Friday, June 13, 2008 IPs, Dureza ink peace covenant
SECRETARY Jesus Dureza has signed a pact with indigenous peoples leaders Thursday dubbed as the peace covenant between the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD) headed by Datu Lipatuan Joel Unad and the Philippine government in what could be his last official act as presidential adviser on the peace process.
Dureza, being the head of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Peace Process (Opapp), represented the Philippine government.
Dureza stops being the peace process presidential adviser on June 16 and takes on the new role of Press Secretary. Taking over his post at Opapp will be retired Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon.
The covenant defines MIPCPD as a "venue wherein the different issues and concerns of the indigenous peoples of Mindanao are deliberated and acted upon to come up with possible solutions."
The covenant also recognizes that the indigenous people of Mindanao are firmly asserting their right to self-determination within their respective ancestral domain areas in accordance with the provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 and other international agreements.
In an interview Thursday with Dureza, he said the covenant would ensure that the welfare of the indigenous people is looked after.
The covenant also enumerated the obligations of each of the parties. The sector of the indigenous people is expected to advocate peace-building efforts of the government among IP communities towards the attainment of sustainable peace and development in Mindanao, among others.
Also, it is expected to ensure the participation and representation of the indigenous people in the government's peace-building efforts, as well as to initiate collaborative and convergence efforts among stakeholders in the pursuance of government's peace-building efforts.
As for the government sector, it is expected to provide and augment the resource generating capabilities and to provide and extend technical assistance and livelihood programs and to provide a venue to air the sentiments of its constituency and serve as a channel for concerns to be properly endorsed to the appropriate government line agencies.
The covenant was signed during the 110th celebration of the Philippine Independence. (CPM)
