IN OBSERVANCE of the Peace Month, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) launched the start of the motorcade for peace in Baguio City and will finish in Marawi City.

The caravan will pass through the cities of Quezon, Legazpi, Catbalogan, Butuan, Davao, and Iligan with the objective of promoting greater consciousness and understanding among the Filipinos on the comprehensive peace process.

“This year’s theme on Puso para sa Kapayapaan, Magkaisa para sa Bayan is most appropriate since it emphasizes unity and peace in our hearts, it is the message which the Peace Buzz will send to the people from the North particularly starting here in the Cordilleras all the way down to the South,” Opapp Undersecretary Nabil Tan said.

Pursuant to Proclamation no.675 series of 2004, the Peace Month also seeks to sustain institutional and popular support for and participation by the people in building a culture of peace.

“We will not relent in our efforts in pushing for the Cordilleras quest for autonomy, and we will not leave the Cordilleran’s behind, this is the reason why Opapp is here which supports the legislative measure in Congress or House Bill 5343 seeking for an autonomous Cordillera region,” Tan added.

The National Peace Consciousness Month calls upon all Filipinos to be the catalyst for peace to manifest the understanding of the diversity of the Filipino community, and uniting them amidst this diversity.

“The positive traits that should bring positive changes should be anchored on compassion, unity and inclusivity. It should always be the thrust or the mantra to which engagement of all sectors who are for peace should unite,” Tan stressed.

“We believe each one have their own issues to talk about, and we believe that the signing of a peace agreement does not end all things and it will mean overnight peace. Peace is so illusive, peace will take time to nurture, peace will have to be prayed, done and pushed by the whole nation initiative,” Tan added.