PEACE FORUM. Xavier Ateneo students participate in Mindanao Peace Forum 2019. Supplied photo. 

Report by Leonore Ellen Rose L Lumantas, BSCE 1, NSTP-ED1

Eleven NSTP delegates and select student leaders from Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan participated in the 2019 Mindanao Peace Forum held at the Capitol University Multipurpose Hall on September 28.

The theme of the forum was "Mindanao Peace Forum: How Private Organizations, Business Sector, and the Youth Can Help in Attaining and Sustaining Peace." Speakers from different sectors, including from the business, government, military, and the youth, shared their insights on attaining peace in Mindanao. 

Speaker Edwin To, director of Eisenhower Fellows Association of the Philippines (EFAP), imparted the role of the business sector in attaining peace, particularly in providing livelihood and in contributing to relief and rehabilitation operations.

Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño, regional director of NEDA-X, in her remarks, explained the objective of Convergence Areas for Peace and Development (CAPDev) program in Northern Mindanao which is to eradicate poverty and hunger and to triple the capita income of the region. 

Lt Col Harold Cabunoc, commander of the Philippine Army 33rd Infantry Battalion based in Sultan Kudarat, emphasized that winning conflicts do not equate wars; rather, genuine engagement with the community can win over the situation.

The last speaker, Dr Marjanie Macasalong, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament member, highlighted that the youth must be involved in all these programs as they are vital in building a bright future for Mindanao.∎

PEACE FORUM. Speakers from different sectors, including from the business, government, military, and the youth, shared their insights on attaining peace in Mindanao. Supplied photo.