The Philippines is set to receive $3 million from the United Nations (UN) through the UN Peacebuilding Fund to support the Mindanao peace process.
UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Terence Jones said the assistance will be extended over a period of 18 months.
Jones added that there will be additional funds in the next few months but will still be subject to a formal approval from the UN Headquarters in New York.
“The United Nations, through the UN Peace Building Fund, will be releasing resources to support various aspects of the peace process and looks forward to further progress through the combined efforts of all involved parties,” the UN said.
The UN team in the Philippines joins in mourning those who lost their lives in the tragic incident on January 25 in Mamasapano in Mindanao, and expresses its condolences to the affected families. The UN welcomed the conduct of investigations by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) into the incident, as well as the commitments expressed by President Aquino, MILF Chairman Ebrahim Murad and other concerned parties, in regard to sustaining focus on the peace process.
“We welcome also the [recent] reaffirmation by the peace negotiating panels to ‘strengthen their cooperation and coordination in addressing security concerns in the most effective and appropriate manner, and also in rebuilding trust and public confidence in the peace process,’” the UN said.
The UN Peacebuilding Fund was established in 2006 as the UN Secretary-General’s Fund. The United Nations Development Programme’s Multi Partner Trust Fund Office administers the fund.
The fund has extended support to mostly African countries, like Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Somalia and Sierra Leone. However, it has also extended funds to Asian countries, like Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste. The UN peace-building fund extends support for activities designed to respond to imminent threats to the peace process and the implementation of peace agreements or Priority 1 areas, as well as undertakings, to build or strengthen national capacities to promote peace, or Priority 2.
The fund also supports activities that seek to revitalize the economy, or Priority 3, as well as to establish, or reestablish essential administrative services, among others, or Priority 4.