The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) has praised the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for approving ₱1.4 billion in funding for community development projects under the government’s PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program.
OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the funding affirms President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to inclusive peace and development. He also thanked Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and her team for supporting the release of the much-needed funds.
“Peacebuilding is not just about silencing the guns. It is about restoring trust, rebuilding lives, and ensuring that communities have the resources they need to develop and thrive,” Galvez said.
PAMANA, co-implemented by OPAPRU and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), delivers infrastructure, livelihood, and capacity-building projects to areas affected by armed conflict and long-standing socio-economic challenges.
The program has two tracks: the Peace and Development Project and the local government unit-led Livelihood Track, both aimed at empowering communities with better services and economic support.
Of the ₱1.4 billion approved, ₱351 million will fund capacity-building projects in about 200 communities, while ₱1.049 billion will support livelihood programs in 981 barangays designated as peace and development focus areas.
“This funding will transform forgotten villages into beacons of progress, stability, and resilience,” Galvez added. “This is the kind of governance our people need — one that listens, acts, and delivers.”