TAGBILARAN CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 22 Apr) Over 150 participants coming from the government and non-government organizations in Central Philippines are expected to attend the Regional Forum on the Comprehensive Peace Process on Monday at the Bohol Cultural Center here.
Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, said the forum aims to update various sectors and stakeholders in the Visayas region on the status of the Arroyo government's comprehensive peace agenda.
"This undertaking forms part of the continuing efforts being pursued by this government to achieve a just and lasting peace across the country, Dureza said told the Zamboanga Journal.
The peace forum will present updates on the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing the New People's Army, and its political group the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), as well as other parallel initiatives being pursued at the local levels.
Formal talks between Arroyo government and the rebel group collapsed in 2004 after the United States and the European Union included the CPP,NPA and NDF on its terror lists on Manila's prodding.
Dureza said: "The forum is also geared towards providing an opportunity for various peace partners to come together and to look back and see where the comprehensive peace process has gone and where it should proceed, to finally attain peace and progress in the entire region."
Dureza said: "The forum is also geared towards providing an opportunity for various peace partners to come together and to look back and see where the comprehensive peace process has gone and where it should proceed, to finally attain peace and progress in the entire region."
He said the forum specifically seeks to identify and consolidate emerging issues, gaps and recommendations to accelerate the implementation of the government's national peace plan that takes into account forging settlement with all rebel groups.
"Following the success of the recently concluded series of peace consultations in Mindanao, we look forward to gathering support from different stakeholders in the Visayas to successfully move the peace process forward," Dureza said.
In February, Dureza's group and the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) launched a series of regional peace fora across key regions in Mindanao.
The Mindanao consultations highlighted some major headways in the on-going peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
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