BEYOND BUDGET
Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Last Sept. 30, I had the profound honor of receiving the Gawad Kapayapaan (GaKap) Award, in a ceremony held to culminate this year’s National Peace Consciousness Month celebration themed “Bagong Pilipinas – Transforming Minds, Transforming Lives.” This award, presented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), recognizes the relentless efforts of individuals and organizations committed to building a harmonious and prosperous nation.
I was humbled and genuinely grateful to be acknowledged for being “at the forefront of the government’s efforts to unleash the full economic potential of Mindanao,” as OPAPRU generously described. I believe that the GaKap serves as a reminder that peace is a journey that begins within each of us — transforming ourselves so we can inspire change in our communities and, ultimately, our beloved country.
During his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) emphasized the importance of peace and order for genuine economic and social growth. The Institute for Economics and Peace’s 2021 Business and Peace Report found that countries with high levels of peace experienced 33 percent higher real Gross Domestic Product growth than the global average, as well as less volatile inflation, lower interest rates, robust household consumption, and higher foreign direct investment. These show that gains in peace can result in large economic benefits.
Meanwhile, at the Mindanao Development Forum held last July, OPAPRU highlighted the notable economic growth in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. emphasized, “The Bangsamoro region is fast becoming an epicenter of peace and transformation,” with poverty incidence dropping from 52.6 percent in 2018 to 34.8 percent in 2023, and a 140 percent increase in investments, with at least ₱3.1 billion invested in the third quarter of 2023 alone, generating 1,927 jobs for residents. Hence, this link between peace and economic growth underscores the importance of initiatives to recognize peace champions, such as the GaKap.
As secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), I feel fortunate to serve the Filipino people and be a voice for peace and prosperity. I resonate deeply with PBBM’s statement that “there is only one peace: When the scoreboard of development replaces the bloody tally of war.” It also aligns with the DBM’s mission to push for economic policies and budget allocations that prioritize real, concrete peacebuilding efforts to create a conducive environment for growth.
As a Maranao, I am particularly glad to note the support we have extended to the community through the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022, which not only provides financial aid but also givesdignity and hope back to those who have lost so much.
Further, as the co-chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), I am grateful for the opportunity to foster positive relations between the Bangsamoro Government and the National Government. By activating all seven mechanisms, the basis for all the Parliament’s laws and policies — which we have done in less than a year — we have laid the foundation for lasting peace benefiting the region, its communities, and the people.
During the awarding ceremony, I was happy to share the stage with fellow awardees: the Municipality of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte for its transformative governance and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro Lead Negotiator for the Government, Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the first woman in the world to sign a major peace agreement with a non-state armed group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in 2014 which ended decades of armed conflict in Mindanao.
With two women as champions of peace and development, the GaKap emphasized the crucial role of women as catalysts in sustaining the gains we have achieved for BARMM. Indeed, our country is a shining example that women’s participation as partners in peace processes results in more lasting and constant peace. Our unique perspectives and contributions are invaluable in creating inclusive and sustainable solutions to conflicts.
With this, I am excited to share that in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the landmark United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, our country will host the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS) from Oct. 28 to 30, 2024 in Manila. With the theme, “Forging Collaboration and Convergence for Advancing Women, Peace, and Security,” the conference will be a platform to share best practices, forge new partnerships, and strengthen our collective commitment to empowering women as agents of peace. For our country, the ICWPS declares that women are not just part of the peace process — they are the heart of it.
Beyond budget, the Gawad Kapayapaan underscores the pivotal role of peace and security in the economic development of our country. It reminds us that achieving lasting peace and security is a shared responsibility requiring a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach. On the government’s part, we reaffirm our commitment to support initiatives that promote peace as we endeavor to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and our Agenda for Prosperity. Together, let us build a brighter and more prosperous future for the Philippines, where peace and progress go hand in hand.
(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)