Socio-economic programs for MILF camps pushed

Philstar.com

March 9, 2026 | 5:00pm

MANILA, Philippine — The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) is advancing coordination efforts to support socio-economic assistance in BARMM under Malacanang's normalization program.

The initiative aims to strengthen coordination among government agencies implementing programs under the normalization process.

On March 5, OSAP, headed by Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Anton Lagdameo, convened a coordination meeting with key agencies to review the status of socio-economic initiatives under the normalization program, particularly the Camps Transformation Plan, which aims to improve living conditions in communities located in previously recognized Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camps.

The meeting gathered representatives Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) to align data and identify remaining deliverables under the program’s socio-economic component.

Officials discussed the validation of project submissions and clarified coverage, targets, and data gaps to determine necessary follow-up actions from national government agencies involved in the initiative.

According to OSAP, the main goal is to establish a baseline data set of all socio-economic interventions already delivered and those still pending under the normalization program. 

This baseline will help the government assess accomplishments and remaining targets for 2026 to 2028.

The Camps Transformation Plan is a part of the broader socio-economic support for former combatants and their communities. Aside from providing assistance to individual decommissioned fighters and their families, the program focuses on infrastructure and development projects within six previously acknowledged MILF camps.

Government data indicate that about 26,145 decommissioned combatants are currently covered under the normalization program, with various agencies providing assistance such as infrastructure development, education support and livelihood opportunities.

Among those present during the coordination meeting were DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., OPAPRU Senior Undersecretary Isidro Purisima, Presidential Assistant for Bangsamoro Transformation David Diciano, ICCMN Secretariat Co-Head Wendell Orbeso, Joint Normalization Committee Chair Ariel Hernandez, Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation Co-Chair Baintan Ampatuan, DA spokesperson Joshua Emmanuel De Leon, Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation Co-Chair Danilo Pamonag, and Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities Chair Laisa Alamia.

OSAP emphasized that stronger coordination among agencies is crucial to ensure the timely completion of these projects, as the national government targets substantial implementation of commitments under the peace agreement in the coming years.

Malacanang aims to sustain progress in the normalization track and move toward the eventual signing of an Exit Agreement with the MILF by 2028, marking the completion of the peace process and long-term development of former conflict-affected communities in the Bangsamoro region. (Contributed story)