MANILA, May 18 – Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has called on leaders and representatives of non-profit and charitable organizations to engage in efforts that would advance the peace process in the country.
During the 39th Annual General Assembly of the Association of Foundations (AF) held recently at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati, Deles urged them to help spur hope among the people, particularly when there are challenges surrounding the peace process.
“Don’t just put projects and feeding programs, but imagine with us to help communities understand peace, especially in times of disappointment and cynicism,” she said, likewise stressing the need to help poor communities become resilient to conflict.
Deles provided updates on the Aquino administration’s ongoing peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).
She also cited possible areas in the peace process in which civil society can contribute. Among these include peacemaking through faithful advocacy, promotion and information dissemination, and providing technical support and advice.
Further, the peace adviser underlined President Benigno Aquino III’s policy thrust of exercising transparency and inclusiveness in the peace talks “with the aim to restore full confidence and trust in the process.”
OPAPP Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo, who also attended the event, briefed the participants on the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) or PAMANA program, the government’s flagship peace and development program.
Concerns from civil society
During the open forum, one participant from a Mindanao-based foundation said that some civil society groups are reluctant to participate in government peace efforts for “fear of being tagged as part of the government’s anti-insurgency efforts.”
“Programs like PAMANA are perceived as counter-insurgency actions,” he stated.
On this, Deles said that it is but common to “be called bad names not only by people we talk to across the table, but by other people who do not agree that we should be helping these people.”
“But for government, it’s clear. We have responsibilities to the people. We do PAMANA because we are a responsible government,” she added. “Do we let them define us or we define what we should do and find the means to do it?”
Another participant from a foundation focusing on health care asked how is OPAPP responding to the situation of political prisoners who have been suffering from cancer, tuberculosis and other serious illnesses.
Deles replied that OPAPP is not an implementing agency. However, there are other government agencies involved in the peace process that are dealing with such concerns. “DOJ (Department of Justice) Sec. Leila de Lima, who valiantly headed the Commission on Human Rights, has these items on her table,” she said, adding that reports like this should contain specific details for OPAPP to work on.
On the issue of education in conflict areas, one participant lamented that education is a priority of the administration, but when Muslim and Lumad communities ask for financial assistance to improve education in their areas, the government would always have no funding for it.
Deles answered that the budget they are on this year was proposed by the previous administration that had a different agenda.
The participants thanked the peace adviser for providing a comprehensive report on the peace process and clarifying certain issues.
They likewise lauded the efforts of the government to strengthen women participation in the peace process with the presence of women peace negotiators – Miriam Coronel-Ferrer for talks with the MILF, and Jurgette Honculada and Lourdes Tizon for talks with the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
The AF is a network of non-government organizations formed in 1972. Among its notable members are SM Foundation, ABS-CBN Foundation, Aboitiz Group Foundation, Childhope Asia Philippines, E. Zobel Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation, and many others. #
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