Focus on Child Protection, Indigenous Inclusion, and Sustainable Peace in Mindanao
DAVAO CITY — The Joint Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (JRTF-ELCAC) XI held its 2nd Quarter Meeting on June 27 at the Office of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), renewing its strong commitment to advancing peace and development across Region XI through inclusive, conflict-sensitive strategies.
The meeting highlighted key initiatives aimed at safeguarding children from the impacts of armed conflict and enhancing the participation of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in peacebuilding efforts—aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for social justice-driven and inclusive national development.
MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, who also serves as the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region XI, emphasized the importance of sustaining the region’s insurgency-free status. He described this achievement as a testament to effective collaboration and a call for continued vigilance.
“Peace is not achieved by security alone, but through inclusive development, responsive governance, and community empowerment,” Magno stated, underscoring the administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” vision rooted in unity and progress.
One of the major milestones of the meeting was the formal establishment of the Inter-Agency Committee on Children Involved in Armed Conflict (IAC-CIAC). This was coupled with the regional launch of the 4th National Plan of Action for Children, which seeks to protect the youth from conflict-related violence and exploitation.
Assistant Secretary Agnes Cervantes of the Department of Foreign Affairs shared a diplomatic breakthrough: the Philippines’ recognition in the 2025 United Nations Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict. She attributed this acknowledgment to the country’s intensified peace and protection efforts under the current administration.
Cervantes also pointed to the recent peace engagement in Talaingod, Davao del Norte as an international model for grassroots peacebuilding, where Indigenous leadership and community engagement were central to fostering harmony and development.
To institutionalize peacebuilding nationwide, the Council adopted a resolution endorsing the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace, and Development (NAP-UPDev) across all levels of governance. This move ensures that local governments integrate peace initiatives into their development plans and community programs.
Secretary Magno recognized the critical roles played by the Localized Peace Engagement and Amnesty clusters led by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU). He also praised the Reintegration Track, which provides former rebels—including child returnees and Indigenous individuals—with access to education, livelihood assistance, and psychosocial support.
“Let us work together to ensure that peace is not just preserved, but felt by every community in the region,” Magno urged, calling on stakeholders to make peacebuilding efforts tangible in the lives of Mindanaoans.
The meeting brought together local government units, national agencies, and international partners in a display of unity and collective resolve. Their shared goal: to protect the vulnerable, empower Indigenous communities, and build a more peaceful, resilient Mindanao in line with President Marcos’s peace roadmap.