“The goal of the peace talks is not just  to end the war in the country, but also to address the underlying causes of conflict — namely deep-seated poverty and severe social injustice.”

This was the core message of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo in a recent  forum on the Comprehensive Agreement on Social Economic Reforms (CASER) held at the DSWD as part of  its 66th Anniversary celebration.

With the title “Tayo at ang CASER,” the Department provided a venue for the employees to fully understand the peace negotiations of the Government of the Republic  of the Philippines (GRP) with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Sec. Taguiwalo said that as government employees, it is important for DSWD personnel to keep abreast with developments in socio-economic and political landscape. The forum discussed the salient features of the CASER.

Sec. Taguiwalo said, “Naniniwala ako na kapaki-pakinabang sa mamamayan ang usapang kapayapaan.  Itong CASER ang pinakalaman ng usapan.  Nilalaman nito ang susing mga isyu tungkol sa matagalang kapayapaan at pagpawi sa kahirapan.  Ito ang major na isyu, hindi usapin ng giyera lang. At sa DSWD, alam na alam natin ang kalagayan ng mamamayan (I believe that Filipinos will benefit from the peace talks.  The CASER is the meat of the peace negotiations as this contains key issues relative to achieving lasting peace and alleviating poverty.  Alleviating poverty is the major issue here, and not just about  the fighting.  We, at DSWD, know very well the situation of the masses).”

“The crafting of the CASER is important as it is a substantive agenda in the GRP-NDFP peace talks,” Sec. Taguiwalo added.

She further said that historically, conflict arises from poverty, from farmers being deprived of land, and from injustices, among others.  Sec. Taguiwalo also stressed that addressing the root causes of war is needed, and CASER is responsive to this.

Resource persons during the forum were Atty. Angela Librado-Trinidad  representing the GRP peace panel and Atty. Rolando Rico Olalia who discussed the CASER proposal of the NDFP panel.

Atty. Trinidad said, “CASER  is the heart and soul of the peace agreement as this aspect of the peace talks provides for the response needed to address the root cause of the conflict.”

Under CASER, social and economic reforms are proposed which include the provision of social services guided by the principle of investment, gender and development; and, natural industrialization to include strengthening the agriculture industry.

With a viable economy proposed in the CASER, problems with unemployment, capitalization, poor profit of farmers, and the overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) phenomenon will be responded to.

Meanwhile, Atty. Olalia expressed dismay over the cancellation of the peace talks, jeopardizing the gains already achieved.

He said that it is of national interest to end the long standing conflict which has claimed several lives already.

“There are no winners in a protracted war,” he emphasized.

Atty. Olalia added that both parties want genuine peace – the kind that lasts, the kind that heals.  He also said that they believe in President Rodrigo Duterte’s sincerity in seeking peace and hoped that the peace talks will resume.

He further pointed out that the CASER proposal of the NDFP is similar to that of the GRP panel.

“In the NDFP draft CASER, it is noted that national industries must be free from imperialist domination and must solely be for the interest of the Filipinos,” he cited.

“We have identified industries in the CASER – intergrated steel industry, agricultural tools, machinery, among others. Marami tayong industriya pero hindi nade-develop (We have a lot of industries but are not developed),” Atty. Olalia said.

In her message to formally close the forum, DSWD Assistant Secretary Aleli Bawagan expressed gratitude to the speakers and said that further information should be shared with the employees as they have minimal knowledge of the peace talks.

Asec. Bawagan said that the CASER is important to DSWD as it shares the vision of responding to the needs of the poor and hungry, as well as in providing the needy better access to services. “Thus, the appeal is tuloy ang peace talks (continue the peace talks).” ###