PASAY CITY, September 13, 2018 – Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza today urged the youth sector to help address the triggers of conflict to achieve lasting peace in the country.

Speaking to delegates at the opening the three-day National Youth Peace Table Summit being held in this city, Dureza said youths’ knowledge of the context of conflict in their respective areas is vital in the peace efforts of the government.

“You came from different areas, iba-iba ‘yung triggers of unpeace. Ang trabaho natin as youth, we need to address this,” he said.

(You came from different areas where there are different triggers of unpeace. As youth, you need to address this.)

Eighty selected youth leaders from previous summits in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are participating in the summit.

Dureza said the gathering can serve as a platform in which to share ideas to promote peacebuilding in the communities.

Iba-iba ang pinanggalingan natin, iba-iba ang context. But there is a common thread (in conflict). We like to learn from others also. In your area, alam ninyo ang gagawin.”

(We come from different places with different contexts.)

“The action plan (that will be crafted in this summit) must be specific to the area where you came from,” he added.

Dureza also challenged the delegates to expand peacebuilding in their own communities, saying they have a big role to play in advancing change in the country.

“You are the nucleus of a very capacitated group that will eventually establish your own peace tables … It is in the youth where we can see the initiative of change,” he said. ###