Centre for P.E.A.C.E. (Philippines) launches "Peace Initiatives" project, inks "Partnership for Peace" with DILG, DepEd, PNP, LGUs and Rotary clubs

The Centre for Peace Education & Advocacy in Communities & Enterprises (Centre for P.E.A.C.E.) in the Philippines and the country's Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Nat'l. Police (PNP), launched the "Peace Initiatives" Project in simple ceremonies at the Aguirre Hall, PNP Multi-purpose Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City, Philippines, last Thursday morning, June 29, 2006. The launching was hosted by The Rotary Club of Masambong, Quezon City, Philippines and co-hosted by the Rotary Club of Metro Cubao.

DILG Undersecretary Marius Corpus described the launching of the "Peace Initiatives" project as very timely. "The basic policy among people is that they always expect government to do everything for them in the attainment of peace, but it is a fact that peace cannot be attained or handled by government alone," Corpus said. "Once we are united in our quest for peace, then we are assured to have success in attaining it," he added.

The highlight of the event was the MOA signing between the Centre for P.E.A.C.E., DILG, PNP and Department of Education, together with the Rotary Club of Masambong and the rest of the participating organizations, to constitute a "Partnership for Peace" that will jointly support and pursue the "Peace Initiatives" project nationwide.

According to Centre for P.E.A.C.E. founder and Exec. Director Donato A. Flordeliza, Jr., who is also the charter president of RC Masambong, the "Peace Initiatives" project involves a series of year-round peace-related celebrations and events that will be organized by participating local government units, schools and Rotary clubs nationwide, and will culminate in the awarding of ten recipients of the "Dove of Peace" Awards in February next year. These include the following: a) declaration of "Towns and Cities of Peace"; b) designation of Peace parks and c) the erection of "Dove of Peace" monuments; "Run for Peace" marathons and/or e) "Walk for Peace"; f) tri-media Peace Forums; g) campus tour and Peace symposia among colleges and universities; h) Annual Peace essay-writing contest (high school level); and i) on-the-spot painting contests (elementary level), Flordeliza said. Conflict-resolution workshops will be conducted in workplaces and the development of "Zones of Industrial Peace" encouraged, he added.

"These will draw public attention to and involvement in peace-related activities and make people aware of the need to develop a culture of Peace against a culture of violence, in the light of the increasing security threats and political tensions in our country today," Flordeliza explained.

The launching was held on the occasion of Rotary Club of Masambong's First Charter Anniversary last June 29. It was attended by Rotary International District 3780 Governor Dan Espinosa, DILG undersecretary Marius Corpus, Department of Education Director Jose Mari Pelaez of the Center for Students & Co-curricular Affairs, incoming Rotary District 3780 Gov. Dan Espinosa and Quezon City councilors Xyrus Lanot and Joseph Juico who both represented Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Ed Tiongson of the Liga ng Mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (League of Barangays of the Phils.), together with the officers and members of the Centre for P.E.A.C.E. and the Rotary Clubs of Masambong and Metro Cubao Quezon City. The "Peace Initiatives" project has the full support of outgoing PNP chief Arturo Lomibao, also a Rotarian, who was in Region 3 at the time and was not able to attend the June 29 launching ceremony.

You may visit the Centre for P.E.A.C.E. website at www.centre4peace.tk.