PASAY CITY — The Senate’s swift approval of the ₱8.9-billion budget of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) for 2026 is being hailed as a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing peace process—strengthening not only security efforts but also education and socioeconomic transformation in conflict-affected areas.
Central to the budget is the ₱1.7-billion increase for the Educational Assistance Program (EAP), a fund that aims to help the families of former combatants from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), as well as qualified Indigenous Peoples. Under the program, each learner may receive ₱50,000 per school year, enabling thousands to pursue formal education.
Senator Loren Legarda, who championed the budget hike, described the allocation as a “peace, security, and education budget rolled into one,” highlighting its long-term impact on communities transitioning away from decades of armed conflict.
“In conflict-affected communities, education is a proven deterrent to recruitment, a pathway to economic mobility, and a stabilizing force,” Legarda said as she underscored the role of education in preventing the re-emergence of armed groups.
A Lifeline for Former Combatants’ Families
The EAP is expected to support around 32,000 beneficiaries, mainly family members of decommissioned MILF and MNLF fighters. By helping former combatants build sustainable livelihoods through the education of their children and dependents, the program aims to cut the cycle of poverty, radicalization, and vulnerability to recruitment.
The initiative forms part of the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which outlines socioeconomic interventions meant to anchor long-term peace. The Normalization Track seeks to uplift communities through education, livelihood, and reintegration efforts, ensuring that reforms keep pace with the political transition in the Bangsamoro region.
Strengthening Human Development in Marginalized Communities
Lawmakers see the EAP as more than a welfare program—it is a strategic investment in human capital. By giving former combatants’ families and IP youth access to education, the program helps build resilience, reduce marginalization, and strengthen social cohesion.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate finance panel, credited Legarda for pushing the educational intervention, noting that education emerged as the “top request” among communities returning to civilian life.
“If there is one thing they value most, it is education for their children and the future of their families,” Gatchalian said.
Executive Branch: Education Is the Foundation of Lasting Peace
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. welcomed the budget approval, describing the education allocation as “a strategic investment in the peace process.” For Galvez, empowering the next generation of former combatants is key to ensuring that the gains of peace become irreversible.
“When we equip the children of former combatants with books, skills, and degrees, we are effectively disarming the forces of violence and poverty,” he said.
“This budget replaces the barrel of a gun with the power of a pen.”
Galvez assured lawmakers that OPAPRU would implement the program with strict transparency and efficiency, saying each peso must translate into opportunities for communities once caught in conflict.
Awaiting Bicameral Approval
With the Senate’s nod secured, the OPAPRU budget now moves to the Bicameral Conference Committee. Legarda expressed hope that the ₱1.7-billion EAP augmentation will remain intact during the final deliberations, emphasizing that it is “too important to be removed.”
If upheld, the expanded educational assistance is expected to play a transformative role in the Bangsamoro region—ensuring that the path to peace is paved not just with political agreements, but with real opportunities for learning, dignity, and growth.