Negros Occidental is set to become a trailblazer in the Philippines by establishing a peace center that will serve as a hub for peace initiatives from both provincial and national levels, as well as other stakeholders. This was announced during a media briefing in Iloilo City by Juniel Guath, a representative from the Western Visayas Area Management Unit of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU). The peace center is a component of the broader Localized Peace Engagement (LPE) and Transformation Program (TP), which aims to foster peace across the nation. Guath revealed that the initial funding of PHP5 million has been allocated to the provincial government of Negros Occidental to kickstart the center’s operations, with plans to establish a similar facility in Iloilo by 2025. The LPE is designed to tackle the root causes of insurgency and facilitate peace agreements with groups like the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), encouraging the surrender of insurgents. The LPE and TP also work in tandem with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to support former rebels and enhance community resilience. By 2028, the programs and projects outlined in the LPE TP are expected to be fully implemented, pending approval from local councils and funding from national agencies.
