President Marcos has highlighted the significant role of local government units (LGUs) in sustaining the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process, saying their participation was key to ensuring the success of normalization programs on the ground.

“Normalization ensures human security. It is a testament to the partnership between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in ensuring that the gains of peace benefit all Filipinos,” the President said in a pre-recorded message aired during a summit of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) on Aug. 28.

Marcos noted that LGUs serve as frontliners in the implementation of peacebuilding projects, citing the Localized Normalization Implementation (LNI) initiative that is now being adopted across the five provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“This strengthens our belief that peace must be built from the ground up with local leaders as active architects,” he said.

The President also assured the Bangsamoro government of the national government’s continued support.

“We, in the national government, will continue to work with you in lockstep,” he said.

“We have come such a long way in this peace process. We are very, very close to success. Let us not falter now,” he added.

The Normalization Track, together with the Political Track, underpins the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the landmark peace forged by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2014, ending decades of armed conflict in the region.

“We are cognizant that effective normalization requires our full support and genuine monitoring and mechanisms agreed upon by both parties,” Marcos said, recognizing the key role of the GPH and MILF in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Normalization Program.

“To this end, we will continue to ensure a responsive and agile approach in aiding our people, anchored in full transparency and accountability,” he added.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulrauf Macacua, in his remarks at the summit, echoed Marcos’ call for stronger LGU participation.

Macacua said local governments must be empowered as “catalysts of peace,” calling for fair resource allocation and stronger accountability measures for leaders in the region.

He also announced plans to design a financial assistance program that would double development funds for LGUs, provided they meet standards of moral governance.

“This is not only about funding projects, it is about ensuring that resources uplift lives, deliver services, and build lasting trust between government and people,” Macacua said.

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. also emphasized the importance of the Normalization Program, which covers decommissioning of combatants, community rehabilitation, and social healing.

“By supporting the successful transition of former combatants to peaceful and productive civilian life, we hope to achieve our vision of a BARMM that is peaceful, progressive, and resilient,” he said.

He acknowledged challenges in decommissioning but expressed confidence these could be resolved through “open and sincere dialogue” between the government and the MILF leadership.

Galvez further cited the Localized Normalization Implementation Program as a way of capacitating provincial governments to better carry out development projects tailored to community needs.

Six provinces, including Basilan, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Tawi-Tawi, and North Cotabato, have adopted the program, with nine others preparing to follow.

“As leaders, we need to make difficult decisions. Uplifting the lives of the Bangsamoro people must be our primordial concern and not our personal interests,” Galvez said, urging officials to uphold moral governance in sustaining peace and development in the region.