World, business hail deal

MANILA, Philippines - Several foreign governments sent key officials to Manila while international organizations and business groups lauded the signing of the peace agreement yesterday between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak flew to Manila for the signing ceremonies along with ministers of Germany and Spain. Members of the diplomatic community were present at the rites at Malacañang’s Kalayaan garden.

“We greatly commend the government’s peace panel led by Secretary Teresita Deles and chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, and the MILF panel led by Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and head of the MILF peace panel Mohagher Iqbal, who have seen this process through, amidst all the challenges during the entire stretch of the negotiations,” the Makati Business Club (MBC) said in a statement.

The businessmen, who said the process leading to the final peace accord was done with fairness and transparency, also expressed their gratitude and congratulated the local and international organizations, Malaysia and other foreign governments that have been instrumental in forging the agreement.

The MBC again called on legislators to pursue the path to peace as they craft the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Alfredo Yao said the group also supports the success of the Bangsamoro agreement.

“We believe this is positive for foreign investors. Mindanao offers many investment opportunities in agriculture and in mining so we think this is good for the whole country,” he said.

As the PCCI has links with business groups in other countries and meets with foreign business delegations, he said the group would continue to promote Mindanao as an investment destination.

“We are encouraging all those business missions that go to us at PCCI to see Mindanao, to look at Mindanao,” he said.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said the signing of the agreement is expected to bring peace as well as economic benefits in the region.

“The benefit for Mindanao is peace and everything follows after the peace... the economic benefits, cultural benefits, everything,” he said.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas yesterday said that even after the signing of the CAB there should be continued dialogue and consultation.

Villegas, also Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop, said that they join other peace-loving Filipinos in rejoicing over the CAB signing between the government and the MILF.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We pray that this first courageous breakthrough will be followed by more steps leading to true and lasting peace in Mindanao,“ said Villegas.

But even if the peace negotiations have reached the level of the CAB signing, he advocated that the government should “continue the process of widespread consultation and an honest, open and trusting dialogue with other communities in Mindanao, especially those who feel marginalized and ignored like the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front).”

Vice President Jejomar Binay is hoping that the  “historic” signing of the CAB is but the first step in the long and determined journey to peace and progress in Mindanao.

“I am hopeful that with this act of unity and goodwill, we will finally usher in a new era of genuine and equitable growth and development for our Muslim brothers and sisters and the people of Mindanao,” Binay said in a statement from The Hague, Netherlands.

Binay urged all Filipinos to support the agreement.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the agriculture-based

intervention in former war-torn Bangsamoro areas would be included in the Sajahatra Bangsamoro program, the administration’s masterplan for

improving the quality of life in MILF communities.

Agriculture developments in MILF areas include the construction of

farm-to-market roads, small-scale irrigation systems among others.

“We laid down programs for farmers and fishermen,” said Alcala. “As they surrender their arms, they should be assisted in rebuilding their livelihood.”

An outlay of P212.9 million in initial support by the agriculture department would be for four regions: Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao and SOCCSKARGEN as well as 10 provinces: Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur,

South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao Oriental and North Cotabato.

Alcala said he was assured by former MILF commanders during several

speaking engagements leading up to yesterday’s signing that they would cooperate with the government’s thrust on agriculture development.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), an umbrella organization of investors in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, welcomed the signing of the peace pact, saying this will open up opportunities for agriculture investments in Mindanao and free up the manpower for farm projects.

“Any agreement to foster peace is good in terms of enhancing the living conditions of the Bangsamoro people and the hope of an uninterrupted localized food production for local communities ravaged by decades of war,” said Sinag chairman Rosendo So.

“The main combatants of the MILF are farmers that, instead of producing food, are forced to be at the forefront of war that is not of their making,” he added.

Sinag members, he said, see Mindanao has the potential to be a food

production hub.

AFP-MILF cooperation

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, Armed Forces of the Philppines (AFP) Public Affairs Office chief, said that with the peace accord now signed, military units are expected to scale down operations considering that the MILF and AFP would no longer be fighting each other and instead start working together for peace in Mindanao.

“Instead of fighting as we did before, we are now on the same side for peace and we are also expecting that together, we will be guarding against any threat groups against peace in the region,” Zagala said.

The military welcomed the signing of the final peace agreement and vowed to support efforts aimed at promoting development.

“The signing of the agreement is a strong indication that lasting peace and development could be achieved through peaceful and democratic means,” Army spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato said in a statement.

“The Philippine Army considers this recent breakthrough as a triumph in the continued pursuit for peace and development,” he added.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that with the signing of the CAB, he is expecting closer cooperation between government forces and MILF fighters in going after the so-called spoilers of peace in Mindanao. – Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude, Jose Rodel Clapano, Czeriza Valencia, Louella Desiderio, Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Jess Diaz, Christina Mendez, Artemio Dumlao