The road to peace in the Bangsamoro region has been a long and challenging one. Recent developments, however, indicate that the dividends of peace are now at hand. Instrumental to the achievements made under the Bangsamoro peace process over the past 10 years is the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN).
ICCMN has been at the forefront of efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Normalization Track, a key component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Created by virtue of Executive Order 79, the ICCMN’s mandate includes the coordination and mobilization of government agencies in the implementation of the normalization program; policy advising; and support for the different modalities and mechanisms of normalization.
ICCMN is composed of four clusters based on the major components of the normalization track: the security aspect, socio-economic development program, confidence-building measures, and transitional justice and reconciliation (TJR).
The body is currently co-chaired by Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., and Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
At present, there are more than 20 government agencies that are members of the ICCMN.
Its main function is to ensure the implementation of the Normalization Track, which is a multifaceted, integrated, and holistic effort to help former MILF combatants and their families make the successful transition to civilian life and reintegrate into mainstream society, as well as to make their communities resilient.
The successful implementation of these efforts is now bringing greater peace, prosperity, and stability to the region.
Currently, the programs of the ICCMN cover the six major acknowledged camps of the MILF namely: Camp Abubakar, Camp Badre, Camp Bilal, Camp Bushra, Camp Omar, and Camp Rajamuda.
Over the years, the ICCMN’s accomplishments have moved forward the normalization process in the Bangsamoro at a much faster pace than ever before.
For instance, the second phase of the ICCMN caravan that was completed early this month in the MILF camps of Bushra and Bilal symbolize the strong partnership between the national and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governments in uplifting the lives of the Bangsamoro people. It highlighted their shared commitment to peace and development in the region by bringing much-needed socioeconomic services directly to the communities where they matter the most.
During the caravan, the ICCMN’s member agencies and BARMM ministries together with the local government agencies provided a wide array of services. These included social protection, healthcare, education, livelihood assistance, and psychosocial support that are in line with the major components of the Normalization Track. This direct engagement at the community level not only addressed the immediate needs of residents but more importantly, demonstrated the tangible benefits of peace to the former combatants and their kin.
The government agencies that participated in the recent caravan will now have a better understanding to come up with purposive policies to ensure holistic interventions to the transformation of the former combatants, their families, and communities.
The impact of the ICCMN on the normalization process cannot be overemphasized. The accelerated pace of the Normalization Track has enabled the decommissioned MILF combatants to get the support they urgently need to rebuild their lives.
This bodes well with the thrust of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. when he said: “Peace to our people is found in jobs created, schools opened, farms irrigated, new hospitals opened, roads constructed, businesses launched.
To us, there is only one true peace when the bloody tally of war is replaced with a scoreboard of development.”
For many of them, however, this transition from armed struggle to civilian life has not been that easy. But through the whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach adopted by the ICCMN, this journey has been made more productive and less overwhelming.
The results of the normalization process are now visible. Former combatants who once patrolled the jungles armed to the teeth are now engaged in farming, small businesses, and other economic ventures that have allowed them to earn sustainable incomes.
It is worth noting that this transformation is not just in their economic status but also in their sense of identity and purpose. By being an integral part of the peace process and contributing to the development of their communities, these former fighters are now active participants in creating a peaceful and prosperous Bangsamoro.
Among the critical challenges in any peace process is strengthening the trust between the government and former combatants. The ICCMN’s success in accelerating the Normalization Program, as shown by initiatives provided during the caravan, has been instrumental in building on this trust. By delivering on its promises, the national and Bangsamoro governments continue to demonstrate their steadfast commitment to the CAB’s implementation, thereby reinforcing the MILF’s confidence in the peace process.
The accelerated implementation of the Normalization Program has had a ripple effect that goes beyond the immediate lives of former combatants. As these individuals reintegrate into civilian life and contribute to the growth and transformation of their communities, the broader Bangsamoro region benefits. Economic activity increases, social cohesion improves, and the overall stability of the region is strengthened. This progress helps to create a perpetual cycle wherein peace leads to development, which in turn reinforces peace.
Secretary Lagdameo, who was represented by Assistant Secretary Ria Lumapas, said it best when he underscored the caravan’s impact, especially in fostering inclusion in the communities. By delivering essential government services, the caravan builds confidence among the people, fosters trust, and strengthens the foundation for an inclusive society.
The ICCMN’s work must continue to be supported, reinforced, and expanded. More MILF former combatants need to be reached, and the benefits of normalization must be extended to all those who have been affected by armed conflict. As the Bangsamoro peace process moves forward, the momentum built by the ICCMN must be maintained, as the Bangsamoro region charts a more peaceful and progressive future.
(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity.)