Respect for culture and practices, only way to sustainable peace -- Sec. Dureza

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 5): Respect for culture and practices, only way to sustainable peace -- Sec. Dureza

In compliance with the 6-Point Peace and Development Agenda of the Duterte Administration, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) conducted a forum, dubbed as Peace Building Conversations, among and between various IP traditional leaders’ peace tables held at the Southern Christian College (SCC) Midsayap,  Cotabato Tuesday.

Some 170 members of different indigenous tribes such as Aromanon, Blaan, Teduray-Lambangian, Manobo, Bagobo and Higaonon joined event  organized  by the Cotabato Provincial Government and OPAPP.

It aims to provide a venue for the target attendees to air and express their views, opinions voice out their concerns on vital issues relative to the ongoing peace process..

Cotabato OIC-Governor and concurrent Vice-Governor. Shirlyn Macasarte expressed appreciation and gratitude  for the attendance of the hundreds of participants coming from different towns of Cotabato, Maguindanao and Bukidnon despite the short notice.

This, she said, is a manifestation of the keen interest of the IP community to actively engage and get involved, and contribute to government’s  quest for meaningful peace.

“This is one opportunity  for  IP community to voice out their wishes  so that these will be discussed and the laws that  will be implemented  for the IPs will be  perfect. We would like to recognize the administration of President Duterte who is  from Mindanao and knows the different  tribes  here. We are  very glad  that the administration is giving the IPs  an  opportunity to be heard," Macasarte said.

OPAPP Conflict and Prevention Unit  Dir Ferdinand “Bong” Jovita  explained the 6-Point Peace and Development Agenda that include meaningful implementation of the mutually signed peace pacts with the MILF (FAB and CAB), completion of implementation of remaining commitments under the 1992 GPH-MNLF Final Peace Agreement, Accelerated Signing and implementation of peace accords with CPP-NPA-NDF; immediate conclusion of the peace process with the Central Luzon Liberation Army (CPLA)- RPMP-RPA-ABB; peace promoting catch-up socio-economic in conflict-affected areas; and building culture of peace and conflict-sensitivity.

Some issues raised and presented by participants grouped into six during the workshop include: NPA atrocities, violation on human rights and IPRA law, discrimination against IPs (no access to scholarship programs, corruption involved in project implementation (NCIP) for IPs, IP representation in the peace process, claim that IPs are victims of both peace and war, recognition of ancestral domain, assurance of inclusive socio-economic intervention for IPs and environmental and cultural preservation, among others.

OPAPP Secretary Jesus Dureza, on his part, said, personally engaging the IP communities in very informal manner and gathering their insights to show government’s commitment for inclusive peace and development initiative in Mindanao  is important.

"Peace conversations are held as a venue to listen to you and for you to know that we listen to you in our effort to improve your quality of life and your community. We will continue to listen to you for us to  know what your needs are considering your culture and traditions and existing practices,"  Dureza told the participants.

According to Secretary Dureza it is very important to engage the bigger public in the peace agreement to let their voices be heard.

“It is very important that we must also engage the bigger public, ang atong peace agreement hindi lang sa mga MILF,MNLF but the bigger public. That is the reason why we are expanding the peace table so we are conducting now peace conversations because we have ato listen to them,"  Dureza said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1661483578886/respect-for-culture-and-practices-only-way-to-sustainable-peace----sec-dureza-