(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Monday, 30 December 2024) π—¦π—¬π—‘π—’π—£π—¦π—œπ—¦: Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains. While Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to Moderate winds coming from Northeast to Southeast will prevail with Slight to Moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Wednesday, September 18, 2024

OPAPRU, PIA orient media practitioners in Caraga on peace, reconciliation efforts of the gov't

By: Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga organized a media orientation on Localized Peace Engagements and its Transformational Program  (LPE-TP) at Grand Palace Hotel in Butuan City on September 5-6.

The two-day activity was joined by PIA's Assistant Director-General for Organizational Development and International Affairs, Atty. Tadeo R. Culla who welcomed the media practitioners saying, “This event is part of the collaboration between OPAPRU, and the PIA to strengthen the dissemination of the government's efforts on peace and reconciliation.”

“We assure you that the PIA will continue to be a reliable source of information and a steadfast partner of OPAPRU, and all sectors involved in the peace campaign. We are committed to crafting and delivering messages that are easily understood by the citizens and rooted in their experiences and aspirations,” he added. 

He also assured everyone that PIA will always be a dependable partner in the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, and the agency will consistently support the initiatives aimed at achieving meaningful peace that every Filipino desires.                                                                              

OPAPRU's Program Development Officer V/Operations Officer of Local Conflict Transformation – Field Implementation Support Unit (LCT-FISU) Mindanao, Oliver M. Binancilan shared the nature of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and the phases of transformation that the former rebels  (FRs) or friends rescued undergo.

"The nature of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s threat objective is to seize political power through violence and terrorism and falsely presenting  themselves as champions of the poor masses," he said.

“The propaganda line of the communist terrorist groups (CTGs) is to recruit the vulnerable farmers through its Agrarian Revolution Program (AGREB) with the use of intimidation tactics to achieve their goals. They are applying force against landowners, coercing them to surrender their properties and hand them over to the CTGs," he added.

Binancilan emphasized that more than 50 percent of the guerilla fronts nationwide were monitored in the regions of Caraga and Davao in 2011, and currently they have been weakened and dismantled, and more rebels continue to surrender to the government due to the efforts of the security sector with the support of the local government units, as well as the participation of the locals in terms of providing intelligence/information that led to the successful operations of the security sector.

He further revealed the FRs undergo the different phases of transformation: surfacing, mainstreaming, and institutionalization.

"During the surfacing phase, former combatants are assessed, validated, certified, and provided with initial assistance and benefits. In the mainstreaming phase, former combatants and non-combatants are integrated into their families and communities, receiving interventions and capacity-building support to help normalize their return to society," he shared.

"Lastly, the institutionalization phase focuses on sustainability, where former combatants are organized into legal entities to support their long-term transformation," he underscored.

“We must help the FRs transform their lives in a way that they become resilient, and we are able to help them change and improve the quality of their lives. That is why we need this Transformation Program after receiving all the benefits due to them as they surrendered to the folds of the law," said Binancilan.

Meanwhile, PIA Caraga Regional Head Venus L. Garcia called on media partners for a continued collaboration towards achieving lasting peace and development through effective communication.

"Your role as media practitioners is pivotal in advancing our goals of peace and reconciliation. By sharing the insights and objectives discussed, you help amplify our message and poster a deeper understanding of the program's impact," she said.

"We appreciate your commitment to this cause and look forward to your continued support in driving meaningful change in our communities," she added.

The media orientation organized by OPAPRU and PIA Caraga served as a crucial platform to educate the media practitioners that the government continues to sustain the gains  of Executive Order No. 70 or the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace by putting an end to the local communist armed conflict. (KKG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

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