Three barangays in Murcia, Negros Occidental, have been declared by residents as “peace communities”, after the month-long celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month, initiated by the provincial government, Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Police, ended yesterday in Bacolod City.
Residents of Brgys. Santa Rosa, Amayco and Lopez, all in Murcia, also pledged to support the peace effort of the government, and denounced violence, in a ceremony held at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Center in Bacolod City.
More than 120 families from the three Murcia barangays attended the activity, with Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, Col. Jon Aying, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, and representatives of religious and civil society groups, among the speakers.
Maranon reiterated his call to give peace a chance in Negros Occidental. “If there is no peace, there is no progress”, Marañon, is a Bayanihan awardee of the AFP for his contribution to the peace and development in the province.
He said the provincial government is doing its best effort to maintain peace and order in Negros Occidental to attract more investors. “If there is no peace, then nobody will invest here”, Marañon added.
Paduano, who described himself as a product of the peace agreement, rallied support for the peace and development effort of the government. He used to be the national commander of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, that entered into peace talks with the government in 2000.
He congratulated the 303rd Infantry Brigade, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and the provincial government for their continuing effort in promoting peace, and for a job well done.
The pledge for peace was led by Harry Pineda of the Alter Trade, while Rev. Fr. Ernie Larida, Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center chief, Msgr. Fernando Flores of Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Imam Omar Betita of the Dar-Al-Dhikr Islamic Center,Pastor Allan Tupas of Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, Rev. Sam Menguito of United Church of Christ in the Philippines, also offered peace prayers.
The activity was highlighted by candle lighting and posting of peace cards, followed by the distribution of dry goods to families in Brgy. Santa Rosa, Murcia, some of whom are beneficiaries of the housing project of the provincial government and the 303rd Infantry Brigade.
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