OPAPP exec lauds civil society groups for backing peace and development projects

From the OPAPP Website (Nov 14): OPAPP exec lauds civil society groups for backing peace and development projects

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Undersecretary Luisito Montalbo commended civil society organizations (CSOs) in Quezon province for actively sustaining peace gains by encouraging communities to participate in peace and development initiatives through the Bondoc - Local Economic Development (LED) project. In a statement, Montalbo lauded the Social Action Center (SAC)-Gumaca, a church-based group; Quezon Advocates on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Service (QUARRDS) that provide technical and legal assistance to vulnerable farmers; Rural Improvement Club and Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina women’s groups; 4-H Club youth group; Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council, and Tambuyog Center for helping empower communities. “Peace can only be sustained if stakeholders are empowered to own projects after they are turned over to communities," he said during a recent forum on Sustaining Peace through Local Economic Development held in Quezon Province recently. Joining Montalbo in the forum were OPAPP Director for Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities or PAMANA) -Luzon and Visayas Eileen Jose, Provincial Agriculturist Roberto Gajo, International Labour Organization (ILO) Program Manager Lourdes Katleen Santos, and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Deputy Representative Aries Portugal. Montalbo said the CSOs served as proponents of the Bondoc-LED project which is a three-year joint undertaking of UN ILO and FAO with OPAPP as its lead national agency partner. "These CSOs play a vital role in initiating economic activities most especially in conflict areas where the private sector's presence is understandably low because of attendant risk. They also perform social preparations and project monitoring," he added......

http://www.opapp.gov.ph/news/opapp-execs-lauds-civil-society-groups-backing-peace-and-development-projects