Manila: Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Friday called the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) an instrumental pact in the country's pursuit of peace in Mindanao. "Signed 12 years ago, the CAB remains a historic milestone in our collective pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. It stands as a testament to the power of dialogue, mutual respect, and shared resolve to finally put an end to armed conflict in our land," he said in a statement. According to Philippines News Agency, the CAB was signed at Malacañang Palace in Manila on March 27, 2014. It is the final peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). "Amidst the challenges we are facing in the implementation of this landmark peace agreement, this occasion is an opportunity for us to look back at the years of extensive negotiations and tough conversations that led both parties to sign the peace covenant," the OPAPRU chief said. Galvez said this year's celebration is a timely reminder that the CAB was painstakingly built by the GPH and MILF, who all understand that the only way to forge ahead was to set aside their differences and find a common ground. "Rest assured that the OPAPRU will continue to support all aspects of the Bangsamoro peace process, most especially in carrying out interventions that will transform the lives of former combatants and their families, and turn their areas into peaceful, progressive, and resilient communities," he added. Galvez said they are inspired by the transformation that is unfolding in the Bangsamoro region. Under the normalization track of the CAB, he said, former MILF combatants have laid down their arms and are now transitioning peacefully as productive and law-abiding members of society. Better economic opportunities await families that once lived in fear, as they can now dream of a better and brighter future, he added. "As the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao draw closer, let us remain steadfast in honoring the spirit of the CAB and in fulfilling the promise it represents - meaningful autonomy, genuine representation, and a regional government that champions the dreams and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people," Galvez said. He called on all peace stakeholders to persevere in building a future where peace is enduring, inclusive, and people-centered.