UN hopes Bangsamoro law will bring lasting peace

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The historic signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) would pave the way for a lasting peace in Mindanao which is an “exciting event in human development,” the United Nations said Thursday.

“To have an enduring peace in Mindanao is an exciting event in human development,” said United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark in a press briefing.

Clark said that development has been constrained in the areas affected by the decades-long secession in Mindanao.

She said that with peace, much faster progress can be made on human development.

She added that the UN would work together with the government to ensure proper implementation of the agreement.

“Key to the success of the peace process will be the proper functioning of the new autonomous political entity, the Bangsamoro, which replaces the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),” she said.

According to her, UNDP, in partnership with the World Bank, has provided a comprehensive technical assistance package to support the peace process in Mindanao.

“The Facility for Advisory Support for Transition Capacities (FASTRAC) has assisted the MILF and the Philippine government to build capacity to address key issues for the Bangsamoro such as governance, justice, combatant transition and security,” she said.

The UN executive will meet President Benigno Aquino III this Thursday to witness the historic signing of the Bangsamoro peace deal between the government and the MILF.

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