MANILA – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) on Monday vowed to expand this year all peace gains it has achieved in 2023.
OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez made this statement during the agency’s New Year’s Call and monthly General Assembly, the agency said in a news release on Monday night.
Galvez also launched OPAPRU slogan for the year, “Peace: Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,” upon which all of the agency’s peacebuilding interventions will be anchored.
He noted that the peace process significantly affects the lives of every Filipino “regardless of social standing, gender, ethnicity, religion or personal beliefs.”
During this event, the OPAPRU chief thanked and commended OPAPRU personnel for the crucial role they have played in achieving the major milestones in the comprehensive Philippine peace process in the past year even as he stressed the need for the agency to reach out more and actively involve the public in the peacebuilding process.
The OPAPRU chief also called on the agency’s employees to work closely with the other government agencies and “remain steadfast at all times to ensure that the hard-won gains of peace are not only maintained, but also nurtured and strengthened in the coming years.”
The agency earlier described 2023 a banner year for the country’s comprehensive peace process.
Under the Bangsamoro peace process, the Bangsamoro Parliament has passed five of its priority codes, which aim to uplift the people’s socioeconomic conditions and boost the region’s economy.
Further, the third phase of the decommissioning process of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants was successfully completed in 2023.
In partnership with local government units in provinces, Galvez said Local Peace Engagement efforts and its Transformation Program were successfully carried out to help former rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society and to rebuild their lives as peaceful and productive civilians.
He added that the government also continued to move forward the peace processes with the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) and KAPATIRAN, through the implementation of the Normalization Program that will enable the groups’ members and families to improve their socioeconomic well-being.
Meanwhile, through the OPAPRU’s Social Healing and Peacebuilding Program (SHAPE) and the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan Program (PAMANA), the agency is helping to bring social cohesion and build much-needed socioeconomic projects in focus areas throughout the country. (PNA)