Mindanao’s road to peace

BY SECRETARY CARLITO G. GALVEZ, JR.

Dec 9, 2024 07:26 AM

  

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PEACE BY PEACE
 

 

(Part 1)

 

As we celebrated this year’s Mindanao Week of Peace, I traveled across the island region last week to hold dialogues with our peace partners and launch programs to further promote the culture of peace, mutual understanding, and dialogue in the region.

I had an interesting conversation with Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. when I visited his beautiful province. As we sat at his office, the first thing he asked me was, “Secretary, have you seen the holiest and most luxurious road in the country?” 

I tried to recall all the roads I’ve passed through in the country over the years. I’ve perhaps traversed all the major thoroughfares in the Philippines but I couldn’t remember setting foot on what he described as a ‘holy’ or ‘luxurious’ road. 

Then with a big smile, the governor explained, “What I meant was, ‘hole-iest’ and ‘lukso-rious’ road.” By holy he meant full of holes, and by luxurious he was referring to lukso, a Filipino word for jumping – or in this case, one’s body literally jumping up in the air when passing through the potholed highway.
According to the governor, the poor state of Agusan del Sur’s infrastructure, particularly its road network, has pushed back the area’s development for decades. He shared that it was only during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term that this concern was finally addressed.

And so, we made a commitment to him right then and there that we would be allotting around ₱210 million in funds under OPAPRU’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program to have the NRJ (Veruela) - Limot - Candiis - Davao de Oro Boundary Road rehabilitated in 2025. This road project will traverse NTF-ELCAC recommended areas — communities that have been cleared from insurgency but are still confronting the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment.

The good governor and I agree that good infrastructure and mobility networks drive economic growth and progress. Under the dynamic leadership of the province’s top executive, we have no doubt that Agusan del Sur will soon emerge as a leading agricultural and food production “hub” not only in the CARAGA region but in the whole of Mindanao.

As we were about to end our meeting, the governor pointed to a picture where he was standing shoulder to shoulder with top political figures of Agusan del Sur. He then exclaimed: “Here in Agusan del Sur, we are all united.  We work as one with the district and regional representatives.” I told the governor that I couldn’t agree more. 

On the same day, I, together with the governor and other military and provincial officials, inaugurated Agusan del Sur’s Kalinow Peace Center, a facility to be operated by the provincial government. It will serve as the ‘nerve center’ for all its peacebuilding and development interventions in the province. Because we all believe that ‘peace is the fundamental foundation of prosperity.’ 

The establishment of the Peace Center is a major milestone in the province’s quest to end the decades-long communist insurgency in the area. It symbolizes the national and Agusan del Sur provincial governments’ steadfast commitment to bring genuine peace and development to the people.

With the ₱8 million funds provided to the Agusan del Sur provincial government, the Peace Center will implement initiatives to support the transformation of former rebels (FRs) such as deradicalization programs, localized peace engagements, and livelihood projects. 

In a powerful speech delivered by Gov. Cane during the center’s launching ceremony, he lauded and thanked 64 FRs who on that day made their oath of allegiance to the nation for “giving peace and development a chance to return here in the province.” 

I was also moved by the testimony of Jonah Cossma Jumagpas, an FR who now works for the Agusan del Sur provincial government. She said the establishment of the peace center is a major step for the province in “creating a better and brighter future for former rebels like her.”

In my remarks during the program, I underscored the significance of the peace center, saying that it is not a mere facility but a collective effort to further strengthen and build on the gains of peace in the province.

 

(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation, and unity.)

Highlighting PH’s role in women empowerment

 BY SECRETARY CARLITO G. GALVEZ, JR.

Oct 28, 2024 09:26 AM 

PEACE BY PEACE

“Everyone faces up more bravely to a thing for which he has long prepared himself, sufferings, even, being withstood if they have been trained for in advance. Those who are unprepared, on the other hand, are panic-stricken by the most insignificant happenings.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4BC-65AD) 

The wisdom of the stoic philosopher from Ancient Rome, who wrote on war and conflict, applies to our modern perspective on peace. Seneca believes that by experiencing pain and suffering, one becomes attuned and more ready in facing conflicts.  In reflection, knowledge and experiences may be shared in a community and the community of nations in addressing conflicts and achieving peace, in a less tortuous way.  

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and their partners the UN Women, the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), and the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN IPR) took almost a year to organize the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS).

Delegates from over 80 countries across the globe are gathering here in Manila to participate in the three-day ICWPS which begins today, Oct. 28,  and ends on Wednesday, Oct. 30.  Delegates started arriving Friday even before typhoons Kristine and Leon clear out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

 

Women in peace building, 
 

The ICWPS gives the international community an opportunity to shine the spotlight and reaffirm the key role of women in peacebuilding at a time when armed conflict has once again taken center stage. Wars highlight the tragic cost of conflict—particularly on women and children who are the most affected by violence, displacement, and the absence of essential services. 

The event underscores the leadership shown by the country over the years in promoting the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda on the global stage. Through its National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAPWPS), the Philippines has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that Filipino women are actively involved in the peacebuilding, policy and decision-making process. By hosting the event, the Philippines is sending a clear and strong message that women are not just victims; they are agents of positive change who are instrumental to achieving lasting peace. We have endured the pains and we are in the best position to share our learnings to the world. 

The three-day conference will bring together women leaders, peacebuilders, policymakers, and advocates from different parts of the world. Among them are United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed, as well as ministers and vice ministers from 22 nations. The international gathering will focus on assessing the progress nations have made in pushing forward the WPS agenda. Discussions will center on key themes such as the role of women in peace processes, the implementation of national action plans, financing for WPS initiatives, and the intersections between gender, climate, peace, and security.

 

Capacity to bridge divides
 

In the context of ongoing global conflicts, the significance of these discussions cannot be overemphasized. In war-torn areas, women are often at the frontlines and although they are the ones who bear the brunt of violence, they are still able to rise above these challenges as they spearhead initiatives to resolve situations of conflict and bring peace to their communities. Whether organizing ceasefires, rebuilding war-ravaged towns, or advocating for human rights, women have consistently proven that they have the capability to bridge divides, unite warring factions, and foster peace — while taking care of their families.

 During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum wherein Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and I were guests to promote the ICWPS, I emphasized that lasting peace can only be achieved when women are included and given the chance to let their voices be heard. I believe that women must be given a regular seat at the table in the decision-making process and in shaping policies that affect their communities and nations.

The ICWPS will also tackle the challenges in funding and implementing the WPS agenda. As Secretary Pangandaman pointed out, cooperation between governments, international institutions, and the private sector is essential to ensuring that WPS initiatives do not remain just on paper. The conference will look at strategies for mobilizing resources to support women-led peacebuilding efforts as well as address gaps in the roll out of national action plans on WPS. With 23 side events and thematic discussions, the conference will assess the current implementation of the WPS agenda and generate recommendations to enhance its implementation.

One of the key features of the conference will be its parliamentary panel, where local legislators will engage in dialogue with their international counterparts, allowing them to learn about best practices from other nations. This exchange of ideas is crucial in ensuring that the Philippines and other countries will continue to recalibrate and refine their approaches and strategies on how they are implementing their respective WPS agenda based on emerging realities on the ground.

 

Commitment to empower women
 

As the world watches, the Philippines takes advantage of this rare opportunity to demonstrate its dedication and commitment to empowering women as prime movers in peace and nation-building. This conference pays tribute and continues the legacy of peace built by trailblazers such as Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and the late Atty. Haydee Yorac. These lady peace champions’ contributions to the nation’s peace processes have shaped the country’s approach to negotiations, conflict mediation and resolution.

We enjoin everyone to showcase our renowned hospitality, pride in our culture and acumen to forge and sustain peace. Let us show the rest of the world how they can embrace the best practices in being ready for peace (not war) without them going through the pains of those who have done so.

As the world continues to grapple with complex, violent conflicts, the ICWPS provides a much-needed platform for collaboration, innovation – and action. It is a testament to the Philippines’ commitment to the global WPS agenda and a clarion call to the international community that peace can only be achieved through the meaningful participation of all members of society — with women leading the charge in this global undertaking.

 

(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation, and unity.)