BY ASANGAN T. MADALE
TEN YEARS AGO, after the signing of the peace accord between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim said it has halted more than 20 years of armed conflict of both parties and subsequently, sustained the gains of the peace process.
Ebrahim underscored that the signing of the final peace agreement on March 27, 2014 paved the way to correcting historical injustices and dismantling oppressive systems, which then hindered the autonomous region and its people’s development.
“We have reached this point, hand in hand with our partner, the Government of the Philippines, so that we may be able to put an end to injustices and secure for ourselves and our posterity the much-desired peace and development by jointly implementing the provisions of the CAB,” said Ebrahim, who is also the MILF Chairman, during the CAB’s 10th anniversary at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, in this province.
He added that both the GPH and the MILF have since maintained their dedication to upgrading the living conditions of the Bangsamoro, leading to a path of economic security, stability, and success.
The Chief Minister also emphasized that the governance of the current regional administration resulted in the decline of poverty rates, increase in investments, availability of employment opportunities, and opening of economic activities, among others.
He highlighted the significant changes in the region’s status, particularly in terms of poverty incidence and economic growth.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), BARMM’s poverty incidence significantly decreased by 29.8 percent in 2021 from 54.20 percent in 2018, accompanied by a 56 percent increase in investment, indicating a notable improvement.
In January 2024, the country’s employment rate is estimated at 95.5 percent, marking a significant increase of 0.3 percent compared to last year’s 95.2 percent. This highlights the region’s significant contribution to the national employment data.
BARMM, alongside Cagayan Valley, recorded in the same month the lowest unemployment rate in the whole Philippines, both at 2.9 percent, which means that more job opportunities are afforded to the Bangsamoro people.
Bangsamoro Director-General Engr. Mohajirin Ali of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) reported on March 22 at the University of the Philippines-Diliman that the growth between 2018 and 2021 was ‘more inclusive’ in BARMM.
“Poorer percentiles experience higher growth rates compared to the richer ones, aligning with the average growth rate around the middle-income level,” Ali said.
Presidential Peace Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stressed that the CAB demonstrates its signatories’ collective vision in building a brighter future for the BARMM.
“For the GPH, the CAB symbolizes its desire to uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people and transform their areas into peaceful, progressive, and resilient communities,” he added.
Galvez further reiterated the September 2022 speech of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying, “The peace process in the Bangsamoro is a cornerstone of the National Government’s peace policy agenda.”
“It is a shining example of how peace agreements should be carried out—inclusive, holistic, and people-centered,” he continued.
Both government leaders urged their co-public servants and the entire Bangsamoro populace to spontaneously work and exert efforts on ensuring the peace and progress of their homeland—the BARMM.
Upholding peace, justice, and security across the region is the 11th priority agenda of Chief Minister Ebrahim.
