The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) in Eastern Mindanao on Monday opened the Davao Region Peace Village exhibit at the SM City Davao, showcasing the area’s peace gains leading to being declared insurgency-free.
Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, the guest of honor, said the opening of the Peace Village was a special moment in Davao’s quest for enduring peace and prosperity as it celebrates the insurgency-free status of the Region.
In October last year, Davao Region was declared “insurgency-free” following the remnants of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the area were dismantled.
Duterte credited the city’s “successful” anti-insurgency campaign to the establishment of Peace 911, the economic and peace and order initiatives for NPA-influenced areas in the upland barangays. It was created during her stint as mayor.
The civilian-led program, Duterte said, has won the hearts of the people in far-flung areas such as Paquibato through the implementation of projects and programs providing opportunities for the residents to become productive.
“It only means that the era of NPA’s murder of civilians and Lumad leaders, the killing of soldiers, the use of landmines if they are not busy threatening transportation, agricultural, construction, or mining companies to collect extortion money that funds their terrorist activities – is over,” the Vice President said.
Insurgency-free Davao City, she said means Dabawenyos especially those residing in mountainous areas are “now able to sleep soundly at night and wake up the next day to a life full of hope, full of promise, and full of opportunities ahead of them.”
Peace 911, she said, has proven that cooperation forged between the soldiers and the civilians will lead to winning and “sustaining the peace.”
“As I said, maintaining the peace is the most difficult of all. Let’s highlight the power of consensus building which allows the voice of every member of the community to be heard and counted in the process of discovering solutions to the issues and concerns of the people,” Duterte added.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao lauded various local government units and their chief executives for achieving peace in the Davao Region.
Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said Davao Region has showcased to the rest of the country and the world how to fight insurgency with peace and development.
“Today’s inauguration of this Peace Village is a testament that we have gone a long way in terms of peace and development in the Davao Region. And we have to give thanks to the OPAPRU for this. We also give credit to all the LGUs in the Davao Region including all other agencies, groups, and organizations for their unwavering commitment to creating a nurturing environment where peace, reconciliation, and unity thrive,” he said.
The Peace Village exhibit will run until September 13. (PNA)
