PEACE BY PEACE
During formal discussions and casual conversations, I am often asked: “Charlie, why do we need to invest in peace?” And my response would be: We need to invest in peace because the scars of conflict in our country run deep. We need to invest in peace because never has it been more urgent to do so. We need to invest in peace because it is the right and moral thing to do as Filipinos.
These were, essentially, the crux of my presentation to the honorable members of the House of Representatives and Senate last week as they deliberated on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity’s (OPAPRU) proposed budget for 2025.
In a nation that has been dealing with one of the longest-running communist insurgencies in history while overcoming the impact of a decades-long armed conflict between its government and two major Moro fronts, there are those who think that justifying OPAPRU’s funding requirements would be a walk in the park. This is not, however, always the case. Our bureaucracy is designed in such a way that every peso that we spend must be painstakingly justified for transparency and accountability. And we are okay with this because we know that our agency’s funds are meant to sustain and build on the gains of the comprehensive peace process.
Through OPAPRU’s over ₱7 billion Peace Investment Fund which has already hurdled both Houses of Congress, we aim to honor the commitments made by the national government under all signed peace agreements. And a major aspect of this commitment is ensuring the successful transformation of former combatants and rebels into peaceful and productive members of society, and turning their communities into zones of peace, development, and stability.
As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphasized, time and again, we cannot afford to go back to square one. This is the reason why our agency is working tirelessly to prevent the resurgence of armed conflict. Though major peace milestones have been achieved over the years, we cannot afford to be complacent. We need to further pick up the pace, address gaps in program implementation, and recalibrate our strategies based on realities on the ground. But to continue its vital work, our office needs adequate funding.
To be sure, this is not just a matter of meeting targets or deliverables. It’s about transforming lives, shifting mindsets, and ensuring that the dividends of peace are felt by everyone. Critical to our cross-cutting peacebuilding interventions is providing former combatants and rebels with the confidence and support they need to fully reintegrate into society. And as we do this, we must invest in socio-economic programs that address the root causes of conflict—poverty, lack of opportunity, and historical grievances.
At the very least, our agency’s initiatives across all its peace tables require funding of about ₱16.2 billion. This peace investment is critical for ensuring that the over 30,000 former combatants who have laid down their arms do not return to the path of armed struggle and violence. We cannot allow these individuals to fall back on their old way of life. The cost of failing to keep them on the path of peace is incalculable, not just in financial terms but in their impact on society as a whole.
Unfortunately, from 2019 to 2023, the OPAPRU has only been working with over ₱2 billion, which is a significant shortfall in terms of what our agency truly needs to effectively carry out its mandate. This situation was exacerbated by the reallocation of funds for Covid-19 response efforts during the height of the pandemic. And while we are grateful for the restored funds for our Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) projects for 2024 and 2025, the shortfall is still substantial.
In order for our agency to accelerate project implementation and address lingering socio-economic issues in the peace and development focus areas it is operating in, there is really an urgent need to scale up our peace investments. The OPAPRU has proven it can effectively utilize its budget, with 94 percent of its PAMANA funds disbursed for 124 projects in 2024. This is concrete proof that our agency has the capacity to absorb more funding and expand its reach to other areas nationwide.
Despite the significant progress we have made, there also remains a ₱2 billion shortfall for additional critical projects, particularly in vulnerable areas like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Sulu, CARAGA, Negros, Cordillera, and Samar. These regions are most at risk of conflict recurrence if we fail to deliver on our promises.
We must also prioritize support for former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and violent extremist members who are transitioning back into their communities. These individuals need livelihood assistance and socio-economic interventions to ensure that they are able earn sustainable incomes and provide for the needs of their families. We must give them incentives so that they continue to walk the path of peace.
And while we are most grateful to the House of Representatives and the Senate for passing OPAPRU’s National Expenditure Program amounting to over ₱7 billion, covering critical PAMANA projects and normalization efforts. However, an additional ₱3.3 billion is needed for us to carry out all of the government’s commitments under signed peace agreements. This funding will not only support peacebuilding efforts but will also help prevent future conflicts from arising in these vulnerable regions.
The cost of peace is far less than the price of conflict. So, let us all invest in peace.
(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation, and unity.)