DAVAO CITY – Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Tereso A. Magno commended local government units (LGUs) on September 11, Monday, for successfully fostering peace in the Davao region.
Magno attended the inauguration of Peace Village, an exhibition showcasing the peace and development of the Davao region, at SM City Davao in Ecoland here, with Vice President Sara Duterte presiding over the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Peace Village serves as a representation of the unified dedication of the government towards promoting peace, reconciliation, and unity in the region.
"Today's inauguration of the Peace Village is a testament that we have gone a long way in terms of peace and development in the Davao region, and we have to give thanks to the OPAPRU (Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity) for this," Magno said.
Magno acknowledged the LGUs in the Davao region, along with various agencies, groups, and organizations, for their steadfast dedication to fostering a supportive atmosphere where peace, reconciliation, and unity flourished.
He said that the Davao region has effectively demonstrated to the nation and the global community how to combat insurgency through a combination of peace-building and development initiatives.
Magno highlighted the remarkable transformation of the region, which has shifted from its past reputation as one of the primary hideouts for insurgents to achieving freedom from insurgency.
However, Magno said peace in the region would remain a formidable task. “Achieving peace is monumental, but maintaining it is equally challenging," Magno said.
Magno encouraged everyone to instill among the future generations that the peace they are enjoying now is the result of the ultimate sacrifices of their ancestors and their parents. That way, he said, they would know the value of maintaining peace.