Gary V, Bamboo ‘join’ MILF

Popular singer Gary Valenciano and rock band Bamboo have joined forces with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to deliver essential services to children in communities affected by conflict areas in Mindanao.

Dubbed as the "Days of Peace" campaign, the two musical icons joined forces with the MILF in an effort to bring basic health services "to children affected by the "conflict with government forces.

The program, which started last Monday, brought the MILF and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to allow government health workers to deliver health care services to some 707 barangays in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The MILF and UNICEF have designated three rounds of Days of Peace to immunize 30,000 infants, de-worming "of some 100,000 children, "Vitamin-A supplementation for some 240,000 children, and birth registration services in areas previously inaccessible to health workers due to armed conflict.

Some 16,500 expectant mothers will also get tetanus toxoid vaccination and breastfeeding counseling.

Some of the government agencies participating in the events in April, July and October include the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the Department of Health (DOH), and the MILF’s Bangsamoro Development Agency.

The MILF, for its part, assured the safety of the health teams during the campaign.

Valenciano and Bamboo Mañalac, lead vocalist of Bamboo, said they will personally accompany the teams and visit the conflict areas to observe the delivery of services under the program.

"I have been a UNICEF Ambassador for quite sometime, and this is one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever been involved in," Valenciano said.

Mañalac , for his part, stressed the nobility of the program.

"This is all about every child being included. No child should be left behind," he said.

The other members of Bamboo include guitarist Ira Cruz, bass player Nathan Azarcon and Vic Mercado on drums.

The entire band is set to visit armed conflict-affected communities later this month to observe the delivery of services during Days of Peace.

Earlier, UNICEF’s Country Representative, Dr. Nicholas Alipui, and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, signed a communiqué to jointly implement Days of Peace.

"The Days of Peace campaign requires a commitment to full cessation of hostilities from all parties to facilitate maximum delivery of services for children; the MILF will be in charge of providing access and guaranteeing security for the service delivery teams," the communiqué states.

Alipui noted the first time the MILF had mobilized its entire organization for a noble cause.

"Experiences in other parts of the world demonstrate how these kinds of confidence building campaigns can push peace negotiations further toward their ultimate goal," he said.

The MILF is currently in peace negotiations with the Philippine government, which are being brokered by the Malaysian government. A ceasefire has been in effect for three years.

Peace process adviser Jesus Dureza said the program "can create goodwill, reduce tension and will eventually pave the way towards reconciliation" to attain lasting peace with the MILF in Mindanao.

"As we continue our peace and development work in areas affected by conflict, it is vital that we give more focus on women and children," Dureza said.

For his part, MILF chairman Ebrahim said the program "will undoubtedly contribute to the search for genuine and lasting peace in Mindanao.

"We would like to see the campaign implemented as a component and tied up to the ongoing peace process between the MILF and the government. We would like our people to accept the program as among the fruits of the ongoing peace process," he said.