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QUEZON CITY – Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua has urged all Filipinos to renew their commitment to lasting peace, declaring, “Never again to war, never again to division.”
Macacua made this call in a powerful message of solidarity he issued during the start of this year’s National Peace Consciousness Month celebrations on Monday, September 1.
“The ringing of the Peace Bell is more than a ceremony. It is a reminder of the Bangsamoro people’s deepest dream: to live in peace, with dignity, and with justice,” the chief minister declared in a statement.
“It is a sound call for every Filipino — Muslim, Christian, and Lumad — to remember that peace is a responsibility we all share,” he added.
The chief minister stressed that while the Bangsamoro has achieved remarkable progress, especially in uplifting the lives of the region’s people, this progress comes with the solemn duty of safeguarding it for future generations.
“We know too well the cost of conflict, and that is why we must never take the gift of peace for granted,” Macacua said.
“A crucial part of protecting our progress is ensuring that the 2025 BARMM elections reflect the will of our people in a peaceful and transparent manner. This is the next vital step in our journey,” he noted.
The BARMM regional parliamentary elections is seen as a major milestone under the Bangsamoro peace process, as it will allow the region’s residents to elect their chosen leaders.
Crucial to the gains achieved in the Bangsamoro is the passage of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the landmark peace deal signed between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
The CAB has two major tracks: the political track and the normalization track, which have enabled former combatants to rebuild their lives, and transformed communities into zones of peace and development.
The political track has paved the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and its interim government, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), while the normalization track has led to the implementation of the Normalization Program for MILF combatants, their families and communities.
Through the Normalization Program, MILF members and their weapons have been decommissioned, while they and their families were provided with a range of socioeconomic assistance, which include cash assistance, education scholarships, livelihood training and PhilHealth membership, among others.
The Normalization Program has also led to the vastly improved peace and security situation in the region with the disbandment of private armed groups and the recovery of unregistered firearms.
Macacua said the dividends of peace are now being felt by the Bangsamoro people, reflecting this year’s theme, “Mapayapang Bukas, Abot-Kamay sa Bagong Pilipinas” (Peaceful Tomorrow, Within Reach in New Philippines).
“Poverty has decreased, jobs have multiplied, and even the most troubled areas are now welcoming visitors,” the chief minister’s statement read. “Rising investments and new opportunities are clear proof that peace delivers real change.”
Concluding with a resolute call to action, Macacua said: “Let us pledge to strengthen the peace we have built, so that generations after us will inherit not conflict, but hope. Lasting peace is within our reach, and together, we will protect it.” (/)
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Source: OPAPRU