by Robert E. Roperos

Butuan City (October 27) -- Local chief executives of Caraga region convened here recently to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and contracts for the ACT for Peace Programme in time with the visit of Sec. Jesus Dureza of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

The ACT for Peace Programme is a successor program to the Government of the Philippines – United Nations Multi-Donor Programme (GoP-UNDP) Phase 3, which operated from 2001 to 2004. The Programme is the United Nations’ and the Philippine Government’s commitment to peace and development in Southern Philippines.

Implemented by the Mindanao Economic and Development Council (MEDCo), the programme covers 19 provinces and 14 cities, which correspond with the areas originally covered by the former Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD) and the Caraga region.

The ACT for Peace Programme is consistent with the 2004-2010 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) and the ten-point agenda of the national government. The Programme is supported by Australia, New Zealand and Spain. It commenced in June 2005 and is expected to operate until May 2010.

The program is aimed to strengthen peacebuilding efforts and sustain the gains of these initiatives for lasting peace and sustainable development in Southern Philippines.

ACT for Peace Programme also aims to sustain the transformation of Peace and Development Communities (PDCs) and other conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable areas, as well as to harness community efforts to develop and advance their own initiatives for peace and human security. It also strengthens and institutionalizes peacebuilding and conflict transformation such as prevention, management and resolution capacities of players and institutions, and the programme strengthens critical partnerships towards sustaining and environment of trust, confidence and collaboration for peace and development.