DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA) - - The Office of  the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) in Eastern Mindanao is set to open the Davao Region Peace Village  on  Monday, Sept. 11, at the SM City Davao.

A Peace Program, hosted by  the Province of Davao del Norte, will also be held on the same day and at the same venue alongside  the Peace Village.

The events “stand as a symbol  of our collective commitment to  fostering peace, reconciliation, and  unity in our region,” said OPAPRU Eastern Mindanao Area Management Unit head, Director Elisa D. Evangelista-Lapiña. 

Lapiña viewed the dual event as a  “pinnacle of our 2023 National Peace Consciousness Month celebration” that  brings together the five provincial local governments of Davao Region, and the City of Davao with Peace 911.

Guesting  during the recent  Peace Month edition of Kapihan sa DavNor, she said there will also be  Peace Fair organized by the Mindanao Peace Council that will be held at the Victoria Plaza NCCC from Sept. 19 to 21.

atong gina-enjoy nga daghan ta’g  development, nga makalakaw-lakaw na ta nga dili ta mahadlok nga kalitun lang ta ug kuha (to all of us that what we are enjoying; the massive development and the freedom to roam without fear of getting  snatched), is a collborative effort ng tanan (of all),” she said. 

“Ma-sustain lang nato ning tanan, kung kita matngatngon nga diay ta’y responsibilidad matag usa nga dapat i  contribute nato para ma sustain ni sya (We can only sustain these if we are conscious, that we indeed have respective responsibilities to contribute to sustain this),” she added, referring on the need to sustain peace.

Meanwhile, Lapiña explained the expanded functions of OPAPRU which emanates from the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Peace Process (OPAPP).

The Transformation Program incorporates a process through a workshop that looks into how former rebels can be fully assisted in terms of livelihood, capacity-building, education, and even in handling the criminal cases they are facing.

They are also consulted on how their families can be assisted and what their respective communities need that have not been addressed substantially.

Lapiña explained that all aspects of assisting FRs to live a transformed  life are  being considered  for them to sustain their stay in the  mainstream society.  (JMDA/PIA Davao del Norte)