By Genalyn Kabiling
A national task force has been created to put an end to the local communist armed conflict in the country based on a new order issued by President Duterte.
In Executive Order No. 70, the President will lead the task force that will craft and implement a National Peace Framework that will include development and peace-building initiatives in conflict-affected places.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The National Security Adviser will serve as vice chairperson of the task force with 18 top officials from government agencies and two private sector representatives as members. "There is a need to reframe and refocus the government policy for achieving inclusive and sustainable peace by recognizing the insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflicts and threats are not only military and security concerns but are symptomatic of broader social, economic and historical problems such as poverty, historical injustice, social inequality, and lack of inclusivity," the order read. “There is a need to create national task force that will provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the whole-of nation approach to aid in the realization of the collective aspiration of the Filipino people to attain inclusive and sustainable peace,” it added. EO 70 institutionalizes the “whole-of-nation approach” as a government policy in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace. Under this strategy, the government will prioritize and harmonize the delivery of basic services and social development packages in conflict-affected areas, facilitate social inclusivity, and ensure participation of all sectors of society in pursuit of the country's peace agenda. “To ensure efficient and effective implementation of the whole-of-Nation approach, a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Task Force) is hereby created under the Office of the President,” the order read. “There is a need to create national task force that will provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the whole-of nation approach to aid in the realization of the collective aspiration of the Filipino people to attain inclusive and sustainable peace,” it added. The same EO also authorized the new task force to formulate and start to implement a National Peace Framework that includes a mechanism for localized peace talks within the next six months. The framework must contain policies and programs that will bring "inclusive and sustainable peace and address the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions and other armed conflicts." It must also be responsive to the local needs and sensitive to realities on the ground. "To this end, the Framework shall include a mechanism for localized peace engagements or negotiations and interventions that is national orchestrated, directed and supervised while being locally implemented," the order read. The same order also stated that the national task force must also ensure inter-agency convergence in the implementation of the peace program in conflict-affected area. All government agencies have been directed to provide support to the task force. The task force is also authorized to evaluate, modify or integrate policies and programs in the peace framework; organize ad hoc inter-agency and multi-sectoral clusters and groups; develop strategy communication, advocacy and peace constituency plans in case of ceasefire; review mandates of offices involved in peace efforts, among others. The members of the task force are the Secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of National Defense, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, Department of Agrarian Reform, Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Education, National Economic and Development Authority director general, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director general. The group also includes the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Presidential Adviser for Indigenous People's Concerns; Armed Forces chief of staff, Philippine National Police director general, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples chairperson, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary, and two representatives from the private sector. The initial funding requirements for the implementation of EO 70 would be charged against the budget of the member-agencies of the task force. The succeeding year's budget would be included in the budget proposal of the Office of the President. The EO also has a sunset clause, stating the task force will be rendered functus officio or having performed its duty upon the accomplishment of the purposes or unless sooner dissolved by the President. The order, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by authority of the President last December 4, takes effect upon publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte(ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The National Security Adviser will serve as vice chairperson of the task force with 18 top officials from government agencies and two private sector representatives as members. "There is a need to reframe and refocus the government policy for achieving inclusive and sustainable peace by recognizing the insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflicts and threats are not only military and security concerns but are symptomatic of broader social, economic and historical problems such as poverty, historical injustice, social inequality, and lack of inclusivity," the order read. “There is a need to create national task force that will provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the whole-of nation approach to aid in the realization of the collective aspiration of the Filipino people to attain inclusive and sustainable peace,” it added. EO 70 institutionalizes the “whole-of-nation approach” as a government policy in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace. Under this strategy, the government will prioritize and harmonize the delivery of basic services and social development packages in conflict-affected areas, facilitate social inclusivity, and ensure participation of all sectors of society in pursuit of the country's peace agenda. “To ensure efficient and effective implementation of the whole-of-Nation approach, a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Task Force) is hereby created under the Office of the President,” the order read. “There is a need to create national task force that will provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the whole-of nation approach to aid in the realization of the collective aspiration of the Filipino people to attain inclusive and sustainable peace,” it added. The same EO also authorized the new task force to formulate and start to implement a National Peace Framework that includes a mechanism for localized peace talks within the next six months. The framework must contain policies and programs that will bring "inclusive and sustainable peace and address the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions and other armed conflicts." It must also be responsive to the local needs and sensitive to realities on the ground. "To this end, the Framework shall include a mechanism for localized peace engagements or negotiations and interventions that is national orchestrated, directed and supervised while being locally implemented," the order read. The same order also stated that the national task force must also ensure inter-agency convergence in the implementation of the peace program in conflict-affected area. All government agencies have been directed to provide support to the task force. The task force is also authorized to evaluate, modify or integrate policies and programs in the peace framework; organize ad hoc inter-agency and multi-sectoral clusters and groups; develop strategy communication, advocacy and peace constituency plans in case of ceasefire; review mandates of offices involved in peace efforts, among others. The members of the task force are the Secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of National Defense, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, Department of Agrarian Reform, Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Education, National Economic and Development Authority director general, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director general. The group also includes the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Presidential Adviser for Indigenous People's Concerns; Armed Forces chief of staff, Philippine National Police director general, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples chairperson, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary, and two representatives from the private sector. The initial funding requirements for the implementation of EO 70 would be charged against the budget of the member-agencies of the task force. The succeeding year's budget would be included in the budget proposal of the Office of the President. The EO also has a sunset clause, stating the task force will be rendered functus officio or having performed its duty upon the accomplishment of the purposes or unless sooner dissolved by the President. The order, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by authority of the President last December 4, takes effect upon publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper.