Manila: The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) has emphasized the significance of completed infrastructure projects as essential components of the ongoing peace process.
According to Philippines News Agency, OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. highlighted in a statement that these projects symbolize the government’s commitment to creating opportunities and hope for all, extending beyond mere physical infrastructure. Galvez’s remarks followed the recent turnover of road projects in Agusan del Norte, constructed under the agency’s “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” (PAMANA) program.
Galvez noted that the newly established roads are more than transportation routes; they are pathways to peace and progress. Through the PAMANA initiative, the government aims to bring essential services closer to the populace, ensuring that development touches even the most isolated and vulnerable communities. Among the roads funded by PAMANA are the Mahaba-Belwang Farm-to-Market Road, Balang-Balang Road, and Kaunlaran-Masundong-Sumobay Road, which are anticipated to link remote communities to town and market centers.
The infrastructures are intended to foster sustainable development and long-lasting peace in the region. PAMANA, recognized as the national government’s flagship peace convergence program, strives to improve the lives of residents in areas susceptible to conflict across the country.
Galvez further stated that these road projects, completed within a year of their groundbreaking, are expected to stimulate economic growth in Agusan del Norte and serve as tangible symbols of peace, progress, and stability in the region. Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s leadership, the government is resolute in its dedication to honoring all signed peace agreements and executing holistic interventions to enhance the lives of Filipinos.
Galvez concluded by asserting that peace-building efforts are designed to safeguard lives, empower communities, and promote inclusive development, thereby transforming peace from an ideal into a lived reality.
