MARAWI CITY— As a member of Task Force Bangon Marawi, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), through its Social Healing and Peacebuilding (SHAPE) Program, continues to carry out various peacebuilding interventions in the city and other surrounding areas affected by the 2017 siege.

The SHAPE program aims to promote social cohesion and reconciliation among people affected by armed conflict, and mainstream the culture of peace, mutual understanding, and solidarity within and beyond conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable communities.

For this year’s Marawi Week of Peace, OPAPRU, spearheaded a week-long series of activities to commemorate the resilience, heroism and determination shown by the city’s residents, and affected communities over the past five years.

Peace conversations, interfaith dialogues, and peace fairs were conducted by SHAPE in partnership with national line agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, the security sector, and foreign donor agencies.

Peacecons as platforms for peacebuilding

In Dulay Proper, Lakeview and Mipaga Shelters, SHAPE gathered children and youth for culture of peace sessions and peace conversations “as a platform to engage communities” and establish a culture of peace in their communities.

“Peace conversations serve as a platform for communities wherein they can also share their narratives, and out of that, we draw recommendations that we also bring to Task Force Bangon Marawi,” explained Dir. Vanessa Pallarco, head of SHAPE.

According to Pallarco, these peacebuilding activities are part of the agency’s mandate of promoting mutual understanding and reconciliation among those affected by armed conflict, as partner agencies also implement parallel initiatives.

“Ito yung contribution natin para mas mapalalim ang healing and reconciliation at culture of peace, and at the same time, nagpakig-ugnayan tayo sa LGU and sa Task Force,” she added.

Meanwhile, IDP Leader Norhanisa Abdullah expressed her people’s gratitude to OPAPRU and its peace partners for the various interventions they conducted during the Duyog Ramadan last month.

“Maraming salamat kasi sobrang naging masaya ang mga bata. Talagang hindi kami nakalimutan ng OPAPP dito sa Dulay Proper, talagang nakatulong ito sa amin,” Abdullah said.

An art session was held for the children and youth wherein they were given the opportunity to show off their artistic skills and express their dreams and aspirations through their creations.

Victims, Survivors remain resilient

Edna (not her real name) was among the victims of the siege. She had been a resident of the city for seven years when the city came under attack.

A resilient mother of three, Edna has been doing her best to support the needs of her children. She currently works in a credit firm in Iligan City.

Edna is among 50 survivors identified by Duyog, a non-government agency partner, as beneficiaries of rice assistance which were given during a peace Conversation held in Iligan last Thursday, May 19.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa OPAPRU sa pag-alala sa amin at pagbibigay oras sa pakikinig sa aming mga saloobin. Masaya po kami sa inyong tulong na naibigay,” said Edna.

During the peace conversations, the participants raised pressing issues affecting them and their communities, which were consolidated by OPAPRU and presented to Task Force Bangon Marawi partner-agencies together with corresponding recommendations.

Peace adviser’s support to people of Marawi

“Ang kampanya din natin is to ensure protection ng ating mga komunidad at pagpapaigting din natin ng vaccination campaign,” Pallarco said, as she reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to continue supporting rehabilitation efforts in Marawi.

She also extended Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity and National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr’s pledge of support to the people of Marawi.

Pallarco said the OPAPRU is also partnering with the Department of Health, the BARMM’s Ministry of Health, and the Marawi City Health Office to conduct the Special Vaccination Days from May 16-20.

This initiative, she said, aims to increase public uptake and scale up the vaccination rate in the Bangsamoro.

“Sa ating mga Maranao brothers and sisters, hindi lang ‘yung mga IDPs, together with the TFBM, and other partner-agencies, rest assured that the OPAPRU will continue to support to sustain our peace efforts,” Pallarco said.

“This initiative in the Marawi Rehabilitation ay isang component lang ng isang bigger picture of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and other programs for the BARMM,” she added.###