GENERAL SANTOS CITY, December 3, 2024 — A significant step towards sustaining peace and development in Mindanao was marked on Tuesday as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) jointly turned over Php 25 million worth of farm equipment to former MNLF combatants.
The ceremony, held at Mindanao State University-General Santos City, featured the handover of eight tractors, six rice combine harvesters, a corn sheller, and necessary machinery accessories to MNLF members. These resources form part of the MNLF Transformation Program, an initiative rooted in the socio-economic provisions of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.
Transforming Lives and Communities
The Transformation Program seeks to improve the lives of former MNLF combatants and their families by fostering self-reliance and productivity in their communities. Its four pillars—security, socio-economic development, confidence-building, and community healing and reconciliation—guide the comprehensive approach.
OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., MNLF Chair Muslimin Sema, and MSU-General Santos City Chancellor Atty. Shidik T. Abantas led the ceremonial turnover, joined by representatives from the Government of the Philippines (GPH), MNLF Management Committees, and community leaders.
The initiative aims to boost agricultural productivity in key areas, including Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani. Funding for the program comes from the 2023 budget of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program.
A Commitment to Peace
MNLF Management Committee Chair Uttoh Salem Cutan expressed gratitude for the government’s support and urged beneficiaries to maximize the equipment’s potential.
“We are committed to sustaining the momentum of peace,” Cutan said, emphasizing the importance of careful maintenance of the equipment to ensure long-term benefits.
Chair Sema echoed this sentiment, extending appreciation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for upholding the peace process.
“Peace is not only the cessation of hostilities but also peace in our minds,” Sema stated, highlighting the program’s focus on skill development in agriculture and other livelihoods to foster sustainable growth.
Fulfilling Peace Agreements
BGEN. Buenaventura Pascual (Ret.), Chair of the GPH Management Committee, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to fulfilling the commitments under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement. He revealed that 74 projects, including the provision of agricultural machinery and disaster management facilities, have been approved for implementation.
“The success of these projects lies in the strong partnership with the MNLF and community stakeholders,” Pascual said. He also noted that MNLF members recently completed training sessions on farming techniques, financial literacy, and equipment maintenance.
Strengthening Collaboration
Secretary Galvez emphasized the need for sustained collaboration between the government and MNLF to ensure the program’s success.
“Peacebuilding is a collective effort,” Galvez said. “Through this partnership, we aim to deliver meaningful interventions that will uplift the lives of former combatants and their communities.”
He lauded the progress made under the program, including the socio-economic profiling of nearly 2,000 combatants and the documentation of almost 2,000 firearms.
The event, held during the Mindanao Week of Peace, underscores the government’s enduring commitment to fostering a peaceful and prosperous Mindanao.