BARMM Executive Secretary and member of BTF-ELAC Abdulraof Macacua said the output of the formulation workshop will serve as the foundation of Bangsamoro Government’s efforts in peace building.
COTABATO CITY – Members of the Bangsamoro Task Force – Ending Local Armed Conflict (BTF-ELAC) has completed a two-day workshop, from March 24-25, to formulate its framework and implementation plan aimed at ending the insurgencies in the Bangsamoro region.
Created thru Executive Order No. 0010 signed by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim on October 30, 2020, the task force is mandated to develop a master plan on how to implement in the BARMM the objectives of Executive Order No. 70 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Said EO aims to institutionalize a ‘Whole-of-Nation’ approach as a government policy for the attainment of inclusive and sustainable peace.
BTF-ELAC is chaired by CM Ebrahim, who is also the Minister of Finance and Budget and Management. Its members include Executive Secretary and Environment Minister Abdulraof Macacua, Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, Public Order Minister Hussein Muñoz, Public Works Minister Eduard Guerra, Social Services Minister Raissa Jajurie, and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Yacob.
Also composing the task force are the heads of offices of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, Bangsamoro Development Agency, Bangsamoro Attorney General’s Office, Bangsamoro Information Office, and focal persons from the Philippine Army, Police Regional Office- BAR, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
The task force is divided into 12 clusters of Lines of Efforts, namely: Local Government Empowerment; International Engagement; Legal Cooperation; Strategic Communication; Basic Services; Livelihood and Poverty Alleviation; Infrastructure and Resource Management; Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support; Situation Awareness and Knowledge Management; Localized Peace Engagement; E-CLIP, Amnesty Program, TUGON; and Sectoral Unification, Capacity Building, Empowerment, and Mobilization.
“Natutuwa po ako na nandito tayong lahat para ma-put together natin yung line of efforts sa EO 10 […] Iba’t ibang opisina na mayroong pini-play na role doon sa pagresponde sa challenge ng armed conflict sa Bangsamoro,” said Minister Sinarimbo of the MILG which leads the Local Government Empowerment cluster.
Said cluster ensures that local government units, locally-based institutions, and other stakeholders are taking the lead in peace building efforts at the local level.
“Pangarap po natin na yung peace agreement na pinirmahan natin at yung implementation nito ay magtuloy-tuloy, at maipakita natin yung demonstrable results. Kailangan merong makita yung mga mamayan na may nangyayari dun sa peace agreement na pinirmahan natin at yung gobyernong pinapatakbo natin,” Sinarimbo further said.
MILG also leads the E-CLIP, Amnesty Program, TUGON cluster which acts as the central coordinating body that will supervise the reintegration effort for returnees-members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Maute Group, Abu Sayyaf Group, and other terrorist groups as well as their immediate family members.
E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) is the national government’s complete package assistance to former rebels, while TUGON (Tulong mula sa Gobyernong Nagmamalasakit,) is Bangsamoro government’s humanitarian intervention to ex-rebels in the region.
Executive Secretary Macacua said among the regional government’s peacekeeping efforts include “being one with the nation in addressing the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances, and other armed conflicts in the region.” This, he said, has been formalized through the creation of the BTF-ELAC.
“Our accomplishments in this undertaking (workshop) will serve as the foundation of our future efforts in peace building,” Macacua said. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
