Guv hopes final peace pact signed before Sona

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. hopes the final peace agreement between the government and the Revolutionary Proletarian Army- Alex Bongcayal Brigade (RPA-ABB) will be signed soon so that it can be included in the President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 23.

"That's why we asked the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to hasten the process," Marañon said.

OPAPP Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo recently said during his visit to the province that they are trying to complete the documents so that the final peace agreement can be finally concluded, according to the governor.

Montalbo’s statement gave rise to the expectation that the signing of the final agreement would be made this week before the Sona.

OPAPP has proposed a P279.16-million budget for livelihood and development programs for conflict-affected communities identified by the RPA. Of the amount earmarked for the peace pact, P148.10 million will go to Negros Occidental, Montalbo said.

As a requirement for the signing of the peace agreement, the Provincial Peace and Order Council of Negros Occidental chaired by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has already passed a resolution supporting the closure of the peace agreement.

The peace agreement is geared towards the transformation of the RPA-ABB into a civilian, political, economic organization, mainstreaming its members into their communities, providing them with livelihood and employment, and moving them towards disarmament and the dismantling of their military structure. (Teresa D. Ellera)