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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider OPAPRU says 2026 budget boost to support education of ex-combatants, indigenous communities

OPAPRU says 2026 budget boost to support education of ex-combatants, indigenous communities

Published Nov 28, 2025 03:08 pm
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (right) talks to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate committee on finance, during the deliberation of the agency's P8.9 billion proposed budget for 2026 at the Senate Building in Pasay City on Nov. 27, 2025. (Photo: OPAPRU)
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (right) talks to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate committee on finance, during the deliberation of the agency's P8.9 billion proposed budget for 2026 at the Senate Building in Pasay City on Nov. 27, 2025. (Photo: OPAPRU)
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is set to expand its educational support programs for former combatants and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) after the Senate approved its P8.9-billion proposed budget for 2026 on Thursday, Nov. 27.
The approved budget includes an additional P1.7 billion specifically for OPAPRU’s Educational Assistance Program (EAP), bringing the agency’s funding from P7.2 billion under the National Expenditure Program to P8.9 billion.
The EAP provides P50,000 per learner per school year to beneficiaries, enabling access to formal education.
The OPAPRU, headed by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., emphasized that education is central to the transformation and reintegration of former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), their families, and eligible IPs.
By equipping them with skills and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, the OPAPRU stressed that the program aims to break cycles of violence and prevent re-recruitment by armed groups.
The program aligns with the socioeconomic objectives of the Normalization Track under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which focuses on reintegration and development in conflict-affected areas.
According to the peace agency, the additional funding is expected to assist some 32,000 learners, covering children and dependents of former combatants.
Meanwhile, the OPAPRU committed to the strict implementation of the program to ensure the budget directly benefits its intended recipients.

Related Tags

OPAPRU Carlito Galvez Jr. peace budget EAP combatants peace
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