Manila: Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento on Monday said the agency will soon shift its peacebuilding strategy from "conflict management to peace sustainability" initiatives. Sarmiento said this shift, to be handled by the agency's Local Conflict Transformation - Field Implementation Support Office (LCT-FISO), will happen in anticipation of the Caraga Region being declared insurgency-free within the month.
According to Philippines News Agency, with Caraga Region on the cusp of being declared insurgency-free, OPAPRU's mandate shifts fundamentally. The agency is stepping into deep-rooted conflict transformation, focusing on ensuring that this milestone translates into positive, lasting peace. The Transformation Program aims not only to help rebuild the lives of former rebels but also to mend the social fabric of communities affected by the conflict. The program's Healing and Reconciliation component will be strengthened to foster understanding, rebuild trust, and promote social cohesion among former adversaries.
Sarmiento emphasized that sustainable peace requires addressing the emotional, psychological, and social scars left by years of violence and division. Through dialogue, community engagement, and peacebuilding initiatives, OPAPRU aims to help communities heal, restore relationships, and create an environment where peace can flourish in areas once plagued by conflict.
Earlier, the Eastern Mindanao Command, responsible for defending and securing Caraga against all forms of threats, announced that the locality will soon be officially cleared of communist insurgents. This development follows Caraga's declaration as a 'Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS)' area during the Regional Peace and Order Council 13 meeting held last week.
The OPAPRU chief noted that the Caraga Region has long been considered a main outpost of the New People's Army in Mindanao, specifically operating under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Military records show that from 2016 to 2026, a total of 224 communist rebels affiliated with the NEMRC and 189 members of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee were subdued in Northern Mindanao. Combined, Regions 10 and 13 accounted for 433 subdued communist rebels over the 10-year period, reflecting the steady weakening of insurgent forces and the eventual dismantling of their operational capabilities.
The OPAPRU and provincial local government units (PLGUs) have previously established peace and development centers (PDCs) across Caraga. These centers serve as platforms where local stakeholders, through the PLGU of Caraga, can actively participate in shaping and sustaining the gains of peace. "Peace is strongest when it is built from the ground up. By working closely with the communities and local stakeholders to confront the past and rebuild trust through our established PDC as a mechanism, we are laying the foundation for a resilient and united CARAGA," Sarmiento said.
