OPAPRU, Agusan Norte to open peace center for former rebels

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 10, 2023): OPAPRU, Agusan Norte to open peace center for former rebels (By Alexander Lopez)

PEACE CENTER. Staff from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) in Eastern Mindanao, led by Jesylita Encabo (left) and Anne Uytico (right) meet on Wednesday (Aug. 9, 2023) with lawyer Czarina Furia (center), Agusan del Norte provincial legal officer, and Silver Joy Tejano (2nd left), the provincial social welfare office head, to finalize the opening of the Kagawasan 143 Peace Center in Bancasi, Butuan City. The center will cater to the needs of the former rebels including the processing of their benefits under the government’s E-CLIP program. (Photo courtesy of OPAPRU Eastern Mindanao)

BUTUAN CITY – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) in Eastern Mindanao and the Agusan del Norte provincial government are set open a peace center here for New People’s Army (NPA) surrenderers.

Set to open in September, the peace center called “Kagawasan 143” or Freedom 143, will serve as the provincial government’s contribution to enhancing the implementation of the government peace programs for former rebels.

The launching of the peace center will coincide with the celebration of the 2023 National Peace Consciousness Month.

“Beyond catering to the needs of FRs (former rebels), the peace center will act as a pivotal hub for coordinating operations to ensure the seamless execution of our comprehensive peace programs and services, OPAPRU Eastern Mindanao Director Elisa Evangelista-Lapiña said in a statement Thursday.

The center, she said, will provide health, psychosocial and legal assistance, counseling sessions, skills training, livelihood and employment referrals for NPA surrenderers. It will also serve as a venue for the processing of benefits of the former NPA combatants from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

On Wednesday, the provincial government and OPAPRU Eastern Mindanao conducted a coordination meeting to finalize the opening of the center next month.

“The center will also facilitate and assist barangay local government units and other local and national agencies to ensure the success of the Transformation Program (TP) of OPAPRU. Our focus extends beyond immediate services, as we work hand-in-hand with local authorities and other stakeholders to guarantee the efficacy of the TP,” Lapiña said.

She said the establishment of the center is aligned with the Marcos administration's goal to maintain the progress of peace programs in the region.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207567