THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of Tokyo, has launched the Assistance for Security, Peace, Integration and Recovery for Advancing Human Security (Aspire) in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Aspire project was launched in collaboration with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) on Thursday, October 5, in Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province.
Funded by the Japanese government through a grant aid of P220.5 million (579 million Japanese Yen), Aspire is part of Tokyo’s contribution to the peace process in Mindanao, and is being implemented by UNDP.
The project aims to establish not only a system for the management and reduction of privately owned small and light weapons (SALWs) but also to support the socio-economic development of the residents in target communities selected jointly by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the ?Philippine government.
Basilan was selected to be one of the project's pilot sites after a series of discussions among stakeholder?s.
The launching of the project was graced by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Opapri Chief Carlito Galvez Jr., and Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr.
Also present were Basilan provincial officials headed by Governor Jim Hatamman-Salliman and Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim.
Salliman, in his message, bannered his administration’s strong support to SALW Program that seeks to siphon off the loose firearms from the general public, and the main goal is to make Basilan free of loose guns.
Salliman said that through SALW program, they had stenciled 4,323 weapons, which means these were rendered unserviceable, and 404 other guns surrendered in the province since 2020.
Salliman is confident the Aspire Program, as the continuing initiative of SALW, would expand the gains and share in the goals of normalization in Basilan, even as he called on all stakeholders at the ground level to proactively participate in the implementation of the program for a continuing peace and progress in the province.
Meanwhile, Teodoro stressed on the need to harden internal security in order to be prepared for the external threats as he commended Salliman for his support and initiatives on peace and security in Basilan.
Teodoro noted the remarkable transformation and development of Basilan under the leadership of Salliman.
Galvez emphasized that the launching of Aspire program symbolizes “our relentless effort to put an end to the cycle of violence and achieve lasting peace here in the peaceful province of Basilan and throughout Mindanao”.
Galvez said Aspire is the collective undertaking that involves the nation and Barmm, local government units, civil society and the security sector, and the international development partner.
Abalos, on the other hand, said there will be no development in the place if there is no peace.
“Peace would always be an essential ingredient for development,” Abalos said. (SunStar Zamboanga)