NEW BRIDGE. The 240-meter Jipapad Bridge in Eastern Samar. The bridge connected the remote town of Jipapad to the national highway and more opportunities.(Photo courtesy of Department of Public Works and Highways) TACLOBAN CITY - The town of Jipapad, Eastern Samar is now connected to the national highway through a newly-completed bridge funded by the central government. The PHP250-million bridge which started in 2017 and was fully completed this month is a joint project of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The 240-meter concrete bridge replaces the wooden bridge formerly used by town residents to cross a major river and low-lying area to get to the existing national road from the town center. OPAPP Eastern Visayas program manager Imelda Bonifacio said in a phone interview on Tuesday that PHP150 million fund for the project was provided by OPAPP through its Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) p
(PNA file photo) MANILA - The government is looking into the formulation of a healing and reconciliation framework for indigenous peoples (IPs) to further boost the local peace engagements and interventions nationwide. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Wednesday said the framework will be divided into five phases including Trust-Building and Acceptance; Mainstreaming Systemic Conflict-Transformation; Implementing a Conflict-Sensitive and Peace-Promoting Results Framework; Learning Together; and Empowerment of Indigenous Peoples. The creation of the framework, spearheaded by the OPAPRU, primarily aims to highlight the "inclusive and collaborative approach" in addressing issues concerning the IP communities as well as the transformation program for former members of the communist terrorist groups (CTGs). Rowena Lopez, acting head of OPAPRU's Policy, Governance and Strategic Planning Service (PGSPS), in a statement, sai
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. at the Duterte Legcy Summit (Photo by Avito Dalan) MANILA - The comprehensive Philippine peace process got into full swing under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, reported the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) at the Duterte Legacy Summit on Tuesday. OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. recalled Duterte's remarks in his 2016 inaugural address that the administration will implement all signed peace agreements. "The peace process flourished under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. At sa gitna po ng maraming hamon na dulot ng pandemya, ay tuluy-tuloy ang pagsulong sa komprehensibong prosesong pangkapayapaan sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng (In the midst of many challenges brought by the pandemic, the push for comprehensive peace process in the country has continued through the) six-point peace and development agenda,
(DSWD) The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has turned over three Covid-19 isolation units to the indigenous peoples (IP) communities in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) P
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services