MANILA -- The Philippines has secured over P2 billion in foreign aid for women, peace, and security in the Bangsamoro, according to Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez.

Philippines to host International Conference of Women, Peace and Security in October

At the sidelines of the International Conference for Women, Peace and Security (ICWPS), Galvez said P275 million will come from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to address birth mortality and birth registration issues in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).  

Japan is also providing P189 million to help 10,000 BARMM farmers and feed 15,000 children. 

Previously, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) also pooled funds amounting to P1.6 billion for maternal care of BARMM children up to 3 years old.

Over 70 member states of the United Nations (UN) reaffirmed their commitment to work together for the advancement and implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda during the seminar held from October 28 to 30 in Pasay.

The ministers and representatives adopted the Pasay Declaration for Women, Peace and Security, which not only outlines renewed commitments to accelerate the WPS agenda, but also serves as a blueprint for future actions towards a more inclusive, sustainable approach to peace. 

“We‬‭ express‬‭ our‬‭ strong‬‭ commitment‬‭ to‬ promoting‬‭ and‬‭ achieving‬‭ gender‬‭ equality‬‭ and‬‭ to‬‭ integrating‬‭ a‬‭ gender‬‭ perspective‬‭ in‬‭ all‬‭ peace‬‭ and‬‭ security‬‭ processes.‬‭ While‬‭ we‬‭ acknowledge‬‭ the‬‭ progress‬‭ made,‬ we‬‭ emphasize‬‭ the‬‭ urgency‬‭ of‬‭ accelerating‬‭ our‬‭ efforts,‬‭ removing‬‭ barriers,‬‭ and‬ holding ourselves accountable for delivering tangible results,” part of the 4-page document stated.

The Philippines, for its part, pledged to push for women’s active participation in climate action efforts.

The country is set to cohost round table discussions on WPS and climate change this November, a timely endeavor after the devastating impact of recent typhoon Kristine and Leon on Batangas, Bicol and Batanes.

“Because this cannot just remain as a paper. We have to continue with actions," said Philippine Commission on Women Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla.

"And in so far as implementation in the Philippines is concerned, I had just a meeting with the regional director of the UN Women, and we talked about possibilities of expanding their program in the Philippines on the intersection of WPS and climate change. So they have, entrepreneurial activities for women at the grassroots level," she said.

"But I told them that you can have, the income generating projects that are focused on reducing climate change. For example, this solar making projects that can be used in times of emergencies, in times of floods.”

During the seminar, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the US State Department Office of Women Global Issues also signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a Center of Excellence on Women, Peace and Security in the Philippines.

“With the Philippines having its own WPS Center of Excellence, our country is envisioned to become a regional hub for Southeast Asia in promoting the advancement of the WPS agenda in the region," Galvez said. 

"We envision to carry out through the local and national policy engagement, standardizing approaches for national action plan development and bridging gaps in the implementation of WPS initiative."

RELATED STORY: