BY ASANGAN T. MADALE
ACTING PRESIDENTIAL Peace Adviser Isidro L. Purisima of OPAPRU on April 14 have agreed with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to begin the implementation of the Transformation Program for MNLF combantants, Top Officials said.
Purisima said during their meeting beteween the Transformation Program would officially rolled out in May this year in MNLF communities in the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
The Transformation Program is an offshoot of the commitments made under the historic Final Peace Agreement signed between the Government of the Philippines and MNLF on September 2, 1996.
“Ito ay upang matiyak na ang pondo na nakalaan para sa ating mga MNLF combatants, kanilang pamilya at mga komunidad ay magagamit upang maibigay ang mga pangunahing serbisyo at mas mapataas ang antas ng kanilang kabuhayan,” Purisima said.
The MNLF Transformation Program aims to facilitate the transition of the MNLF members into peaceful and productive civilian life, especially those who were not integrated into the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police under the FPA.
Meanwhile, MNLF Central Committee Chairman, Muslimin Sema, who is also the current labor minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, told Purisima that they are fully supporting and will “honor” all signed peace agreements for the “betterment of the Bangsamoro Region”.
The Transformation Program includes socio-economic, community healing and reconciliation, and security and confidence-building interventions that aim to uplift the lives of former MNLF combatants and their families, and transform their areas into show windows of peace and development
It could be recalled that before Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez flew to this islands to lead the first Information and education campaign members on the transformation Program for MNLF and their families and communities.
As cited by OPAPRU official said ” the IEC campaign sderies is part of the efforts of the Governmsent of the Philippines (GPH), through the Office of the Presidential Advser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) to ensure accirate information on the transformation Program are dessimanted to the combantants, their families and communities
“Our visit is a great opportunity to share with you the steps taken by the Marcos administration to further enhance peace, unity and development in Mindamao”
“Through our Transformation Program, we shall be acrrying out various socio-economic interventions that ai, to provide your membders with knowledge, resources and livelihood skills that will enhance you to uplift your way of life and earn sustainable income, OPAPRU official cited Galvez statement.
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