City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who served as the Keynote Speaker, emphasized the significance of this gathering as a symbol of unity and collective responsibility. He stressed the importance of all participants working together to advance peace within their communities.
“Today, we gathered in the spirit of unity and shared responsibility to foster peace in our communities in line with this year’s theme: Kapayapaan: Responsibilidad ng Bawat Mamayan, and as we mark the beginning of this month-long celebration, we reinforce our resolve as public servants, and peace champions to sustain peace in our respective localities throughout Davao Region,” Duterte said in his speech.
Duterte, also the Chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council XI, reaffirmed his unwavering dedication to the national government's peace process. He emphasized his support for initiatives aimed at maintaining the hard-won peace, ensuring that the Davao region remains insurgency-free and a bastion of stability and development.
"Last year, both Davao City and the entire Davao Region were declared 'insurgency-free.' We are determined to preserve this status. Rest assured that the City Government of Davao and the Regional Peace and Order Council XI remain steadfast in their commitment to the national government's peace process and initiatives that uphold the peace we have collectively achieved," Duterte said.
The opening ceremony on Friday gathered government officials from Davao’s six provinces, civil society organizations, community leaders, and peace advocates. It fostered a spirit of cooperation and solidarity in the pursuit of lasting peace.
It coincided with the celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month 2023 in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, where President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared Palawan island as insurgency-free with the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. further emphasized that this year’s theme “is a clarion call that all Filipinos have a responsibility to protect, help push forward, and sustain the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process.”
Vice-Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy of Davao de Oro, Brigadier General Consolito P. Yecla, Deputy Commander of AFP’s Eastern Mindanao, Major General Jose Eriel Niembra, Commander of AFP’s 10th Infantry Division, and Ms. Joy James Saguino, OPAPRU’s Special Project Team Adviser have expressed their unequivocal support for the Davao Region’s Peace Agenda, specifically in sustaining the gains of peace and the insurgency-free status achieved by the region.
In her opening remarks, Atty. Jonah Margarette Presto, Davao City LGU Peace 911 Focal, challenged all peace stakeholders and partners to remain resolute in their commitment to maintaining peace across the entire Davao Region.
"In the days ahead, let us all exhibit unwavering drive, passion, and commitment to uphold peace in our city, our region, and our country. For there is no one else who can bestow tranquility upon our nation, but us," Presto said.
Meanwhile, OPAPRU Eastern Mindanao Director Atty. Elisa D. Evangelista-Lapiña said that the Friday’s event in Davao Region was in support of the celebration of the 2023 National Peace Consciousness Month in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, where President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. declared Palawan insurgency-free together with Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr.
“Our celebration here in Davao Region is symbolic in the sense that it is a strong show of support for the ‘insurgency-free’ declaration of Palawan to mark the opening of the 2023 National Peace Consciousness Month. With such a declaration, the government is close to clearing communist rebels in the MIMAROPA region and this declaration serves as a testament to the collective efforts and commitment towards achieving and preserving peace, not only in Palawan but throughout the nation,” Lapiña said.
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