DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 12, 2012) – The Philippine government is set to implement this year in Maguindanao province the “Mainstreaming Peace and Development in Local Governance” (MPDLG) which aims to strengthen the capacities of local government units for them to better manage conflict and implement peace projects.
The MPDLG is a collaborative program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Department of Interior and Local Government and would be linked up with the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) programs of the Aquino government.
PAMANA is the government’s program and framework for peace and development in areas affected by conflict and communities covered by existing peace agreements and the Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, is one of its beneficiaries.
Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu has expressed support to the MPDLG and led town officials from the conflict-affected municipalities of Ampatuan, Buldon, Datu Piang, Kabuntalan and Talayan to the recently held workshop in Davao City which intended to integrate a peace and development framework in Maguindanao province’s Annual Investment Plan for 2012.
“We will show that in Maguindanao, there can be good governance and we can uplift the economic situation of the people,” Mangudadatu said.
Johnnel Raneses, OPAPP PAMANA Area Manager for Central Mindanao, said the aim of the MPDLG program is to mainstream conflict sensitivity and peace efforts in local government planning in order to address conflict and uplift the lives of the people.
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