Manila, Philippines — April 14, 2025 — In a landmark move aimed at deepening evidence-based peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) formalized a strategic partnership with the globally-renowned Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) marks a significant step forward in embedding data-driven approaches into the heart of the Philippines’ peace and development initiatives, a move seen as vital for ensuring sustainable and measurable progress toward national stability.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. emphasized the importance of grounding peace efforts in reliable research and comprehensive data analysis. He acknowledged the IEP’s tools — particularly the Global Peace Index (GPI) and the Positive Peace Framework — for enhancing the government’s ability to implement and monitor peace programs.
“With OPAPRU and IEP working together, we aim to strengthen conflict prevention strategies, bolster community resilience, and empower local governments through evidence-backed training, policy dialogues, and capacity-building programs,” Galvez said.
Galvez also reaffirmed OPAPRU’s commitment to integrating peace metrics into both national and local policies, ensuring that decisions are guided by data and research rather than speculation or short-term solutions.
The partnership highlights a growing recognition of the role that empirical data and structured analysis play in fostering peace. For IEP, an institution at the forefront of measuring peace worldwide, this collaboration offers an opportunity to help refine the Philippines’ approach to conflict transformation.
IEP Country Representative Crisostomo Bas, Jr. lauded the partnership, stating that the MOU “will pave the way for relevant and practical programs anchored on OPAPRU’s vision of a just and lasting peace.”
Bas also underlined the power of IEP’s research tools in translating peace into measurable outcomes. The GPI, for example, tracks societal safety, ongoing conflict levels, and militarization, while the Positive Peace Index (PPI) identifies the underlying structures that sustain peace, such as well-functioning government institutions and equitable resource distribution.
Data from the IEP shows that the financial cost of violence to the Philippine economy is significant — estimated at $55.9 million annually, equivalent to 3.3% of GDP or approximately PHP 25,000 per Filipino citizen per year. However, the country’s upward shift in the GPI rankings, moving nine places in 2024 to 104th, signals promising progress.
IEP Founder and Chairman Steve Killelea praised the Philippines for improving its peace status, moving from a “low-peace” to a “mid-peace” classification. Killelea emphasized that meaningful and lasting peace can only be achieved through measurable and evidence-based actions.
“Quite simply, if you can’t measure something, you can’t truly understand it,” he said. “Data helps us know whether our actions are moving us forward or holding us back — the same applies to peace.”
The event also drew support from national agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa, through a message delivered by Assistant National Statistician Kristine Joy Briones, stressed the vital role of data in driving peace policy and action.
“Let this be a strong reminder that peace is measurable and progress is possible with shared commitment, innovation, and the right data,” Briones said.
The partnership between OPAPRU and IEP is expected to foster collaboration not just at the national level but also across local governments and civil society, placing research and evidence at the center of policymaking and program design. As the Philippines continues its journey from conflict to stability, such efforts underscore the principle that sustainable peace is not just aspirational — it’s achievable and measurable.