The Philippines’ international peace and development partners reaffirmed their strong support to the implementation of the Normalization Program of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) during the launch of the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) Wednesday, May 19.
The BNTF is a multi-donor trust fund created to support and accelerate the process of normalization for Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants, their families and communities, and other vulnerable sectors.
Specifically, the fund aims to ensure that assistance from international donor agencies and other peace partners will be released with efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
The launch was hosted by the World Bank, the BNTF’s official fund manager.
We are honored but also committed to play this role (as Fund Manager) professionally, with a strong sense of purpose and with a strong spirit of collaboration,” said World Bank Country Director Ndiamé Diop.
According to United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzales, the trust fund is a “concrete way of reenergizing collective hope for sustainable peace” in the region.
Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Alain Gaschen noted that the launch of the trust fund is a step “towards peace, justice, and reconciliation in the Bangsamoro.”
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO emphasized that the launch of the BNTF “is an important milestone signifying the commitment of the Government of the Philippines, the MILF, and the international community” for the implementation of the CAB.
Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter MacArthur expressed the Canadian government’s support to the Bangsamoro peace process.
“Through the years, Canada has supported efforts to address peace and development in the Bangsamoro and will continue to do so. We are committed like others to sustaining these efforts to its ultimate success,” MacArthur said.
Embassy of New Zealand Representative Jocelyn Ng pointed out that the BNTF “amplifies the existing partnerships between the international community and the Government of the Philippines and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. We are strong believers of the peace process and the Bangsamoro Normalization Process.”
Speaking on behalf of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in the Philippines, Christoph Wagner expressed the EU’s intention to contribute to the BNTF.
“European Union is happy that we will contribute to this fund. This is part of our overall pledge with our long-standing engagement in this peace process — both the political side and the normalization side,” he said.
The Special Envoy of Secretary General for Organization on Islamic Cooperation for the Peace Process in the Southern Philippines, Datu Ibrahim Abdullah affirmed the organization’s support to the Bangsamoro peace process.
“OIC wishes to reaffirm its strong and continuous support to the comprehensive peace process, which will be mutually beneficial not only to the region of Southern Philippines but the Philippines as a whole,” Abdullah said.
“OIC would be pleased to continue to work with all parties in all possibilities as we have done in the past,” he added.
The BNTF was conceptualized by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF Peace Implementing Panels following the signing of the Annex on Normalization in 2014.
Read more: https://peace.gov.ph/…/intl-peace-and-development-partners…/
Source: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
