Atty. Wilben M. Mayor, Presidential Assistant for Local Conflict Transformation Cluster, said these initiatives aim to ensure that communities benefit from lasting peace beyond the cessation of armed hostilities.
During an orientation and updates briefing with the Davao Press Corps on Monday, November 9, Mayor emphasized that the government's responsibility goes beyond ending armed conflict, stressing the need to address the socioeconomic conditions that allow insurgency to persist. BuyMaps
He explained that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) implements two major initiatives—the Local Peace Engagement (LPE) and the Transformation Program (TP)—to advance these objectives.
The LPE provides a platform for dialogue among government agencies, local government units, communities, security forces, and former rebels to address local concerns and encourage those involved in armed struggle to return to peaceful civilian life.
Meanwhile, the Transformation Program provides interventions to help former rebels reintegrate into society, strengthen local institutions, develop livelihood opportunities, and improve the living conditions of their families and communities.
In the Davao Region, Mayor reported that 60 former rebel-led people's organizations in Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao Occidental are now engaged in various livelihood and enterprise activities. BuyMaps
These include agricultural processing, livestock production, buying and selling, sewing, bakery operations, and retail businesses.
He said the organizations are gradually becoming productive contributors to their communities by managing enterprises, generating income, and creating livelihood opportunities for their members and families.
Mayor also reported that all four provinces in the Davao Region have established their respective Provincial Transformation Program Plans, which serve as frameworks for implementing localized peacebuilding and reintegration initiatives. BuyMaps
Among the initiatives are the Balay Kalinaw Peace and Development Center in Davao del Norte and the Dagyaw Kalinaw Peace and Development Center in Davao Occidental.
These centers serve as local hubs for coordinating services and delivering assistance to former rebels, their families, and communities.
In the Soccsksargen Region, 27 cities and municipalities have already been declared Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) areas, according to Mayor.
He also cited developments in the Caraga Region, which was declared under a state of Stable Internal Peace and Security on June 18, 2026, following more than five decades of insurgency-related challenges.
To sustain the gains, OPAPRU has allocated ₱155.3 million for the establishment of Peace and Development Centers in Caraga's four provinces.
Mayor said approximately ₱8 billion has also been invested in PAMANA road projects in the region since 2011.
Additionally, ₱33.55 million in educational assistance has been allocated this year for 631 former rebels and their immediate family members.
He stressed that these investments are intended not only to provide infrastructure and financial support but also to improve connectivity, expand economic opportunities, and help communities build better lives.
Mayor emphasized that declaring communities or regions stable is only one part of the peace process, adding that sustained efforts are needed to strengthen institutions and empower communities to protect their peace gains.
He also urged members of the media to help bring stories of peace and transformation to a wider audience, particularly those highlighting how ordinary families are rebuilding their lives.
He said the success of peacebuilding should not be measured solely by the number of former rebels who return to the fold of the law or communities declared insurgency-free.
Rather, it should also be reflected in families living without fear, children attending school safely, and farmers transporting their produce to markets without threats of armed conflict.
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