The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Provincial Local Government Unit of Sorsogon yesterday that will bring seven livelihood projects through the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) program to the province.

The MOA, signed by Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza and Sorsogon Governor Robert Lee Rodrigueza during National Peace Consciousness Month festivities in the province will enable both OPAPP and the local government to facilitate the implementation of projects that will benefit 14 municipalities for this year.

The seven projects are as follows: 1.) Construction of Pili Elemi (resin) Processing and Economic Complex (Provincial commodity processing and trading center); 2.) Rehabilitation and development of irrigation facilities; 3.) Duck raising; 4.) Organic ducks and native chicken production; 5.) Climate resilient Coco-based production; 6.) Seaweeds production and provision of post-harvest facility and; 7.) Seaweeds production.

In his speech during the turn-over of the completed PAMANA Tramline in Brgy. Cawayan in Irosin, Sec. Dureza emphasized that the PAMANA projects are considered as dividends of peace and there is a need for the public to ensure that these gains will not be squandered due to the fear of intimidation and violence.

“If there is a problem on security, there will always be uncertainty in development,” the Secretary Dureza said. “What is the use of our projects if we failed to provide an enabling environment for peace?”

The secretary also reiterated the need for the public to trust the government and support the security sector in battling insurgency in the province.

“You need to help our soldiers and the police not by arming yourselves but by giving them vital information. We need you to rally behind the government,” he said.

Aside from the turn-over of the PAMANA Tramline, OPAPP and the local government of Sorsogon also conducted a Multi-Service Peace Caravan as well as Women Conversation in Irosin and Sorsogon City respectively. ###