Below is an article published by Luwaran.com;

The European Union (EU) adopted its third programme of support for the ongoing peace process in Mindanao in anticipation and response to the progress and development in the current peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF).

His Excellency Ambassador Guy Ledoux, Head of EU Delegation in the Philippines, during his official visit here in Cotabato City last week, said the support programme is worth P495 million Philippine Pesos.

“In anticipation of the development the European Union adopted last June its third programme of support to the Peace Process. This action will enable us to continue our political support with a financial and technical support worth PhP 495 million over the next three years through a threefold dimension,” Ambassador Ledoux said.

The EU is pointing to a framework agreement to be signed by the Peace Negotiating Panels of the GPH and MILF being facilitated by the Government of Malaysia.

“A framework agreement between the two parties will be a true milestone. It will mark the beginning of a new era when an improvement of the life of the people in Mindanao will become a reality,” Ledoux stressed.

He said good governance, security and quick-impact peace dividends shall be focus-areas of undertakings and collaborations to preserve the gains achieved and consolidate the peace dividends.

The threefold dimensions of support include the continuation of the EU participation in the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) as the Head Coordinator of its Humaitarian, Rehabilitation and Development Component, support to the International Contact Group (ICG) of the GPH – MILF Peace Process, multi-dimensional programmes to contribute to confidence and peace-building.

Relatedly, EU also bankrolled PhP 330 million for its programme intended to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Central Mindanao.

“This is a concrete example of our cooperation for Mindanao which since the 1990’s has reached some PhP 9 billion, excluding humanitarian aid, but whose impact will always be short-lived in the absence of peace,” the Ambassador pointed out. 

The more than four-decades of armed conflict in Mindanao between the Philippine Government and the Bangsamoro people, being represented by MILF, had displaced millions of innocent peoples from their homes and communities of origins, mostly Bangsamoro.

During the year-long resurgence of bloody firefight between the government and MILF forces in July 2008 to June 2009, more than half a million people were displaced, a situation declared by the international community as a humanitarian tragedy.