Report from International Alert, not World Bank’s

THE PURPOSE of this letter is to provide clarification on some of the issues raised in the news story titled “WB: BBL can’t ensure peace, new threat groups emerging” (Front Page, 4/11/15).

First, the report, titled “Rebellion, Political Violence and Shadow Crimes in the Bangsamoro,” referred to in the story was released in August 2014. It does not specifically discuss the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law now being deliberated by Congress.

The report is based on the Bangsamoro Conflict Monitoring System, a database established by International Alert in 2013, with support from the World Bank that provides comprehensive data or statistical information about various conflicts (number and kinds of conflicts, where these took place, their causes and costs, among other matters) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Second, the report prepared by International Alert, while supported by the World Bank, is not a World Bank report and, as noted in the report itself, does not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank. Nevertheless, the World Bank shares the report’s overall conclusion that the end of the conflict between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will lessen political violence and improve the peace prospects in Mindanao.

We would like to highlight that in the last four decades, the World Bank Group—together with other development partners—has been supporting efforts to promote peace and development in Southern Philippines. The World Bank Group stands together with the Filipino people in their efforts to secure peace in Southern Philippines, and will continue to work with development partners and stakeholders in promoting peace and inclusive growth in Mindanao through the various projects and programs we support.

—NATALIYA MYLENKO,

acting country director

for the Philippines,

East Asia and Pacific,

The World Bank Group