Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. has thanked Albay Rep. Joey Salceda for supporting the Marcos Administration’s peace agenda.
“I thank and commend Rep. Joey Salceda for throwing his full support behind the national government’s peace building efforts. This only shows that the good congressman shares our vision of bringing a just and lasting peace to our nation,” Galvez said in a recent statement.
“Since my appointment as peace adviser, we have been working closely with Rep. Salceda’s office and other members of Congress in pushing forward, sustaining and building on the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process,” he said.
Galvez and Salceda met recently. The two officials discussed possible areas of collaboration, particularly in carrying out initiatives that will bring about greater peace, security and stability in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Salceda has committed to help the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the interim Bangsamoro government, ensure the passage of vital legislation such as the BARMM’s Revenue Code and Investment Code.
Galvez and Salceda also talked about the implementation of projects initiated under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program nationwide on how to “unlock the dividends of peace.” The program is overseen by the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity or OPAPRU.
“Our discussions with Rep. Salceda was very productive. We identified possible areas of collaboration, particularly on how we can enhance the delivery of our peace building initiatives in the Bangsamoro and other conflict-affected areas in the country,” he said.
Galvez also thanked Salceda for supporting his re-appointment as peace adviser: “I extend my deepest gratitude to Rep. Joey Salceda and his team for supporting my re-appointment as peace adviser. This means a lot to us as civil servants and peace workers,”
he stressed.
Galvez served as presidential peace adviser from November 2018 to January 2023. He was appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as defense officer in charge in the same month.
He was then re-appointed as peace adviser on June 21 this year. Prior to his appointment as peace adviser, he served as Armed Forces of the Philippines’ chief-of-staff. As chief of the Western Mindanao Command, he led government forces in neutralizing terrorist elements during the 2017 Marawi siege.
Under the leadership of Galvez, the OPAPRU has been at the forefront of the national government’s efforts to ensure the effective and full implementation of all signed peace agreements.
“Under the Marcos Administration’s banner of unity, the OPAPRU will ensure that the government will be able to fulfill the commitments it has made under all signed peace agreements,” Galvez said.
