THE Joint Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict-Davao Region (JRTF-Elcac-Davao) reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and sustainable peace-building during its Second Quarter Meeting held on June 27 at the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) office.
The meeting focused on reinforcing child protection mechanisms and deepening the involvement of Indigenous Peoples (IP) in the region's peace and development initiatives.
MinDA Chair and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (Cords) for Davao Region, Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, emphasized that the ongoing peace efforts align with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s agenda for a just and lasting peace anchored on social justice and inclusivity.
Magno noted that maintaining the region’s insurgency-free status is both a milestone and a continuing obligation under the administration’s thrust of unity and nation-building.
He pointed out that peace cannot be achieved through security alone, but through inclusive development, responsive governance, and empowering communities.
Among the key developments were the creation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Children Involved in Armed Conflict (IAC-CIAC), as well as the regional rollout of the 4th National Plan of Action for Children. Both initiatives aim to protect young people from the dangers of armed conflict and recruitment.
Magno also acknowledged the work of the Localized Peace Engagement and Amnesty clusters, led by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (Opapru), in promoting grassroots reconciliation. He praised the ongoing reintegration programs that provide education, livelihood, and psychosocial support to former rebels, including child returnees and IP members.
Meanwhile, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Agnes Cervantes cited the Philippines’ inclusion in the 2025 UN Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict as a global recognition of the country’s progress under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. She pointed to a recent peace mission in Talaingod, Davao del Norte as a successful model of localized peacebuilding that empowers IP communities and gains international attention.
Officials concluded the meeting with a unified call to sustain peace-building gains and ensure that every community in the region experiences the benefits of lasting peace. DEF