The business of peace begins with opportunity

peace is often celebrated when agreements are signed, conflicts are resolved, and communities are declared secure.

- JAIME ARISTOTLE B. ALIP, PHD

But for families living in formerly conflict-affected areas, peace becomes meaningful only when it creates opportunities to earn a living, educate their children, access healthcare, and build a better future.

This realization was at the heart of the International and Private Partners' Forum (IPPF) 2026 held on June 5 at the Manila Hotel. Organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), the well-attended gathering brought together representatives from government, the diplomatic corps, international development organizations, the private sector, and civil society under the theme, "The Business of Peace: Readiness of Peace and Development Zones for Investments."

The forum underscored a simple but powerful truth: peace and economic inclusion go hand in hand.

National leaders presented a compelling vision of how peacebuilding and development must work together. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Deputy Director-General Rosemarie Edillon presented a revalida of AmBisyon Natin 2040, underscoring how the national aspiration for a “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay” (strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life) is inseparable from the hard-won gains of the peace process. She emphasized that long-term development cannot thrive without peacebuilding, highlighting how investments in human capital, local infrastructure, and regional economies accelerate progress. Complementing this perspective, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) highlighted the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), which helps ensure that development interventions reach the households and communities that need them most.