Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza ensured delegates at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly that Philippine government remains committed to peacebuilding, especially in war-torn provinces.
Dureza highlighted the efforts of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), such as the implementation of socio-economic programs in conflict-afflicted areas and the creation of a peace constituency, to prove the government’s unending search for a just and lasting peace.
He also explained in the assembly held on Thursday at New York that unlike the ‘chicken and egg’ question, peace and development should come “hand-in-hand”.
“As you all know very well, you cannot have peace – or you cannot sustain peace – if there is no development; and you cannot also sustain development unless there is peace,” Dureza said.
The adviser admitted in his presentation that finding peace in the Philippines is a hard task, but one that is made easier through the help of UN and other countries.
““The work for peace is not an easy to road to travel. There are roadblocks. There are many ways, however, to peace. We cannot avoid roadblocks. but we have to stay in the course,” Dureza said.
“Many mechanisms for peace are being supported strongly by the UN systems and the UN agencies. We have noticed that when there are foreign nations supporting the peace process, it is not too easy for the rebel groups, in times of challenging situations in the process of the negotiation, (to) walk away from the table,” Dureza added.