Galvez work in peace process continues amid NTF duties

From the Philippine News Agency (May 18, 2021): Galvez work in peace process continues amid NTF duties (By Lade Jean Kabagani)

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (PNA file photo)

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. assured that his job as the country's vaccine czar and Chief Implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 is not interfering with his role as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Amid the pandemic, Galvez said other officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) are working on the normalization in the Bangsamoro Region.

"Alam po ninyo, iyung Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process ay matagal na po na nandiyan po. More than 18 years na talagang tumututok po tayo sa Bangsamoro peace process (You know, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process has been there for a long. For more than 18 years, we are really focusing on the Bangsamoro peace process)," Galvez said Tuesday at the Palace press briefing.

He said there is a proper delineation of duties among the OPAPP officials.

"Marami po tayong mga tauhan, lalo na si Usec. Sid Purisima at saka iyong ating mga execom (executive committee) na talagang nakatutok po dito sa ongoing implementation ng normalization at saka political track ng Bangsamoro (We have a lot of staff, especially Undersecretary Sid Purisima and then our executive committee, who are really focusing on the ongoing implementation of normalization and also the political track of the Bangsamoro)," he added.

Galvez also announced the government will launch the Bangsamoro National Trust Fund on Wednesday.

Officials will also visit the region to talk about the extension of the Bangsamoro transition, he added.

Various groups earlier called on Congress to expedite the amendment of laws postponing the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

"Bukas po pupunta po kami sa Cotabato. May emergency meeting po kami kay Murad Ebrahim at ako rin po ay lumalabas din po sa Senado, para naman sa extension ng BARMM election (Tomorrow, we will visit Cotabato City for an emergency meeting with Murad Ebrahim and I also attend Senate hearings to discuss the extension of the BARMM elections)," Galvez said.

Ebrahim is the Interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

The transition plan for the region is set to be completed in 2022. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, regional leaders are pushing to extend the Bangsamoro transition phase until 2025.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1140706