I wish to congratulate the new members of the Security Council and thank Sweden for

organizing this Open Debate on conflict prevention and sustaining peace during its

Presidency.

Mr. President,

The promise of the UN Charter of saving succeeding generations from the scourge of

war continues to elude us after 71 years. The tools and mechanisms at the disposition

of Member States and the Security Council etched in Chapters VI, VII and VIII of the UN

Charter could better deliver on this promise if fully utilized at an earlier stage; if these tools

are used to encourage inclusivity, participation and ownership amongst all stakeholders

to a conflict; and if coupled with economic and social development to sustain the peace.

For the Philippines, a country that has witnessed armed conflicts that have spanned

many generations, the work to attain just and lasting peace continues.

In 2014, after 40 years of conflict, the Philippines signed a peace agreement with the

insurgent Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF. Implementation of the agreement is

now the focus of our work to ensure that peace is durable. At the same time, peace talks

have resumed with the Communist Party of the Philippines/National People's

Army/National Democratic Front, with peace negotiators preparing for the third round of

talks later this month.

The Philippines' decades-long quest for peace, especially in Mindanao, has taught us

many valuable lessons on conflict prevention and sustaining peace. Today, the Philippine

government is embarking on a new template for peace with the support and assistance

of our international partners. It is one where the dividends of peace are planted while a

peace agreement is still being negotiated. There is greater incentive to pursue and

maintain peace when parties to a conflict see the need to safeguard the seeds of

economic and social opportunities growing in their communities. It is a template that also

demands that the work for peace be anchored on greater inclusivity and on ownership by

all stakeholders. Peace is after all not just about ending the conflict between or among

warring factions, but also involving all those affected by conflict and have as great a stake

and interest in its resolution.

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Allow me to share important elements of this new peace template:

First, our peace negotiators no longer need to wait for the formal peace agreement to

be signed before embarking on projects for stakeholders to experience and enjoy the

dividends of peace. Development projects may be implemented alongside peace

negotiations to benefit not just those directly in the path of the conflict but those as well

whose lives have been indirectly affected by the conflict. The envisioned Mindanao

peace and development trust fund, which the United Nations Development Program has

been invited to support, is anchored on this belief.

Second, aside from formal peace tables, we have instituted the People's Peace

Tables. These are open to all stakeholders - those that are directly involved in the

conflict, those in the sidelines but are affected just the same, women, indigenous peoples,

the youth, local governments, traditional and folk leaders, and other sectors. The

People's Peace Tables is a platform where people's voices can and will be heard and

taken seriously. They allow for broader people's participation, building of relationships,

strengthening of institutions, and healing and reconciliation.

Third, economic empowerment remains to be key in conflict prevention. With this in

mind, fragile communities must also benefit from socio-economic development programs

that would reduce their vulnerabilities and increase their capacity to address conflict.

Our PAyapa and MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program, roughly translated

as "Peaceful and Prosperous Community", is a flagship program on conflict prevention

and sustaining peace. It aims to (1) address issues of injustices and improve community

access to socio-economic interventions; (2) improve governance by building the national

and local governments' capacity for a conflict-sensitive, peace-promoting, culturesensitive

and gender-sensitive approach to human rights promotion and development;

and (3) empower communities to address issues of conflict and peace.

Mr. President,

The Philippines' national experience in building and sustaining peace is anchored on

three (3) complementary strategic pillars. Pillar 1 is on policy reform and governance that

address issues of injustices relative to land security, natural resources, identity, and

human rights. Pillar 2 is on capacity-building that strengthens government institutions and

empowers communities. Pillar 3 is on peace-promoting socio-economic interventions.

To conclude, these pillars can easily be applied to the work of the United Nations in

addressing peace and security challenges. Our peacebuilding and peacekeeping

initiatives should promote economic development in all stages of the peace process,

uphold inclusivity through dialogue, and strengthen policy and governance, all while

working with governments and institutions in the spirit of cooperation. After all, peace can

only be achieved and sustained if it is founded on the aspirations and labor of the people

that seek it.

I thank you, Mr. President.