Key developments in the implementation of Agreements
At the time of the TPMT’s inaugural meeting in July of 2013, only one of the four Annexes to the FAB had so far been signed – the Annex on Transitional Arrangements and Modalities, signed on 27 February 2013.
Since then, several key steps have been taken towards completing the comprehensive peace agreement :
– the Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing was signed on 13 July 2013, at the close of the 38th Exploratory Talks;
– the Annex on Power Sharing was signed on 08 December 2013, at the close of the 42nd Exploratory Talks;
– and the Annex on Normalisation (together with the addendum on Bangsamoro Waters), was signed on 25 January 2014, at the close of the 43rd Exploratory Talks.
Meanwhile, important steps have been taken in implementing agreements already signed :
– following its launch in April of 2013, the Transition Commission (TC) has met on a number of occasions to pursue its basic mandate of drafting the Basic Law, has set up a number of technical committees,4 carried out a number of public consultations, and entered into MoAs with a number of local and international NGOs to assist it in these tasks;
– the Independent Commission on Policing (ICP) was launched in September 2013, on the margins of the 40th Exploratory Talks, and commenced its work in the Philippines on 14 October.
In addition, preliminary steps have been taken by GPH in relation to the development aspects of the FAB, with the establishment in February 2013 of a Task Force on Bangsamoro Development, and the launching that same month of the “Sajahatra Bangsamoro” program, providing in coordination with the Transition Commission the government’s initial support for identified MILF combatants, families and other affected persons and communities. As of December 2013 this programme had already undertaken a number of actions in the fields of health, education and livelihood in 10 municipalities, while community-based assessment and planning activities are underway.