OPAPP taps civil society groups for peace-building in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has partnered with civil society groups in its implementation of peace-building projects in the highland Cordillera region.

Setting up a Monitoring, Evaluation and Transparency (MET) mechanism, OPAPP hopes to improve governance and monitoring of government’s peace and development projects and programs.

OPAPP Undersecretary Marie Cleofe Gettie Sandoval signed here on Friday  a memorandum of agreement with representatives of the  Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance, Peoples Organization for Social Transformation Development Network Inc. of Apayao,  Philippine Association of Social Workers Inc. – Ifugao, International Association for Transformation (Kalinga) and women’s group Ebgan Inc. of Mountain  Province.

Cordillera Bodong Administration President Marcelina Bahatan, Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent  Benjamin Magalong, Department of Agriculture Regional Director Marilyn Sta. Catalina, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant RD Jonathan Leusen and National Commission on Indigenous People RD Sancho Boquing witnessed the signing rites.

Sandoval said the MET mechanism shows the commitment of both the government and the Cordillera Bodong Administration – Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) to the principles of transparency and accountability in implementing the Peace Process MOA they forged  in 2011.

“The MET will utilize collaborative approaches and engage the public in promoting an atmosphere of constructive and productive dialogue and mutual cooperation in the monitoring and implementation of the peace and development projects and program under the 2011 GPH-CBA-CPLA MOA”, she said.

With the MOA now on its second year of implementation, Sandoval affirmed that peace and development projects and programs are on track to  transform the  CBA-CPLA into a potent socio-economic organization.

Program and project implementations are channeled through different regional line agencies such as infrastructure projects through the DILG, livelihood programs through DSWD, scholarships through the Commission on Higher Education, farm-to-market roads through the DA, Philhealth for health insurance coverage, among others.

By the end of this year, OPAPP is optimistic that all programs and projects are already in place .

OPAPP is also set to present its accomplishment report by July for the second year anniversary of the MOA.