The Philippine Senate approved the P7-billion peace budget for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Tuesday.
Senator Rolando “Bato” Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, sponsored the OPAPRU budget.
The bulk of these funds, approximately P5-billion, will be allocated to high-impact projects in communities previously affected by armed conflict, as part of efforts to normalize these areas.
Dela Rosa stated that the Committee on Finance has approved OPAPRU’s budget of Php 7,094,785,000 for fiscal year 2025.
Additionally, senators praised the various programs and projects initiated by OPAPRU, particularly those aimed at transforming and normalizing the lives of former combatants, their families, and their communities.
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Philippine Senate for prioritizing the nation’s peace processes and recognizing OPAPRU’s efforts in sustaining peace and its gains across the country.
