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‘Projects for Peace’ sought |
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‘Projects for Peace’ sought
AFTER successful stops in Manila and Davao, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) went to Iloilo City for the third and final leg of its "Projects for Peace" program today, February 3, 2010, at the Iloilo Grand Hotel.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Annabelle Abaya met with stakeholders and other socio-civic groups and individuals to participate in the peace process undertaken by the government.
The first leg of the program was held last Wednesday (Jan. 27, 2010) at the Astoria Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig while the 2nd leg was staged in Davao City last Friday (Jan. 29).
The “Peace Partners’ Forum” aims to tap civil
society as partners in the implementation of projects that would help
in peace-building measure.
“This program is in accordance with the government’s mission to reach its arms of peace to rebel groups,” Abaya said.
OPAPP believes that with the help of partners from civil society, the
process of attaining peace will be at hand sooner than expected.
“The civil society knows best in identifying what projects are to be
undertaken in their own locality that would redound to the benefit and
welfare of the people in their respective communities,” Abaya explained.
Abaya said the program will be highlighted by updates on the
implementation of the National Peace Plan (NPP) and the current thrusts
and direction of the comprehensive peace process.
“They were also briefed on the ‘Project for Peace’ as a comprehensive
program of partnership between government and civil society,” she added.
Abaya said the Arroyo administration is determined to forge separate
peace accords with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the
Communist Party of the Philippines.
The “Project for Peace” program is one of OPAPP’s way to promote
widespread awareness and genuine acceptance of the government-MILF
peace accord, especially in directly affected target areas within the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other parts of the
Mindanao as well.
Among the target areas are tribes and clans belonging to separatist
Moro groups, Christian population within the ARMM who constitute the
majority and Lumads residing in ancestral lands within and outside the
ARMM.
The program also aims to create high positive awareness of the Peace
Accord among the general population of Mindanao and the rest of the
Philippines.
The OPAPP wants to encourage engagement and participation of people in
the activities and initiatives for the peace process, like reflective
dialogues and public conversations.
"Our program aims to appeal to the emotions and heart of people in
order to stimulate attention and sympathy for peace efforts,” Abaya
said.
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