SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES COUNCIL FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (SPCPD)

The Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development or SPCPD may be the last attempt of the Philippine government to formally integrate Moroland into the Filipino nation. This would also help in solving the almost three decades of fighting between government forces and Muslim rebels. The creation of SPCPD is meant to represent the "full implementation of the Tripoli Agreement."

The powers of SPCPD, however, are just delegated from those of the President of the Philippines. Its functions are clear when it comes to proposing and monitoring. But its powers are ambiguos when it comes to administration and control, because it has no direct mandate from the predominantly Christian population in Mindanao.

Nur Misuari, newly elected governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), has just been appointed as Chairman of the SPCPD.