MILF lauds WB, private sectors support to Mindanao peace process

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 2): MILF lauds WB, private sectors support to Mindanao peace process

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership on Friday lauded the efforts of World Bank and other national and international non government organizations in supporting the Mindanao peace process although an enabling law that will create new political entity in southern Philippines hangs in the balance.

”We are pleased the private sector, both international and local, recognize the need for genuine peace in southern Philippines,” MILF chieftain Al Haj Murad said in a statement.

Last week, Murad told World Bank officials and private sector representatives of the MILF’s desire to work with the private sector in helping attain the aspirations of Moro people – that is genuine and lasting peace.

He said the peace for Bangsamoro people will also benefit the entire country.

World Bank officials and representatives from the country’s big business visit the MILF officials to express its determination to continue supporting the Mindanao peace process by critical projects in infrastructure, community-driven development projects and social services in support of job creation.

In a statement, Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Vice President for East Asia, said WB focuses in contributing to areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) disturbed by peace and order problems in the past but slowly recovering.

WB is pushing for change and improvement in education, maternal health and infrastructure, hoping to generate employment and opportunities that will bring the poor people out of poverty.

Van Trotsenburg said WB believed in the peace process in Mindanao. “The Bank continues to believe in the peace process for a region that was seriously affected by conflict,” he said.

“The peace process is really all about people, including children who have lost parents to conflict, families suffering from poverty, unemployed young people lured into armed groups and lives of violence,” Van Trotsenburg said.

“Building peace takes time, especially where poverty and conflict have become prevalent. We hope all parties stay the course in Mindanao, because there is no alternative to peace,” he added.

He added WB is hoping its efforts, in partnership with government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the private sectors in transforming ARMM into a more prosperous and developed region in Mindanao.

Van Trotsenburg led a delegation of INGO representatives in a visit to Cotabato City.

His group included representatives from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector investment arm, and met with leaders of civil society groups, including women’s organizations and MILF leaders to hear about the aspirations of a people who have suffered from decades of conflict and underdevelopment.

Executives of Ayala Corporation, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), First Agri-Holdings Corp accompanying the WB official met with MILF chief Al Haj Murad at the latter’s office in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao early this week.

Manila and the MILF forged a peace deal last year - Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro ending decades old armed conflict in Mindanao. A draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that will finalize the peace process is still pending in Congress.

The MILF does not lose hope the draft law will hurdle political issues and becomes a law.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=810710