MANILA – The Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) will hold their fourth round of talks in the town of Noordwijk in the Netherlands on April 2 to 6, according to Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Førner.

“I am pleased that representatives of the Philippine Government and the NDFP will meet for a new round of talks,” Førner said in a statement.

“Despite challenges along the way, the parties continue to show their commitment to peace. Norway will continue to assist the parties as the third-party facilitator of the peace process.”

According to Førner, the talks will focus on issues such as social and economic reforms and a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

The talks will be chaired by the Norwegian Special Envoy to the peace process, Ms. Elisabeth Slåttum.

The government, under President Rodrigo Duterte, earlier scrapped talks with the communist rebels due to disagreement over the release of about 400 political prisoners, among others.

The president had also lamented the clashes between government forces and communist rebels even if the two sides’ unilaterally imposed ceasefires were still in effect.

Before Duterte terminated the talks, negotiators were tackling a proposed agreement addressing the roots of the armed struggle such as land reform and national industrialization.

An agreement on social and economic reforms will lead to an agreement on political and constitutional reforms. The last phase would be an agreement on the end hostilities and disposition of forces.