“The absence of war and insurgency attacks does not mean we will not do anything. Since the recruitment starts in urban areas, we ensure LGU performance gaps will be addressed thru peace programs and enhanced basic services,” says Ms. Raquel Bron, Program Manager, Peace and Order Concerns, DILG Tacloban.

DILG Tacloban recently launched Phase 1 of the Series of Capacitating Urban Communities on Peace and Development (CUCPD) Convergence and Advocacy Project. In cooperation with the City Task Force –ELCAC (End of Local Communist Armed Conflict) of Tacloban City, a project which aims to transform the city to a peace convergence area, fostering inclusivity in good governance, targeted the Labor Groups and the Youth and Student Sector for the first and second batch.

The Oath-Taking and Pledge of Commitment which was conducted to the first batch of peace advocates in the city happened on May 19, 2021 at 9:00 AM at the CEO Gym. The activity which was spearheaded by the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) in close coordination with DILG Tacloban was participated in by chosen advocacy orgnizations and support groups such as 4P’s parent leaders, transport groups in Tacloban, Kabalikat, selected women’s organizations and CSOs. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez and the City Director Johannes Dorado attended to grace the said event.

Meanwhile, the second batch of peace advocates took their oath thru a commitment signing of Peace Building at a separate event on the same day called “Engaging Positive Peace Target Sectors in Knowledge Building for Better Governance,” which was held at Ritz Tower de Leyte. As the city aims to provide a platform of active participation from the youth and student sectors in strengthening the existing initiatives of the City Government of Tacloban relevant to creating peaceful communities, youth oriented groups namely, I Love Tacloban Youth Organization, Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP), Istilo Poetry, Youth for Human Resource and Ecological Security, tacloban Peer Educators Association, 4H Club of the Philippines (Tacloban Chapter), Proud Waray-waray Angels of Tacloban, and Student Council members from EVSU and LNU were the participants of the said activity.

Meantime, the third batch of the Peace Advocacy Campaign to be participated by the urban poor and women sectors is set to happen on June 18, 2021.

RPA-Cablao/CIO