Caravan to Marawi highlights Peace Month

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 29): Caravan to Marawi highlights Peace Month

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) has lined up activities in line with the observance of the Peace Month in September.

In a statement, Opapp on Tuesday said simultaneous celebration of Eid’l Adha on Friday, September 1, at the four evacuation centers in Iligan City will mark the formal launch of the Peace Month.

Officials from Opapp and other national as well as local government agencies are expected to join the celebration.

This year’s Peace Month highlight is the “Peace Buzz,” which is a peace caravan that will roam nationwide to bring the government’s peace initiatives on the ground.

The "Peace Buzz" will kick off in Baguio City, and will make stops in Quezon City, Legazpi City, Catbalogan City, Butuan City, Davao City, Iligan City. It will conclude its journey in Marawi City, in time for the Closing Ceremony of the Peace Month.

Aside from the "Peace Buzz," Opapp will also conduct series of fora that aims to educate different stakeholders about the peace process.

The other activities will include contests that target the youth such as film-making, photography, and spoken word competition.

Opapp Undersecretary Nabil Tan has encouraged the public to be active participants to the peace process and be advocates of peace.

“Let us find ways in which we can contribute to the ongoing peace process and become catalysts of peace, unity and understanding in our respective communities,” Tan said.

“I believe that all of us can be peace builders. Let us start now,” he added.

The month of September was declared as the “National Peace Consciousness Month” by virtue of Proclamation No. 675 dated July 2004.

This year’s celebration of the Peace Month is anchored in the theme “Puso para sa Kapayapaan, Magkaisa para sa Bayan.”

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1007905