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been instrumental in ending decades of armed conflict in the region.

The recommitment ceremony comes two months before the commemoration of the 10th year anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the landmark peace deal signed by the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2014.

The event, which brought together peacebuilders, peace workers and peace advocates to exchange their knowledge, experiences and best practices in peacebuilding, was spearheaded by the Principles For Peace (P4P).

Commitment to peace

In her opening remarks, Ms. Teresita Quintos Deles, former presidential peace adviser and member of the P4P Governing Board emphasized that the “Bangsamoro peace matters, not just to the Bangsamoro, not just to Mindanao, but to the entire nation.”

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr, noted that despite challenges in the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace process, it has continued to move forward through the collective effort of all stakeholders.

“But in the face of difficulties that have come our way over the years, we have shown remarkable resilience and a steadfast determination to push forward and build on the gains of peace,” Galvez said.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal expressed the MILF’s unwavering commitment to peace, saying, “I cannot overstate the significance of this peace agreement that allowed us to move away from violence…”

“[It] provided us an alternative from the cycle of destruction. Hopefully the peaceful path will resolve differences and give hope for those affected by conflict promising a better tomorrow,” Iqbal added.

Peace milestones

Major peace milestones have been achieved since the signing of the CAB, which are a testament of the government and MILF’s steadfast commitment to sustain and build on the gains of peace.

These include the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim

Mindanao (BARMM) and its interim government, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which has pushed for greater inclusivity and promoted good moral governance in the BARMM.

Over the past four years since its establishment, the BTA’s Parliament has focused on uplifting the lives of its people and unleashing the full economic potential of the region, which has resulted in the passage of five priority codes.

Through the Normalization Program under the CAB, a total of 26,145 MILF combatants have successfully completed the decommissioning process, while their communities are being transformed into show windows of peace and development.

With the completion of the third phase of the decommissioning process, at least 400 members of the MILF and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are now part of the nation’s police force and will help in ensuring the safety and protection of residents in the region.

Moreover, at least 1,848 firearms of MNLF members have been documented, as 1,705 combatants have completed the socio-economic assessment and received Php 45,000.00 each as transitional cash assistance under the MNLF Transformation Program.

Transformative peace journey

With these accomplishments under the Bangsamoro peace process, Galvez urged all stakeholders to harmonize their peacebuilding interventions so that they will have a greater impact among individuals and communities in the BARMM.

“Let us keep in mind, it is not just enough for us to ensure that we are on the right track and on time, but more importantly, the quality of the implementation of the Bangsamoro Peace Agreement. It should be a transformative journey towards justice, equality, and shared prosperity,” he said.

The recommitment ceremony was highlighted by the signing of the pledge of commitment by the different peace stakeholders, which was received by Galvez as a testament of their steadfast support to the peace process in the Bangsamoro.