GRP-MILF peace panels set sights on last two annexes of framework agreement After successfully coming to terms on the revenue generation and wealth sharing annex of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), members of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels now set their sights on agreeing on the last two remaining annexes of the FAB – power sharing and normalization. Together with revenue generation and wealth sharing that was signed early Sunday (July 14), the other FAB annex is on transitional arrangements and modalities that was signed last February. Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles said that the same “extreme rigor” used by the parties to finally come to terms and agree on the first two annexes would be employed once again in order to hurdle any obstacle in achieving peace. “This has been a truly very difficult time in the negotiations but we come away with the affirmation, with the real strong sense and proof that indeed things can be as difficult, as we know they will, that the next annexes will also be difficult,” Deles said. “But, as has been shown—and we have the proof now—that it can be difficult: we go to the table, we talk about it; we, together, look for solutions where there are problems. We don’t find our solutions in the battlefield. We find it on the table,” she added Philippine peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who joined Deles to brief reporters in Malacanang, said that although this was one of the “toughest” rounds in the exploratory talks, perseverance and clarity of purpose of both panels made the signing of the wealth sharing annex possible. “It was one of the toughest rounds that we have been through since we signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro last October. It was a close call. Both sides made difficult but also constructive decisions. With perseverance and clarity of purpose, we returned home with the signed annex on revenue generation and wealth sharing,” Ferrer said. Comprised of eight pages, the wealth sharing annex has 12 sections detailing the: taxation; other sources of revenue; fees, and charges; grants and donations; fund transfers from central government; contracting of loans and overseas development assistance; natural resources; additional fiscal powers; auditing body; intergovernmental fiscal policy board; Bangsamoro development plan; and, gender development. Ferrer said that “under the taxing powers, the parties have agreed that 25 percent of the central government taxes, fees, and charges collected in the Bangsamoro, except for tariff and custom duties, will go to the central government while 75 percent of it, including the shares of the local government units, will go the Bangsamoro government.” “The signing of the second annex is, indeed, a breakthrough. We expect the discussions on the power sharing and normalization annexes to be just as intense. But, when you’re halfway through, there is no reason to turn back. The only way to go is forward,” Ferrer said. Senators laud PHL gov’t, MILF deal on wealth-sharing Senators Franklin Drilon and Teofisto Guingona III Monday commended the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for coming out with a deal on the wealth-sharing, calling it a breakthrough in the country’s long quest for lasting peace in Mindanao. “I laud the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government for another breakthrough in the history of our country’s long quest for lasting peace in Mindanao and putting an end to decades-long armed conflict in the region that hampered its growth and development,” Drilon said in a press statement. Last Saturday, the Philippine government panel and the MILF signed the wealth-sharing annex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. –more- “We’ve still got a long way to go before we achieve our goals, more annexes to discuss, but, with the unyielding efforts being shown by both sides and the tremendous support this undertaking has been receiving from the people, there is no doubt this agreement is bound to be a success,” Drilon said. Drilon, who is being groomed as the next Senate president, said the success of the peace negotiation between the Philippine government and the MILF could finally spark the long overdue economic development in Mindanao. ”The institution of just and lasting peace in Mindanao is a key to a successful implementation of socio-economic programs and to addressing the high poverty incidence in the entire Mindanao,” Drilon said. Guingona said the agreement on wealth-sharing was a welcome news specially for the Filipino Muslims who are observing the month of Ramadan. ”The news of having a wealth-sharing annex for the comprehensive peace agreement during this month of Ramadan is indeed welcome news and would be utterly symbolic,” Guingona said. ”Certainly our brothers in Mindanao have suffered enough in this decades-old war, and we all look forward to the days when the sounds of armed conflict will be silenced forever,” he added. Like Drilon, Guingona is hoping for comprehensive peace agreement that would provide better life for people of Mindanao. ”We look forward to finally being able to rehabilitate the Mindanao region and providing our brothers a better way of life,” said Guingona, a lawmaker from Mindanao. ”For that to become a reality, a comprehensive peace agreement must be reached the soonest possible time. I express my support to the efforts of both the government and the MILF peace panels in coming up with the remaining annexes for the peace agreement,” he added. (PNA)
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:25:00 +0000
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