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MEMBERS of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and their families in the island province of Basilan availed of various government services through the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) Caravan held in Lamitan City, Basilan, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2025.
Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front and their families in the island province of Basilan avail of various government services through the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization Caravan in Lamitan City on Feb. 25, 2025. FACEBOOK PHOTO/OPAPRU
Around 24 ICCMN member agencies including six ministries from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, the provincial government of Basilan, and Lamitan City participated in the caravan to provide various interventions such as agricultural inputs, medical services, civil registration, cooperative registration, health insurance, internet access and amnesty applications for former rebels.
International partners such as UNDP, Non-violent Peace Force, Fondation Suisse de Deminage, and private sector groups like the Ayala Foundation also set up education booths at the main gymnasium and explained to beneficiaries how to access their peace, educational, development, gender, and social enterprise programs.
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The UNDP has also turned over a multipurpose speedboat, while the Land Bank provided a booth for financial education.
An MILF member, Myrna Katang, 45, from the town of Tipo Tipo expressed her gratitude to the government for implementing the Bangsamoro peace process.
"Thank you very much for your help, for the medicines you gave, for the eye check-ups, your program really helped a lot today," Katang said in Filipino.
Salam Ajud, 60, an MNLF member who is a recipient of the government's Transformation Program, said he applied for Pres. Marcos Jr's amnesty program.
"I applied to the Amnesty program to clear our name if there are more cases. Thank you very much for the help and program for the MILF as well as the MNLF," said Ajud, who hails from Buhe Piang, Albarka town.The Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) is a body created by virtue of Executive Order No. 79, amended by EO No. 6 s. 2022, to ensure timely, appropriate, and efficient delivery of the Normalization Program including the coordination and mobilization of national government agencies in the implementation of the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro or CAB.
The ICCMN ensures a "whole-of-government" approach, which aims to transform MILF combatants and their families into productive and peaceful members of society and turn their camps into zones of peace and development.
It is currently co-chaired by the Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr.
Lamitan Mayor Roderick "Orik" Furigay hailed the caravan "as it unites people in bringing essential services and opportunities to our MILF brothers and sisters and other beneficiaries – a reflection of shared commitment to peace and development in the Bangsamoro region."
Furigay said the presence of the ICCMN member agencies "affirms their dedication to ensuring a dignified transition from conflict to peace through health, livelihood, education, and social protection services."
"To our decommissioned combatants, your courage in embracing peace is commendable, and we stand with you in this journey," Furigay said, as he extended his gratitude to Opapru, OSAP, BARMM, Basilan Provincial Government, and all partner agencies for their unwavering support to make the initiative possible.
Basilan Gov. Jim Saliman Hataman expressed his gratitude to the government agencies that rolled out its programs in Basilan to assist the former combatants as they transition to peaceful and productive citizens of society.
"It's a big deal if we all have ownership," Hataman said, referring to the collaborative efforts of the national and local governments in helping in the normalization and transformation of former combatants.
The governor called on the MILF and MNLF members to be united in their efforts to uplift their well-being, as he cautioned them not to be influenced by politics and instead focus on the peace and development process.
"Let's not give political colors in the process, but more on our collective efforts to achieve sustainable peace in Basilan," Hataman stressed.
Meanwhile, Galvez underscored the unwavering commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the Bangsamoro peace process.
"We also aim to fulfill the promise of our beloved President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help increase the livelihood of our Bangsamoro brothers. To our brothers from the MILF and MNLT and your families, this ICCM Caravan is for you," Galvez said.Basilan is the first province in the BARMM to adopt the LNI framework.
