the ground, the OPAPRU is determined more than ever to sustain the gains of the peace process by helping the transformation of former combatants and their families into peaceful and productive members of the society,” he added.
Galvez said the OPAPRU will continue to strengthen its mission to supervise all aspects of the comprehensive peace process and boost the promotion of national reconciliation and unity.
The agency remains steadfast in fulfilling its mission to end the culture of violence, transform the lives of former combatants, as well as improve relationships among former rebels, communities, and government institutions by pushing long-lasting peace.
Duterte, whose six-year term is coming to an end, signed Executive Order 158 on Dec. 27, 2021 reorganizing and renaming the OPAPP.
Under its expanded mandate, the OPAPRU shall “manage, direct, integrate and supervise — on behalf of the President — all aspects of the Philippine’s peace process” including initiatives that promote and reinforce national reconciliation and unity.
Galvez said the agency was able to help former rebels and their families by giving them sustainable livelihood and uplifting their way of life as they become farmers, traders, entrepreneurs and peacekeepers through various intervention programs.
He added that the agency helped establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Transition Government.
Decommissioned members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Maguindanao were given livelihood assistance by the national government which they used to establish small businesses and expand their farm lands.
“In Jolo, Sulu, we are seeing Moro National Liberation Front combatants address the [security] situation as well as convince members of the extremist group to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law,” Galvez said.
Galvez said that the peace situation was also improving in Central Luzon after local government units (LGUs) declared the communist groups persona non grata which resulted in the surrender of communist rebels.
“[The LGUs] are taking the lead in conducting localized peace engagements which resulted in the peaceful surrender of hundreds of communist rebels,” he added.
In the Cordillera Administrative Region, livelihood opportunities were provided to members of the extremist group Cordillera Bodong Administration–Cordillera People’s Liberation Army.
Several surrendered combatants of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa–Revolutionary Proletarian Army–Alex Boncayao Brigade in Visayas have also recently moved into brand new housing units provided to them by the LGUs when they signed peace agreements.
“In Marawi City, peace conversation and interreligious talks are carried out to repair the torn social fabric and ensure the resilience of conflict-affected communities,” Galvez said.
“If there is one thing that we have learned in almost three decades of our peace-building efforts, it is the need for greater collaboration with the different agencies and development partners,” he said. “I am very confident that the next administration will prioritize the peace process and will be implementing the good legacy of the Duterte administration.”