KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — All provinces in Panay Island have completed crafting their localized peace engagement (LPE) and transformation programs (TP) in 2024, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU).
Juniel Guath of OPAPRU Western Visayas said in a media briefing on Dec. 11 that the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo were among the provinces in the country that have finished drafting their provincial TP plans this 2024.
She noted that the LPE and TP aim to address the transformation needs of former rebels, their families, and communities, ensuring that their return to the mainstream of society is sustained and they will remain resilient against the recovery efforts of communist rebels.
“TP follows the process of planning, institutionalization, implementation, and sustainability. We are now in the institutionalization phase of our TP provincial plans,” Guath said, adding that by 2028, the identified programs and projects under LPE-TP are expected to be implemented.
She called for the participation of the local government units since their approval is needed for the implementation of the programs and funding from national agencies.
Guath explained that after crafting the LPE-TP plans, a presentation to the governor for approval will follow as well as to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for resolution. The said plans will be forwarded to the Regional Development Council (RDC) for the approval of the budget and then cascaded to the concerned agencies that will implement the PAPs.
As funds for the LPE-TP plans have not yet been downloaded, OPAPRU through its partner agencies has been supporting and funding projects and programs such as the housing projects of the National Housing Authority, the Sustainable Livelihood Programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., TESDA and Department of Labor and Employment to sustain peace efforts of the government.
“The province of Guimaras is also a recipient of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program so we have identified areas in the province that are being supported. We have projects under the sustainable livelihood program, this is in partnership with the DSWD. Even though they don’t have insurgency or presence of the communist rebels there, they wanted to be appraised or have knowledge on the localized peace engagement and the transformation program as well,” she added.
Meanwhile, retired Army Maj. General Rene Glen Paje of OPAPRU noted that local government units also need to sustain peace efforts so they are supporting the establishment of the provincial peace and development center.
“This can integrate the key players and actors to counter the program of the city PNPA. This peace and development center can also be an entry point for surfacing combatants and non-combatants; they can also become the direct conduit of all stakeholders to channel resources and linkages and spearhead the implementation of the provincial transformation program,” Paje explained.
“The provincial peace and development center as a primary unit of the local government unit in the peace campaign to prevent resurgence and armed conflict, for post-armed conflict transformation we need to synchronize all efforts to deny the communist terrorist groups from recovering cleared areas to prevent the resurgence of armed conflict,” he added.
Negros Occidental is one of the eight pilot provinces in the country to establish a peace center but eventually, all provinces in the Western Visayas will have such a unit to take the lead on the peace campaign to prevent the resurgence of armed conflict. (AGP/SQP/PIA-Aklan)
