Peace Caravan makes a dent in SurSur

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 27): Peace Caravan makes a dent in SurSur

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – The two-day peace caravan that was held in Marihatag and Lianga towns, this province, has indeed lived up to the expectation of the 12 barangays of three municipalities it targeted to serve on August 24 and 25.

In a press conference, Governor Johnny Pimentel, who led the event, has expressed thanks and gratitude to all the people behind the local and national government agencies including civil society organizations (CSO) that stood up to its commitment to participate and support the affair all the way.

In like manner, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has also made similar gesture, leaving words of thanks and appreciation.

OPAPP said in an earlier statement, before the two-day peace caravan kicked off, it was expecting “to serve more than 1,000 households consisting of approximately 15,000 individuals including children.”

In addition, OPAPP also pointed out that services to be offered will focus on “health, livelihood, education, grooming, legal and veterinary consultations, land concerns, hauling services, voter registration, distribution of food packs, birth registration, feeding, advocacy and dialogue.”

The six barangays that benefited during the  first day belong to Marihatag town—San Pedro, San Isidro, Mahaba, Mararag, Bayan, and Amontay, while during the second day, the three barangays of Lianga town—San Isidro, St. Christine, and Diatagon—as well as three barangays also of San Agustin town—Janipaan, Pong-on, and Buhisan.

Among others, aside from OPAPP Secretary Deles, the cabinet secretaries and/or agency representatives who made their way to the province for the peace caravan include: DAR Sec. Virgilio De los Reyes; OPAPP Usec. Gettie Sandoval and Usec. Apple Robles; OPA Usec. Joel Jaime Payumo and Usec. Bobbet Garcia; DPWH Usec. Romeo Momo; DENR Usec. Jonas Leones; Mindanao Coordinating Office Usec. Nabil Tan; DOST Asec. Urduja Tejada; DepEd Asec. Rey Laguda; DILG NBOO Director Leo Trovela; EastMinCom Commander Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad; 4ID Commander MGen. Oscar Lactao; PNP Caraga Dir. P/CSupt. Vert Chavez; 402nd Brigade Commander Col. Isidro Purisima; and, PNP Surigao del Sur Provincial Director P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero.

Likewise, part of the program during the culmination day was the presentation of 42 former rebels (FRs) who decided to surrender their firearms and return to the folds of the law.

The peace caravan aims “to reinforce the gains of peace-building initiatives in conflict-affected areas in our province, Governor Pimentel said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1741440637258/peace-caravan-makes-a-dent-in-sursur