MARAWI CITY, May 24, 2019 – “We are on our way to being well. We are finally learning what peace is all about,” Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra declared as residents here commemorated the siege that occurred two years ago.
Although the full extent of the rehabilitation process has yet to be completed, Gandamra urged the people in Marawi to put more emphasis on social healing. (more…)
EDEN NATURE PARK, CALINAN DISTRICT, DAVAO CITY (October 25, 2018) — It was a heart-to-heart conversation between one journalist to another. (more…)
DAVAO CITY, September 16, 2018 — “The dividends of peace should be shared by all.”
This was the message of Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) Commissioner Jose Lorena Jr. during the closing ceremony of the Multicultural Peace Fair Bazaar at the Abreeza Mall here in Davao City last September 13.
Lorena said the gains of peace should not just benefit a particular sector or group but everyone, regardless of ideology, tribe, or religion.
He said the Duterte Administration’s Peace and Development Roadmap is anchored on the principles of inclusivity and convergence.
“There should be inclusivity and convergence in all our initiatives. One sector cannot do it alone,” he said.
Lorena said it is President Duterte’s vision to see all Filipinos united and rallying behind the national government’s peace and development agenda.
He said this is the reason the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) is strengthening the “bigger peace table” or the general public.
“Let us all set aside our differences and work together. It is time for us to achieve the peace and development we have long been aspiring for,” he said.
The three-day peace fair, which kicked off on September 11, was organized by OPAPP, Mindanao Peace Council, and JCI Duwaling.
The event is in line with the celebration of this year’s National Peace Consciousness Month themed “Mithiing Kapayapaan, Sama-Samang Isakatuparan.” ###
PASAY CITY, September 13, 2018 – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) today presented the roadmap for the crafting of the National Action Plan for Youth, Peace, and Security (NAPYPS) during the first day of the National Youth Peace Table Summit being held in this city.
In his message, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza expressed pride in the peace initiatives of the 80 young participants, saying these will be integrated in the promotion and institutionalization of peace.
“We are hoping that this group of yours will become a nucleus of what could be a very capacitated group that could eventually already establish your own peace tables in your communities. Your work now is just really to share the skills, the capacity, and invite the support that you need,” Dureza said.
“That is the reason we provide whatever support that is needed in your big work ahead,” he added.
The upcoming NAPYPS is in response to United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 which recognizes the youth’s efforts in peacebuilding and provides a set of guidelines upon which policies and programs will be developed by member states, the UN, and civil society.
The NAPYPS will be based on the OPAPP Youth Peace Table’s (YPT) series of nationwide consultations with different youth organizations. It will support the Filipino youth’s positive contribution to the peace process and conflict-resolution initiatives.
Since 2017, OPAPP has been partnering with young leaders from various regions involved in peacebuilding to gather their recommendations and insights in the drafting of the youth peace agenda.
The partnership is also aimed at deepening the youth leaders’ appreciation of peace education and sowing the seeds for a new roster of peace leaders.
The three-day National Youth Peace Table Summit runs from September 13 to 15 and is anchored on the 2018 National Peace Consciousness Month’s theme “Mithing Kapayapaan, Sama-samang Isakatuparan – Peace Na Tayo!”
OPAPP Conflict Prevention and Management Director Ferdinand Jovita said the event is “not just a commemoration” but a challenge to the youth on how they will apply the youth programs in their lives.
“A document is just a manifestation of what we have, but the real thing is how these formulated pillars will be lived by the youth of the Philippines,” he said.
OPAPP’s YPT is a partnership with the United Nations Development Program, together with the National Youth Commission, Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TBPBM), Miriam College’s Center for Peace Education, Generation Peace, and Peace Tech.
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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. ###
DAVAO CITY, September 2, 2018 — “The peace table is now wide open for everybody.”
This was declared by Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza during the launch of National Peace Consciousness Month at the Rizal Park in this city.
Dureza was referring to the larger peace table, the general public, who he said should be at the forefront of the peace process between the national government and the various rebel groups.
“This table is not only for the Muslims, for the New People’s Army, for the indigenous peoples, but for all Filipinos,” he said.
Dureza noted that peace agreements signed between government and rebel organizations will not succeed if these do not have the support of the general public.
Citing the recently approved Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), he said the landmark measure was passed due to the desire of the Duterte Administration to uplift the lives of the people and make development as inclusive as possible.
“With the BOL’s passage, we will no longer walk but run for peace,” Dureza said.
In the meantime, the peace adviser underscored the need for the government to focus on the plight of underprivileged sectors such as the Lumad.
“We need to make them feel that they have not been forgotten by government and their needs are being attended to,” he said.
He said the the nation’s indigenous peoples are among the most vulnerable when conflict arises in their communities.
“They are the ones who are caught in the crossfire,” he said.
Dureza said this is one of the reasons it is easy for communist rebels to recruit Lumad, who he said make up 80 percent of new members.
He said this is why the government’s programs and projects aim to empower IPs and make them part of the mainstream of development.
He said as the nation celebrates the month of peace, it is important for stakeholders to highlight their efforts to help bring long-lasting peace and sustainable development throughout the country. ###
PASIG CITY, September 2, 2018 – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and partner advocates all over the country are leading the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month this September.
With the theme, “Mithiing Kapayapaan: Sama-samang Isakatuparan,” the month-long celebration calls for a unified action towards the shared aspiration for a just, comprehensive, and enduring peace regardless of ideology, religion, and culture.
The carrier tagline of this year’s Peace Month is “Peace Na Tayo,” a simple way to communicate the theme’s call for a participative pursuit for peace.
“Ang trabaho para sa kapayapaan, hindi lamang para sa apektado, dapat lahat tayo, nasa peaceful area man or labas ng fragile communities, sasama tayong lahat para sa pinapatunguhan nating kapayapaan,” Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza said in his message for Peace Month.
(The work for peace is not only for those who are affected. It doesn’t matter if we live in a peaceful area or outside fragile communities. We are united in our journey towards peace.)
Dureza also noted that it was unity that brought milestones in advancing peace in the country.
“Hindi lang ito dahil sa OPAPP, hindi lang dahil sa Pangulo. Ang daming tulong galing sa taumbayan.” he added.
(This is not just the work of OPAPP or the President. The Filipino people provided much-needed support.)
September of every year is National Peace Consciousness Month as declared by Proclamation No. 675 issued in 2004. The same proclamation mandates OPAPP to be the lead government agency to coordinate and monitor its observance.
The formal celebration of Peace Month will begin with the ringing of the Peace Bell at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Monday, September 3, 2018.
Secretary Dureza will also deliver the State of the Peace Process Address (SOPPA) to provide peace updates to the nation. ###
MARILOG DISTRICT, Davao City (August 25, 2018) — Around a thousand members of the Matigsalug tribe are expected to gather at a local infirmary here tomorrow to avail themselves of free health and social services offered by government and private sector institutions.
The medical, dental, and social healing mission is a joint undertaking of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), and the Buda Community Healthcare Center-Committee of German Doctors.
Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said the activity is line with the national government and private sector’s efforts to provide much-needed medical and psycho-social services to Mindanao’s indigenous peoples (IPs).
“This is our way of reaching out to the IP community. We would like to make them feel they have not been forgotten and are now a priority of the government,” Dureza said.
He noted that a majority of Mindanao’s IPs live in far-flung, underdeveloped communities. As a result, their access to health and social services have been limited.
He said this is the reason the national government’s programs aim to promote the principles of greater inclusivity and participation, especially among the vulnerable and underprivileged sectors such as the Lumad.
“Our efforts must be focused on addressing the needs of our Lumad brothers and sisters. They should be given the attention they truly deserve,” he said.
Dureza also said by uplifting the plight of the IPs, the peace and security situation in the beneficiary communities — most of which are situated conflict-affected areas — is also improved.
“Peace and development should not happen one after the other but should take place simultaneously,” he said.
Around 170 volunteers have signed up for today’s day-long medical and dental mission, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, government workers, and members of the security sector.
Other cooperators of the medical mission include the Davao Seagull Resorts Development Inc., Davao Doctors Hospital, Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital, Davao Doctors College – Pharmacy Program, City Government of Davao, Davao City Health Office, Davao City Dental Chapter, 901st Brigade, Philippine Army, and the Philippine Pharmacist Association – Davao Chapter.
OPAPP’s Conflict Prevention and Management Unit (CPMU), headed by Director Ferdinand Jovita, will also conduct social healing sessions in the Matigsalug community.
The sessions will provide a venue for residents to openly express their fears, anger, and frustrations. They are also aimed at helping victims of armed violence overcome their negative experiences.
Similar healing sessions were carried out in Marawi during and after the five-month siege last year. These sessions were instrumental in bringing back mutual trust and respect among the victims and repair the social fabric that was torn during the incident. ###
MANILA, April 27, 2018 – Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza showcased the inclusive approach of the government in peacebuilding during a briefing with the Filipino community at the Philippine Consulate in New York City yesterday.
Fresh from his speaking engagements during the high-level meeting on peace and sustaining peace at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Secretary Dureza met with the group to underscore the importance of incorporating the public in the peace process.
“You have to address the bigger table. The bigger table is the public. Because even if I sign agreements with the smaller table (rebel groups), ‘pag hindi tinanggap ng publiko wala ding mangyayari (nothing will happen if the public does not accept it),” he said.
Citing the failure of the previous Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to be passed by Congress in 2016, Dureza said legislators vote for measures consistent with the sentiments of their constituents.
Aside from engaging the general public, the peace adviser also emphasized the need to continue the dialogue with rebel groups that already have peace agreements with the government.
“Mayroon pa tayong mga nagrebelde sa gobyerno na tumalima na ngayon (There are a number of rebels who have now come back to the folds of the law). We cannot just leave them alone,” he said.
The government is currently working on the completion of the peace process with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army/Cordillera Bodong Administration.
Dureza said in all the efforts the government is undertaking, there is also the need to improve the lives of the people affected by conflict.
“Our work for peace is not only negotiations now. It is also a nexus with development. Kailangan nating ma-improve ang lives ng mga tao sa mga areas na yan. Buong bayan sana kung pwede (We need to improve the lives of the people in those areas. The whole country if possible),” he said. ###
MANILA, April 25 2018 – Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza highlighted the peacebuilding efforts of the Philippine government as he spoke before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York City today.
In his message delivered during the high-level meeting on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, Dureza presented several initiatives being undertaken by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) as proof of government’s commitment to peace.
He said these include the implementation of socio-economic development programs in conflict-affected areas through PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) and the development of a peace constituency through the People’s Peace Table.
Using the “chicken and egg” analogy, Dureza said peace and development should not come one after the other but “should come hand in hand.”
“As you all know very well, you cannot have peace – or you cannot sustain peace – if there is no development; and you cannot also sustain development unless there is peace,” he said.
The peace adviser added that development should be done through a “peace lens,” using an inclusive approach that involves the different stakeholders of conflict.
“We cannot address sustainable peace if you only attend to people who are triggers of conflict, or are involved in conflict,“ he said, emphasizing that the concerns of “the bigger table, which is the public” should also be addressed.
Dureza closed his presentation by reaffirming government’s commitment to pursuing and sustaining peace in the country. He also expressed gratitude for the UN’s role in strengthening government’s peacebuilding efforts.
“The work for peace is not an easy to road to travel. There are roadblocks. There are many ways, however, to peace. We cannot avoid roadblocks … but we have to stay in the course,” the peace adviser said.
Dureza expressed his gratitude to the United Nations and the countries that have “kept faith with our work for peace.”
“Many mechanisms for peace have been in place in the country today are being supported strongly by the UN systems and the UN agencies,” he said.
Dureza also recognized the importance of mediators who facilitate peace negotiations.
“We have noticed that when there are foreign nations supporting the peace process, it is not too easy for the rebel groups, in times of challenging situations in the process of the negotiation, (to) walk away from the table,” he said.
Aside from addressing the UN General Assembly, Dureza will also update the Filipino community on the peace process on April 26 at the Philippine Center in New York. ###
