Manila: The Philippines will push for the strengthening of peace education, multi-sectoral partnerships, and inclusive dialogue as it takes over the chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) Advisory Board for this year. The country will promote these initiatives through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, OPAPRU Executive Director Andres Aguinaldo Jr., who will serve as the chair for the ASEAN-IPR Advisory Board, said strengthening peace education, partnerships, and dialogue is not merely a procedural goal but a strategic necessity for the ASEAN region. "By prioritizing peace education, we ensure that the next generation of ASEAN citizens is equipped with the values of tolerance and conflict resolution," he added.
Aguinaldo also said partnerships between the academe and civil society would help bridge the gap between policy and grassroots reality. However, he maintained that dialogue remains the most potent tool for maintaining regional neutrality and inclusivity.
On March 5, OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. joined Aguinaldo in a high-level meeting with Indonesian Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Executive Director of the ASEAN-IPR. The meeting served as a final briefing ahead of Aguinaldo's first presiding session at the 18th Advisory Board Meeting in Jakarta this coming April 8. During the exchange, Galvez highlighted the Institute's peacebuilding mechanisms as essential instruments for ASEAN's core mandate. "The OPAPRU is always ready to support all collaborations and initiatives of the ASEAN-IPR," Galvez said.