Basilan to pilot localized normalization program

WESTMINCOM, ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Provincial Government of Basilan inked an agreement on Friday, January 26, wherein the latter will take the lead in the implementation of the Normalization Program in the province.

The Normalization Program is a key component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which aims to transform former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants into peaceful and productive civilians and their areas into progressive and resilient communities.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., and Basilan Governor Hajiman Salliman Hataman led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement at the Eisenhower Hall inside the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Headquarters.

A collective commitment

"The ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity and the provincial local government of Basilan to roll out the Localizing Normalization Implementation or LNI, is a testament of our collective commitment in moving forward and sustaining the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process," Galvez said in his remarks during the ceremony.

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Governor Hadjiman Hataman Salliman and other local officials of the province for fully supporting the pilot implementation of the LNI in Basilan. It is our hope that your province will serve as an example for other PLGUs to emulate," he emphasized.

"Indeed, the increased collaboration and complementation among all sectors of the community, under the leadership of the provincial government, will ensure the successful implementation of the LNI here in the province," Galvez noted.

"As members of our community, we must join forces and work hand-inhand to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of programs and projects that aim to address the different aspects of the Normalization Program which include security, socio-economic development, confidencebuilding, and transitional justice, as well as political participation," Galvez stressed.

Locally-driven but holistic approach

The LNI intends to establish an efficient management and implementation structure capable of carrying out the Normalization Program using a localized but holistic and integrated approach.

It shall be "locally-led and interagency/national government agency-supported” to be effective, as the program seeks to strike a balance between enriching competencies and authorities already exercised by LGUs under RA 7160 or the Local Government Code and the BARMM under RA 11054.

The LNI concept largely "depends on the local structure." As such, its framework is designed to adjust and adapt to certain peculiarities in terms of the capacities and needs of LGUs and their areas of coverage.

The effective localized implementation of