The Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has proposed to the GRP-NDF panel to use Mindanao Trust Fund as template of development in conflict-afflicted areas.
On Tuesday, OPAPP Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, who serves as chair of the Mindanao Trust Fund steering committee announced that the proposal was presented during the fourth round of peace talks between the GRP Peace Panel and NDF in Amsterdam, Netherlands April 2 to 6, 2017.
“The biggest facility that we are working out is still setting down and it will no longer be exclusively for the Bangsamoro. There will be other fragile and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao that would probably also would like to benefit from our experience from the Mindanao Trust Fund,” said the OPAPP chief.
Inaugurated in 2006, the MTF is the longest running trust fund programming for development in Mindanao. It partners with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), the development arm of the MILF, with technical support from Community and Family Services International (CFSI) and Mindanao Land Foundation, Incorporated (MinLand).
By March 2017, the MTF has completed 573 community-driven projects which will benefit over 650,000 people in 315 conflict-affected communities in regions namelyCentral Mindanao, Davao, Zamboanga Peninsula, ZamBaSulTa, South Mindanao, and Ranaw.
Since 2006, the European Union, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand and the World Bank have provided PhP 1.4 billion (USD 28.9 million) to support socioeconomic recovery in Mindanao. The European Union is the largest contributor, having provided Php 1.17 billion (USD 22 million) to the facility.
“As to whether or not this will be adopted by the CPP-NDF is still subject to our engagement with them,” said Dureza.
The OPAPP chief said that when they presented the idea of providing development work while in the process of negotiation, the counterpart immediately accepted the concept.
Dureza added that the said concept will address several tables: the table for the Bangsamoro and the table for non-Bangsamoro areas that will also need assistance.
Also on Tuesday, Dureza announced the extension of Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) until 2019.
“That’s why we need the Mindanao Trust Fund to continue to provide the transition. We don’t want to have a gap where we move to a bigger new facility and then there will be stoppage on the area and then we will have a problem with our stakeholders,” said Dureza.
The OPAPP chief stressed he would “like to see a seamless transition to the bigger facility”.
Dureza also encouraged the donors of the MTF to continue their support to the proposal in case it will be implemented.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Franz Jessen, head of the delegation of European Union to the Philippines, expressed his support on the proposal, adding that December last year, EU, the largest contributor, having provided Php 1.17 billion (USD 22 million) to the MTF, has contributed €4 million support not only to the trust fund but to other socioeconomic areas in the country.
“We see that the one of the most promising areas is peace process,” he noted.
Jessen said the organization is now looking at addressing “two angles” particularly job creation and the energy sector.
With regards to the projects to be supported, Dureza said an assessment will be conducted among the communities to determine how much is still needed to be funded but he stressed that the projects must come from the community themselves.
Bangsamoro Development Authority Chair of the Board Dr. Saffrulah M. Dipatuan noted in an interview that the Bangsamoro Development Plan, crafted in 2013, can be a good reference to assess the communities in a bigger scale. BDP is a comprehensive and inclusive socioeconomic blueprint for the proposed Bangsamoro territories.
