A series of consultations is conducted throughout Negros Island by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process to put a closure on all armed conflicts in the island and the whole country for that matter.
OPAPP executive director Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo told civil societies and other stakeholders in Negros Oriental on Thursday that the consultation is undertaken to really determine how to end the conflict, what interventions are needed and funding requirements as well.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo raised his concern on funding for the Social Integration Program as he assured the OPAPP that his office is open to a counterparting scheme.
In fact, an ad hoc committee on rebel returnees was created to assess, evaluate, make plans, policies and programs for former rebels. The governor invited representatives of the OPAPP to attend the next regular meeting of the peace and order council and the ad hoc committee meeting.
Montalbo admitted that since 2000, there is no clarity as to where the peace process is going and lapses in certain levels were noted in the implementation of projects.
According to Montalbo, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III does not want to leave this kind of situation as a problem for the next administration and that he wanted to end this issue during his tenure.
The series of consultations would also see solutions on how to transform the RPA-ABB into a socio-political entity that is unarmed, Montalbo pointed out.
Meanwhile, OPAPP is currently evaluating the success or failure of the P35-million worth of projects supposed to be implemented in 12 barangays of the province under the peace agreement. These include waterworks systems, school buildings and roads, among others.
Creation of a tripartite body was also discussed during the series of consultations and that factions within the group will also be dealt with separately. (PNA/Juancho Gallarde)