PEACE BY PEACE
Last Jan. 24, the Asian Institute of Management Team Energy Center for Bridging Leadership (AIMTEC-BL) celebrated its 20th Founding Anniversary, marking two decades of AIM’s transformational impact on individuals and organizations, not only here in the Philippines but worldwide.
I was honored to have been invited to this momentous occasion, as AIMTEC-BL also recognized my humble contributions as a former soldier and now, as a civil servant. This award was among the most meaningful ones I have received over the years, as it made me realize the importance of not only serving our people to the best of our abilities but also the significance of being a good leader.
As a young military officer back in 2007, I was blessed with the opportunity to pursue my postgraduate studies at the Asian Institute of Management, as I was chosen to be included in the 2nd Cohort of 17 select students of its Bridging Leadership Fellows Program (BLFP). The Bridging Leadership Fellow Program, for over two decades now, has built a legacy of nurturing “Bridging Leaders.”
This unique leadership framework, developed by my greatest mentors: former Secretary Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Professor Ernesto Garilao and Professor Jacinto ‘Titong’ Gavino underscores the key principles of inclusivity, equity, and systemic change for the good of all, all of which are grounded in systems thinking, multi-stakeholder engagement, and accountability.
In a world that is becoming increasingly volatile, complex, and disruptive, a bridging leader is equipped with the necessary skills and mindset that will enable one to carefully navigate these challenges, while bridging societal divides and empowering stakeholders to come up with joint solutions using the leadership framework of ownership, co-ownership and co-creation.
Looking back, I believe that my time with AIM was one of the most integral parts of my career and shaped me to be the leader I have become today. As a military officer who was assigned in Mindanao for many years, the principles of the BLFP guided me, as I strived to build bridges between the national government and rebel groups with the goal of putting an end to the hostilities.
From immersing myself in a deep dive and participating in numerous dialogues with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to resolve concerns about fighting and stalled the completion of high-impact infrastructure projects in Basilan, to heading the national government’s ceasefire committee especially the Mamasapano incident in Maguindanao, I was able to effectively apply the principles of the Bridging Leadership framework to help address these peace and development challenges, most especially in conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable areas in Mindanao.
And now as the Presidential Peace Adviser, the lessons I learned from the BLFP have enabled me to help build a strong peace constituency, and at the same time, take a more hands-on approach in guiding the internal transformation of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) through the office’s Strategy Roadmap 2040.
Among the invaluable insights I have gained as a soldier and peacemaker is that the path to a just and lasting peace is not a solitary journey but a collective one. That is why the OPAPRU has continuously underscored the importance of adopting a multi-stakeholder, whole-of-nation approach in the planning and implementation of our peace and development interventions. This is anchored on our belief that everyone should be included in the peacebuilding process. Everyone should get involved and no one should be left behind.
To encourage the active and meaningful participation of local government units in the national government’s Normalization Program, we have ramped up the rollout of the Localizing Normalization Implementation or LNI program in the Bangsamoro Region. The LNI is one of our agency’s most critical peace-building initiatives that not only empowers LGUs to actively participate in peacebuilding, but also encourages the practice of good, transparent, and accountable governance in the implementation of their respective peace and development initiatives on the ground.
Apart from the success we have seen in bringing peace stakeholders together to address pressing peace and security challenges, what has inspired me the most is the remarkable transformation I have witnessed among the men and women of OPAPRU. All OPAPRU personnel, regardless of their age, ethnicity, or religion, uphold the culture of excellence in carrying out their duties and responsibilities as peace advocates, peace workers, and peacebuilders.
Recently, the OPAPRU reached a major milestone when it achieved the highest budget utilization rate for the first semester of 2024, with an obligation rate of 84.3 percent and a disbursement rate of 91.4 percent. I am, therefore, proud to be part of an organization that is guided by the principles of transparency, inclusivity, and good governance, placing the common good before any personal interest.
I am truly thankful to all my mentors and the Asian Institute of Management for allowing me to be part of the Bridging Leadership Fellows Program that has empowered us both personally and professionally, to bring people together, positively impact the individuals I work with and serve, and create ripples of positive and meaningful change in the lives of the Filipino people.
(Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., is the presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity.)