Zamboanga City – In line with the celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2023, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), through its Knowledge Management and Peace Institute Service, conducted the first leg of its “Peace Education University Tour” at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) on December 4, 2023.

The event, which seeks to promote the culture of peace, featured peace conversations and an open forum that was participated in by students, peace educators and peace advocates coming from the ZamBaSulTa area.

Solidarity messages were given Fr. Guillrey Anthony M. Andal SJ, President of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University; PBGEN. Bowenn Joey M. Masauding, Regional Director of PRO9; LTGEN. William N. Gonzales PA, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command; and Atty. Wendell Sotto, Zamboanga City Administrator, who represented City Mayor John Dalipe.

Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena, WMSU President, expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders for working together to achieve their shared vision of genuine and long-lasting peace in Mindanao.

“Education plays a pivotal role in shaping the minds of future generations. By fostering a culture of peace within our educational institutions, we contribute to the collective journey towards lasting harmony in Mindanao and beyond,” Ochotorena said.

In his message of solidarity, Gonzales encouraged the youth to be actively involved in peacebuilding.

“Let us continue to educate the students about the ill-effects brought about by terrorism. Let us continue to stand together, take courage and continuously be involved in peaceful mechanisms. Together, let us reap the fruits of unity and nourish the seeds of peace with our love for the country,” he said.

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. whose speech was read by OPAPRU Executive Director Andres S. Aguinaldo, Jr., highligted the significance and timeliness of the event.

“Again, we thank the Western Mindanao State University led by its visionary president, Dr. Ma Carla A. Ochotorena for allowing OPAPRU to conduct its very first Peace Education University Tour here in your beautiful campus. The event today with the theme, “Celebrate and Dialogue for Peace” could not have been held at a more opportune time given the emerging developments in the peace, security, socio-economic front,” Galvez said.

OPAPRU-WMSU Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

At the same event, the OPAPRU and WMSU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) wherein both parties agreed to share with each other peace education resources such as knowledge products, as well as conduct joint peace education learning and reflection sessions.

The MOU signing was followed by the ribbon cutting and launching ceremony of the OPAPRU-WMSU Peace Education Resource Nook (PERN).

This initiative aims to enhance the efforts of concerned national line agencies and OPAPRU in mainstreaming peace education across different sectors using a whole-of-nation approach in advancing the national government’s peace agenda and building on the gains of the comprehensive peace process.

According to Aguinaldo the OPAPRU has established two Peace Education Resource Nooks — one at the Kalinga State University last August 26, 2022) and another at the Mindanao State University – General Santos City on December 2, 2022.

The conduct of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2023 comes in the heels of the recent spate of violence at the Mindanao State University In Marawi City.

Despite the incident, the activity still managed to successfully convene more than a hundred students, peace educators, teachers and peace advocates from the region.

Zamboanga City’s security sector, which is a key peace partner, ensured the safety of the participants during the event. ###