PEACE BY PEACE
Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) joined representatives from line agencies, local government units (LGUs), private sector, civil society, peace advocates and local stakeholders at the Mt. Data Hotel, Sinto, Bauko, Mountain Province for the commemoration of “Sipat,” the historic peace deal signed on Sept. 13, 1986 between the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), led by Fr. Conrado Balweg, and President Corazon C. Aquino.
On Sept. 13, 1986, President Cory Aquino met with the representatives of the Cordillera Bodong Administration and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA), presided over the allasiw (exchange of peace tokens) to signify the sipat (cessation of hostilities), and acknowledged their aspirations for Cordillera autonomy.
This year’s observance of the National Peace Consciousness Month (NPCM) will again give honor to Fr. Conrado Balweg at Bangued Cemetery, Abra through a short program with wreath offering and atang, a tradition in the northern provinces of food and candle offering, to commemorate Fr. Balweg’s invaluable contribution to achieving peace in Cordillera. The wreath offering is a simultaneous activity conducted by OPAPRU nationwide, President Corazon Aquino will likewise be honored.
The ceremonies for “Sipat” are made significant with the strides in the CBA-CPLA Peace Process. Policies were set forth to form the cornerstone and sustainment of the CBA-CPLA peace process starting with the 1986 “Sipat,” various executive orders from 1987, 2001, memorandum of agreement in 2011, whole of nation approach executive order in 2018, CBA-CPLA Normalization Roadmap, CAR Regional Development Plan, Philippine Development Plan from 2017-2022 and 2023 to 2028 as well as President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address hailing the comprehensive peace process.
The Mt. Data Peace Accord or “Sipat” anchors the continuous development in the region.
Investments for peace and development in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in support of the comprehensive peace process were undertaken through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA). A total of ₱2,045,145,694.93 was channeled to fund the construction of roads, bridges, general infrastructure, water systems, and community infrastructure. An additional ₱471,512,581.00 was invested in agro-productivity support, livelihood, capacity-building and social protection. PAMANA Programs in the CAR have contributed in uplifting the lives of the CBA-CPLA, their families and communities. These include the 245 CBA-CPLA next of kin granted educational assistance through the CHED study grant program, 556 employed during the inception of the OPAPRU-DENR bantay gubat program and 439 CBA-CPLA and next of kin employed for FY 2024, 82 barangays awarded with grants amounting to ₱106.2 million under the OPAPRU-DSWD-KALAHI-CIDSS, 200 grantees awarded annually since 2021 amounting to ₱8 million, regular annual investment for 1,001 enrolled in FY 2018 and 854 enrolled in FY 2024 under PAMANA-Philhealth program, and 225 barangays provided grants since FY 2018 (the grant now amounts to ₱72.3 million in FY 2024) under the OPAPRU-DSWD sustainable livelihood program.
In 2024, the PAMANA Program funded 15 infrastructure projects with a total budget of ₱594,833,789.93. These infrastructure projects are aimed at enhancing connectivity and community facilities across Abra, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, and Benguet. This initiative includes the construction and improvement of 12 roads, two community infrastructures, and one bridge, all designed to improve access, support local development, and boost regional integration.
To sustain the momentum of these peace investments, OPAPRU has submitted a proposed budget for the Fiscal year 2025 that includes a proposed ₱594,900,000.00 to be allocated to 24 infrastructure projects spread out in Apayao, Abra, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Ifugao, and Benguet. The drafting of the proposed budget was supported by information from local councils and peace agreement commitments.
Ms. Pag-asa Goldamir “Biya” Balweg, one of the speakers for the 38th Anniversary of the peace accord, shared that she is “now reaping the benefits of the peace process and of the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region.” She continued that she has “been privileged to receive the education and opportunities that only peace can make possible.” She then urged the Cordilleran youth to ask themselves – “How do we honor this legacy? How do we ensure that it thrives for future generations?”
Biya is Fr. Balweg’s daughter and now works for OPAPRU’s Peace Sustainability office. She is part of the OPAPRU that continues to perform its utmost to ensure that remaining deliverables to the CBA-CPLA will be brought to fruition in due course. These include the completion of remaining 23 community and livelihood projects out of the 232 identified barangays, memorialization of the Cordillera’s aspirations through the documentation and publication of experiences of stakeholders, and support for initiatives on Cordillera Autonomy.
May “Sipat” remain as an inspiration of peace and autonomy in Cordillera.
(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation, and unity.)