BASILAN – Governor Jim Salliman-Hataman has urged members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Basilan to remain united in their efforts to improve their well-being while focusing on peace and development rather than politics.
“Let’s not give political colors to the process, but more on our collective efforts to achieve a sustainable peace in Basilan,” Governor Salliman emphasized during the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) Caravan held on Wednesday, February 25, in Lamitan City.
The governor highlighted the importance of ownership in the collaborative efforts between national and local governments to support the normalization and transformation of former MILF and MNLF combatants. He assured the participants that the provincial government of Basilan remains committed to their collective quest for peace and unity.
The ICCMN Caravan provided various government services to hundreds of MILF and MNLF members and their families in Basilan. Around 24 ICCMN member-agencies, including six ministries from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, the provincial government of Basilan, and Lamitan City, participated in the initiative. The services offered included agricultural assistance, medical services, civil and cooperative registration, health insurance, internet access, and amnesty applications for former rebels.
International organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Non-violent Peace Force, Fondation Suisse de Deminage, and private sector groups like the Ayala Foundation also contributed by setting up educational booths to guide beneficiaries on accessing peace, educational, development, gender, and social enterprise programs.
The ICCMN, established through Executive Order No. 79 and later amended by EO No. 6 s. 2022, is responsible for ensuring the timely and efficient implementation of the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). The body aims to transform MILF combatants and their communities into peaceful and productive members of society while turning their camps into zones of peace and development. The ICCMN is co-chaired by Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr.
The caravan, spearheaded by ICCMN member-agencies, sought to directly address the immediate needs of decommissioned MILF combatants and their communities through essential services. Long-term initiatives such as infrastructure projects, scholarships, and livelihood programs were also introduced.
Lamitan Mayor Roderick “Oric” Furigay commended the initiative for uniting various stakeholders in delivering essential services and opportunities to MILF members and other beneficiaries. He acknowledged the commitment of government agencies and partners in supporting the dignified transition from conflict to peace through programs focused on health, livelihood, education, and social protection.
“To our decommissioned combatants, your courage in embracing peace is commendable, and we stand with you in this journey,” Mayor Furigay stated, extending gratitude to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP), the BARMM Government, Basilan Provincial Government, and other partner agencies.
In a message delivered by OSAP Assistant Secretary Ria Lumapas on behalf of Lagdameo, the national government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the delivery of essential services and the reintegration of former combatants into society. Lagdameo noted that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aims to build on the gains of previous peace efforts to ensure sustainable progress for the Bangsamoro people.
Additionally, Lagdameo announced the signing of Republic Act No. 12123 by President Marcos, which resets the first parliamentary elections in the BARMM. This move is intended to provide more time for both the national and Bangsamoro governments to ensure peaceful and credible elections, fostering honest, transparent, and accountable governance in the region.
The ICCMN Caravan represents a crucial step in sustaining peace and development in Basilan, reinforcing the government’s dedication to fostering stability and inclusivity in the Bangsamoro region.
