MALACANANG has traced poverty, poor governance, and marginalization as the primary causes of social conflict in the country.
The Office of Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconcilation and Unity (OPPARU) made this observation during Tuesday’s meeting of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
During the meeting, the OPPARU presented its achievements in pushing the country’s peace agenda and poverty-reduction efforts.
The OPAPRU underscored that widespread poverty, unequal wealth distribution, poor governance, corruption, injustice, and the marginalization of indigenous communities were the “key drivers of conflicts.”
OPAPRU project development officer Karol Marie Tante noted that the government’s comprehensive peace process, which has resulted in four major peace agreements over the past fifty years, has achieved significant progress in peace and development.
Tante emphasized the impact of OPAPRU’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) flagship program, which has facilitated political reforms, economic development, security, healing, and the reintegration of former rebels into mainstream society,
PAMANA operates through three main pillars; policy reform and governance, capacity building, and socioeconomic interventions.
“OPAPRU operates within conflict contexts, integrating the conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting approach to mitigate the negative impacts and enhance the positive outcomes of its programs,” Tante explained.
Since 2011, PAMANA has completed over 21,500 projects in various sectors including infrastructure, livelihood, and education.
For 2024, it has a budget of P5 billion for 125 new infrastructure projects managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways and local governments.
In 2023, PAMANA also built road networks in remote and conflict-affected regions such as North Cotabato, Northern Samar, and Agusan del Norte.
“We aim to ensure the sustainability of peace dividends in our communities as we work toward a Bagong Pilipinas,” Tante said.
