MANILA, Philippines- Susuportahan ng Swiss government ang nagpapatuloy na peace initiative sa rehiyon ng Mindanao.
Kasunod ito ng peace pact ng Philippine government sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) na nagresulta ng pagtatatag ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Sa farewell call ni Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Alain Gaschen kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang, kinilala ng Swiss envoy ang pagiging komplikado ng mga hamon sa rehiyon na dekada nang hinaharap, dahilan upang kagyat na tugunan ng pamahalaan ang mga usapin na may kinalaman sa lupain, katarungan at pagkakasundo.
“So, it needs to be taken seriously and with the proper attention from Manila, and I think… I know from the different ministries they have basis to support addressing those issues,” ani Gaschen kay Pangulong Marcos.
Bilang tugon sa Swiss ambassador, sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na ang kanyang kumpiyansa ay nagmula sa katotohanan na “the BARMM, the Parliament, everyone wants it to work; the national government wants it to work. The local governments in the area want it to work.”
“But I think with the Philippines and Switzerland, we have had always a very good close relationship in many, many ways. And I cannot forget the involvement that the Swiss government had in chairing the Bangsamoro Transitional Council and that was a very important role that you played in the success of what we are now continuing to implement in terms of the peace process in southern Philippines, in BARMM,” ayon sa Pangulo.
“So for that, we are eternally grateful and I hope that Switzerland continues its moral support and others for what we are trying to do,” dagdag na wika nito.
Ang pinakamalaking hamon ay kung paano pagsasama-samahin ang electoral code ng BARMM, local government code, at lahat ng basic laws pagdating sa administrative structure.
Ayon sa Punong Ehekutibo, bagama’t hindi pa naman kompleto, “everyone is working to finish the process by the time the election comes.”
“Now to involve a group that … has not been part of government… but we are committed, the national government, the Philippines is — the public is committed to making this successful and peaceful,” ani Pangulong Marcos, tinutukoy ang Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Sa kabilang dako, ipinangako rin ni Pangulong Marcos na pakikinggan ang boses at pananaw ng ilang indibidwal o paksyon para pigilan ang mga ito na gumamit ng dahas.
“And slowly we have just begun with the process because we have to redirect the entire government, this is not an easy thing to do. The government is a very big… It takes several kilometers before you can change direction, that’s a little bit of the government,” ayon sa Chief Executive.
Pinuri naman ni Gaschen ang pagsusulong ng administrasyong Marcos tungo sa food security at energy sufficiency sa nasabing courtesy call.
Ayon sa Swiss official, ang Pilipinas ay mayroong lahat ng sangkap at mga pananim para sa matagumpay na sektor na agrikultura.
Partikular na binanggit nito ang cacao industry ng Pilipinas kung saan sinimulan ng Switzerland ang isang proyekto noong nakaraang taon.
“You have a huge potential for a single fact that you can produce better, with all the best crops, and use them in sustainable ways. It’s just not the case in other countries. You can also have a niche,” ani Gaschen.
“You can be sustainable, and organic, and you can add value and that is required from the markets. I encourage you to do that and add value,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Napansin din ni Gaschen ang tumataas na investment sa “green and renewable energy,” bagama’t mangangailangan ito ng oras, sa kalaunan ay maibababa nito ang “power cost” at mapatataas ang manufacturing, at maging ang halaga sa value chain.
“Energy security is a high priority for the Philippines,” ayon naman sa Pangulo na binigyang-diin na sa kabila ng matagal na panahon, hindi aniya dapat na hinahadlangan ang gobyerno na magsimula ng energy projects.
“That means that we should start as quickly as possible,” anito.
Samantala, nakiisa sa courtesy call sina Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Elena P. Algabre at Dir. Jose L. Garcia III ng DFA’s Office of European Affairs.
Kasama naman ni Ambassador Gaschen si Thimon Fürst, ang Deputy Head of Mission ng Swiss embassy. Kris Jose
