OPAPP, MPC collaborate forpeace consciousness month

From the Mindanao Times (Sep 27): OPAPP, MPC collaborate forpeace consciousness month

The office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) partnered with the Mindanao Peace Council (MPC) for the annual celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month.

The celebration is broken down into three major activities: the “Dagan para sa Kalinaw” a fun-run for a cause led by the MPC in partnership with 4Life last Sept. 2, 2018 at the Rizal Park, San Pedro Street, Davao City with approximately 1,000 participants, next is the three-day multi-cultural Peace Fair Bazaar held on Sep. 13 at the Abreeza Mall, Davao City with a total of 40 exhibitors from inside and outside of the city where 15 were from the indigenous peoples, and now this coming Sept. 28, 2018, OPPAP in partnership with MPC is set to lead the national culmination.

The National Peace Consciousness Month is mandated under Proclamation No. 675 issued in July 2004, which aims to “instill greater consciousness and understanding among the Filipino people on the comprehensive peace process to strengthen and sustain institutional and popular support for and participation in this effort, as well as in the global movement spearheaded by the United Nations to promote a culture of peace based on non-violence, respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, tolerance, understanding and solidarity.”

 “Working for peace is not just for the government agencies and we do believe the significance of working with the CSOs (civil society organizations) because certainly it is the CSO that will sustain these gains… that’s why we partnered with Mindanao Peace Council,” said Oliver Binansilan, OPAPP-Davao region area manager on Wednesday.

 The national culmination opens with a motorcade parade that will start at 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., followed by a culmination program from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., after that “Huni sa Kalinaw,” a peace concert will follow from 6 p.m. onward.

“The very purpose of this is to instill greater appreciation and better understanding of the public in the implementation of the peace process,” said Binansilan.

The OPAPP invited national agencies in Region 11, LGU and the key municipalities and cities in Davao Region. The OPAPP sent an invitation to President Rodrigo Duterte. The five peace tables such Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP/RPA-ABB) are also expected to attend the said event.

 The IP students and OPAPP scholars from Talaingod, Davao del Norte and Kapalong, Davao del Norte are also expected to attend the event and will be performing in the culmination. They will serve as a representative on behalf of the people in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

http://mindanaotimes.net/opapp-mpc-collaborate-forpeace-consciousness-month/