The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have signed a historic agreement to work together for the disposal and destruction of landmines and other unexploded ordnance in a bid to push forward the peace process.

Director Ryan Mark Sullivan of the Government Peace Negotiating Panel (GPNP) secretariat said the signing was made at the continuation of the exploratory talks between the two panels held in Kuala Lumpur last May 5.

Sullivan cited the role taken by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action which partnered with the Philippines’ Campaign to Ban Landmines, a locally based non-government organization.

Unexploded ordnance and landmines pose serious threats to the safety of civilians in conflict-areas in Mindanao.

Sullivan said during the talks, four non-government organizations (NGOs) were mandated to protect civilians primarily in conflict-areas in Mindanao.

These are the Non-violent Peaceforce (NP), the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC), and the Muslim Organization of Government Officials and Professionals (MOGOP).

They will form part of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) which will focus on protecting civilians and other victims of armed conflict, especially the evacuees or Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).