THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines led the conduct of the first-ever stakeholders’ consultation on small arms and light weapons (SALW) management in Basilan province.
The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said on Thursday, August 24, the UNDP gathered the local chief executives of Basilan headed by Governor Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman and the officials from the military and police for the consultation and dialogue regarding the Assistance for Security, Peace, Integration, and Recovery for Advancing Human Security (ASPIRE) project in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
The project is an initiative to promote the decommissioning and normalization aspects of the Bangsamoro peace process by addressing the challenge of SALWs and by providing socio-economic support to former combatants and members of private armed groups (PAG).
The Westmincom said that the activity was held in Isabela City, Basilan province on Wednesday, August 23.
The activity was attended by Anwar Alamada, Executive Director of the Peace, Security, and Reconciliation Office; David Diciano, the Presidential Assistant for Bangsamoro Transformation; Winston Aylmer Camarinas, Head of Cotabato Field Office of UNDP; Ariel Hernandez, Co-Chair of the Joint Normalization Committee of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (Opapru); and, military and police officials as well other guests.
“Westmincom welcomes and succors any legitimate intent to reach peace and development. For me, the ASPIRE project reinforces our campaign against terrorism and insurgency as it encompasses mechanisms in addressing the root causes of violence,” Lieutenant General Roy Galido, Westmincom chief, said in a statement. (SunStar Zamboanga)