The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday signed the Framework Agreement that will serve as a roadmap for the creation of a new Bangsamoro entity and which aims to pave the way for lasting peace in Mindanao.

With hundreds of people watching, Marvic Leonen, head of the government negotiating panel, and Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF panel, signed the historic agreement in Malacañang. Among those who witnessed the sealing of the agreement were President Benigno Aquino 3rd, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.

“This agreement not only marks a new chapter in our history; it now defines the very path we take as a people—one where opinions are heard and hope is shared; where understanding and consensus breed meaningful solutions for all stakeholders; one where every child is offered the opportunity to shape his own destiny,” President Aquino said.

“In full view of the Filipino people, and witnessed even by our friends from different parts of the world, we commit to peace: A peace that will be sustained through democratic ideals; a peace that heals and empowers; a peace that recognizes the many narratives of the Filipino people, and weaves them into a single, national aspiration for equitable progress,” he added.

Razak, whose country helped broker the deal, said that the agreement “will protect the rights of the Bangsamoro people and preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the southern Philippines.”

“We are men and leaders who want to make a difference and we have decided that the time has come for us to choose the moral high ground,” the Prime Minister said.     He admitted that the pact does not solve all the problems in Mindanao, but sets the parameters in which peace can be found.

“After four decades, peace is within reach. Let’s grasp it with both hands and never let go,” he said, adding that his country will stand with the Philippines to make the agreement possible.

Mr. Aquino expressed hope that the peace pact would end the cycle of suffering and violence in the Southern Philippines.

“We have seen children torn from their homes and communities, driven away from the land they have tilled. We have seen lives lost and justice sought, but because of the system’s failure to provide avenues for understanding and effective redress of grievances, many resorted to the path of vengeance and violence. We will give our people what is truly due them: a chance to direct their lives towards advancement in a democratic, peaceful, and safe society,” the President said.

He admitted that much work remains to be done since the details of the framework agreement have yet to be hammered out. He said that the road to peace will start with the mapping out of “detailed steps, commitments, and programs that will lead to the fulfillment of our long-term goals.”

He also pledged to help the MILF transform into a genuine political party that can help transform the region into a peaceful and progressive place.

“I ask the entire nation, and the entire world, to join me in imagining: A Mindanao finally free from strife, where people achieve their fullest potential. A child in Lamitan will be offered the same education as a child in Quezon City; the sick of Patikul will gain access to the same healthcare as those in Pasig; tourists visiting Boracay will also have Sulu in their itineraries; a businessman will earn a profit whether he sets up shop in Marikina or Marawi. People will be empowered; they will gain knowledge and marketable skills that will thrust the economy forward. From constant displacement, there will be now a stable employment. Children who have had to witness immeasurable suffering will now get to witness a harvest; sons and daughters who have had to sweep bullet casings from their yards will now get to pick fruit; families who once cowered in fear of gunshots will now emerge from their homes to a bright new dawn of equity, justice and peace,” he added.

P8.9B budget
The President said that government will allocate P8.59 billion for the Transition Investment Support Plan, adding that the regions will also receive a rightful share on the funds. The amount is on top of the P12.93 billion allocated earlier.

“We are committed to giving the region its rightful share, not just now but each and every time, confident that it will redound to the benefit of all citizens, and will not just line the pockets of a very select few,” Mr. Aquino said.

Consultations
Catholic bishops in Mindanao lauded the signing of the agreement but said that continuous consultations would be needed.

“The peace agreement between the government and the MILF is the first steps towards forging a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. We believe that continuing consultations with all stakeholders are necessary to bring the peace process forward,” the bishops said in their statement.

“A formal peace agreement is not the end of peace building; rather it is just the beginning of much hard work,” the prelates added.

The World Bank also welcomed the signing of the pact, saying that it marks an important step toward achieving peace, security and development.

“Much work remains to be done to turn the Framework Agreement into a final Peace Agreement and, more importantly, to translate it into security and prosperity for the people of Mindanao, particularly the Bangsamoro,” the Bank said in a statement.

The World Bank pledged to work with the government, MILF and other sectors to intensify efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos, particularly the poor in Mindanao.

The Makati Business Club and Management Association of the Philippines (MBC-MAP) said that the sealing of the agreement provides a clear roadmap to peace.

The business community expressed hopes that the creation of a Bangsamoro political entity would be undertaken in an inclusive and democratic manner.

“We believe that economic neglect has been among the foremost reasons for the generations-long conflict. As such, it is gratifying to note that the agreement has garnered the favorable response of the business and international diplomatic community. Along with the promise of peace, we hope that this optimism will later translate into business relationships in the Bangsamoro, leading to the realization of Mindanao’s potential to be an integral part of the Philippines’ improving economic engine and, ultimately, to the upliftment of the lives of the Bangsamoro people,” the MBC-MAP said.

WITH REPORTS FROM RAADEE S. SAUSA AND MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO