CLICK HERE to see the latest 2nd hand laptops, mobile phones, SMART/GLOBE Promos, discounts, tickets etc. for sale!

Mindanao People’s Peace Agenda gains more support; Mindanao Bishops take lead

March 4, 2011

More people from a cross-section of sectors in Mindanao led by clergy, local government officials, and peace advocates signed a manifesto endorsing the Mindanao People’s Peace Agenda, a document that brought in proposals on socio-economic reforms that they want to be addressed in the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF).

“The Manifesto is a breathing testament of the people’s resolve to be part of the work of achieving much-desired peace,” United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Bishop Labuntog, co-convenor of the movement, Sowing the Seeds of Peace said.

The manifesto, Bishop Labuntog pointed out, expresses the commitment of interfaith groups, multi-sectoral stakeholders and political leaders to continue in the work of widening the people’s participation on the peace process.

The Mindanao People’s Peace Agenda which was crafted during a consultative workshop attended by more than 200 last February in Davao City calls for immediate reforms on land, labor, social service, education, and people-oriented development.

Bishop Labuntog said they will be holding more multi-sectoral consultations so they may be able to continue sending proposal to both panels in the peace process in the run-up to June, the month when the reciprocal working committees of both parties in the Oslo peace talks shall sit down again to discuss on the socio-economic reforms agenda.

Quoting the manifesto, Bishop Labuntog said, this is their way of sowing the seeds of peace. “With continued dialogue, we are hopeful that our people will reap the harvest of peace that is anchored on social justice, a peace that is liberating and lasting for future generations.”

The manifesto has gathered 250 signatures since it was presented at the Cagayan de Oro City forum last March 1. The signatures include those of local chief executives of Cagayan de Oro and Davao City, and Bukidnon Vice-Governor Jose Maria Zubiri.

Eight Mindanao bishops have taken the lead in getting more support to the manifesto. They are Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and Co-Chair of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform, Bishop Felixberto Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and chair of Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao.

Other prelates who were among the first to sign the manifesto include United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Bishop Melzar Labuntog of Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF), IFI Bishop Rhee Timbang, Chairperson of the IFI Mindanao Bishops Council, UCCP Bishop Modesto Villasanta of the Southeastern Mindanao Jurisdiction, IFI Bishop Delfin Callao, Jr. of Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP) and UCCP Bishop Osias Jaim.

They are also joined in by priests from various prelatures, as well as representatives of clergy organizations, among others the Social Action Center, and the association of women religious, Sisters’ Association in Mindanao (SAMIN).

The religious from various congregational orders, such as the Missionary Sisters of Mary, Religious of the Good Shepherd and the Assumption Sisters are among the first to join the signature drive.

Members of the academe, non-government organizations working for the indigenous peoples and the Moro, and representatives of sectoral organizations, the peasants, workers, the youth and the professionals have also signed the document.

“We shall continue to promote multisectoral consultations on the SER agenda until we see its fruition, as hoped for by the two parties, by September 2011,” Bishop Labuntog said.

Be Sociable, Share!

Related Posts

Written by rage · Filed Under news 

Comments

Got something to say?