CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) -- Major General Isidro Purisima, Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), together with Major General Edgardo De Leon, the newly-designated peace adviser of Region 8, pushed for the operationalization of local peace engagement and transformation program to ensure sustainable peace in the whole island of Samar.

This transpired during the 45th Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Developent (SIPPAD) assembly held on November 25 at the Farmer’s Training Center, University of Eastern Philippines, this province.

Usec. Purisima appreciated his invitation as the topic is very relevant to Samar Island with the SIPPAD because he said, it is about partnership for peace and development and the presentation will outline the strategies in ensuring sustainable peace and measures towards poverty alleviation in Samar Island.

“So, the challenge for us is to really come up with programs that we hope will be able to sustain the just and lasting peace in our country, that is why, we are coming up with a program that will strategize how to sustain the gains as far as peace and security issues are concerned,” said Purisima.

“What we are presenting is the whole-of-nation approach because peace and development is everybody’s concern specially the government, the religious, civil society, the media and all sectors of our society, which is basically anchored on good governance” Purisima further said.

Purisima emphasized the primary duty of the government is to serve and protect the people, thus, it is incumbent upon those in the government service to be able to deliver the necessary services as well as  protect the people from harm and other threats.

The aim, Purisima said, is a localized peace engagement, that is Local Chief Executive-led. Another proposed effort aside from peace and development is the transformation of the former combatant, their families and their communities.

“There is also the need for healing and reconciliation, so that we will have sustainable peace, it is not simply peace and development but the need to transform our communities, our former combatants and there should be healing in our communities,” he reiterated.

The challenge he said remains on how to sustain the present recovery, how to sustain the efforts and how to prevent recruitment again specially by the CPP-NPA-NDF.

“We will be operationalizing local peace engagement in all areas of concern, it will be a framework of collaboration. We need to collaborate as a nation, as a citizens of this country so that we will be able to  address the different issues and concern in the  locality, It is a framework of integration, collaboration and coordination among the partner agencies,” Purisima said.

Hosted by the OPAPRU through Emy Bonifacio, OPAPRU regional area head, the 45th SIPPAD assembly was convened by the three Bishops of Samar Island -- Most Rev. Isabelo Abarquez, DD of the Diocese of Calbayog; Most Rev. Crispin Varquez, DD of the Diocese of Borongan; and Most Rev. Emmanuel Trance, DD of the Diocese of Catarman represented by Rev. Fr. Fred Placa, Director, Diocesan Social Action-Caritas Catarman.

SIPPAD is a partnership of the church, government, academe, civil society, media and the youth of the provinces of Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar. (MMP/ADiaz/PIA Northern Samar)