The GRP-RPMM Peace Process

As of May 2009

While being challenged by some unforeseen circumstances, the GRP-RPMM continues to be on track. For one, four significant meetings were conducted in relation to the GRP-RPMM Peace Process for the month of May. The first was the GRP Panel meeting attended by all the three Panel Members, the second was the meeting between Usec.  Nabil Tan, GRP Panel Chairperson, and Mr. Ike delos Reyes of the RPMM. Both meetings tried to settle some issues which are challenging the on-going negotiations.

In addition to these two meetings, two engagements were also made with the local government of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, which has 10 peace and development areas identified under this peace process. The first meeting was attended by representatives from the municipal government of SND led by Mayor Motalib Dimaporo, representatives from the 547^th AFP Engineering Battalion and representatives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) led by Dir. Eileen Jose. This meeting served as an avenue to brief Mayor Motalib Dimaporo on the current track of the peace process and to solicit the support of the LGU in this peace process. It was also agreed during the meeting that the SND Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) would be convened the soonest time possible.

On May 14, representatives from OPAPP, again, met with the local government officials of SND to be part of the meeting of the MPOC. During that meeting, the Social Integration Program (SIP) was presented and it was received positively by the said officials.

Accomplishment Report for the Month of May

The GRP-RPMP/RPA-ABB Peace Process

As of May 2009

For the month of May, accomplishments were more on the Development Component focused mainly on the implementation of the Kalayaan Barangays Program (KBP) and GOP-UNDP CPPB Projects. 

As per reports of the 542^nd Engineers Brigade, four (4) school buildings, two (2) health centers, and a water system were completed on May 2009 in peace and development areas under the KBP Program.  The following are the specifics of the aforementioned projects:

1.    School Building

·         Sitio Tubod, Brgy. Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental

·         Brgy. San Jose, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental

·         Two School Buildings in Zamboangita, Negros Oriental

2.    Health Center

·         Two Health Centers in Zamboangita, Negros Oriental

3.  Water System

·         Sitio Kakha, Brgy. Talalak, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental

Meanwhile, several projects were reported ongoing under the KBP program: Farm to Market Roads (FMR) in Brgys. San Jose and San Miguel, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental; and Culasi, Antique; Health Center and School Building in Brgy. San Vicente, Culasi, Antique (50% complete); and a One-Classroom School Building in Brgy. Cansilayan, Tigbauan, Iloilo (70% complete).

Under the UNDP-CPPB Program, two projects in support of the implementation of the   2000 Peace Agreement has been approved for 2009 implementation – conduct of Community Needs Assessments (CNA) to all remaining Peace Areas in Luzon and Visayas; and the construction of additional two classrooms in Tigbauan National High School Extension, Tigbauan, Iloilo.  These projects are in addition to the existing GOP UNDP CPPB-funded projects in Peace Agreement areas.  

The water system project in Brgy. Tambad, Cauayan was reported by the Municipal Engineer to be 100% completed.    Another completed project is the construction of a Day Care Center in Brgy. Cansilayan, Tigbauan, Iloilo.  On the other hand, the construction of a school building in Brgy. Jawod, San Joaquin, Iloilo is still on-going due to the dilapidated barangay road which hampers the hauling of the materials for the construction of the project.

Meanwhile, agencies represented in the Presidential Commission on Bail, Recognizance and Pardons (PCBReP) Secretariat, headed by State Council Ricardo Paras of the Department of Justice (DOJ), convened last May 18, 2009 to resume the stalled processes in the review of cases of APOs and PPs.