OFFICE of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPPAP) Secretary Jesus Dureza said that their agency has started to conduct activities for the social healing of the victims of Marawi seige.
Dureza in a press conference last week said that the OPPAP initially conducted activities that allowed the evacuees to vent their anger.
"When we gave them opportunity to express their anger then it is the part of the healing internally, that is the most important part and that is the blessing of fire, I always say I can build those buildings easily but healing the wounds of conflict internally takes a lot of time," he said.
The activities started in June before the Ramadan ended last June 25 just a month after the outbreak of violence in Marawi.
"Oppap went there, provided relief operations but really the intention of the office there is providing some provisions for everybody to allow them to have opportunity to express their anger their aspirations what they want to do with their lives later on," he said.
Dureza said that he is hopeful that these activities will yield desirable results.
"If you notice when Marawi happened, they were attacked and many of the Marawi evacuees said that the Maute are doing this to us, but now that it has been prolonged they have started already to show their anger to the government and we must already address that. And as you know, when there is someone killed among our brother or sister Bangsamoro, that is taken by them deeply, if there are a thousand killed there, expect that there will be countermoves that they will make later on. We must address that later on to avoid the continuation of the conflict," he said.
According to Dureza the arrival of Peace Buzz in Iligan, as the final destination of the peace caravan in line with the culmination of the National Peace Consciousness Month, will hopefully become a symbol of Oppap's aim to rebuild relationships.
"Hopefully the Peace Buzz will place in the public view what we have been doing quietly before because people said that Oppap is only dealing with peace negotiations and that is one of the many that we are handling and that is to rebuild relationships," he said.
Meanwhile, "Peace Buzz” arrived in Iligan City yesterday and based on Oppap’s Facebook page, the morning event highlighted the opening of the food fair where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) showcase their products.
The Peace Buzz dropped by key cities to further engage and collaborate with different stakeholders to pursue just and lasting peace in the country. It started its journey in Baguio City on September 21 and made stops in Quezon City, Legazpi City, Catarman, Catbalogan City, Butuan City, Bayuga City, Marawi City, and lastly in Iligan City.
Dureza said that aside from the Peace Buzz, he also mentioned that possible discussion for a facility intended for Marawi victims has already been part of the calendar of the cabinet meeting.
He said that Bangon Marawi, an interagency team, was already created for Marawi's rehabilitation.