BCPED holds trainers’ training on advocacy for culture of peace in bicol
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – In order to strengthen advocacy efforts of the Bicol Consortium for Peace and Development (BCPED) on the need to organize a speakers bureau tasked to train others how to teach and promote peace education especially in the academe, a three day thematic enrichment seminar is set on February 23-25 at Villa Amada Hotel, Daraga, Albay.

According to Dr. Herbert B. Rosana, director of BCPED Secretariat said the trainers’ training is a sequel to the series of training-workshops conducted in 2009-2010 per suggestion from some participants who recommended the need to increase their knowledge based on the themes of peace education.

Similarly, the exercise will provide inputs in instruction and integration of peace concepts and peace education in the basic and higher education curricula for state universities and colleges and private institutions.

For government and private offices, the training shall contribute in the module preparation of peace efforts and the development of culture of peace in general, especially that the Aquino dispensation is working out that peace will prevail in the country.

The pursuit of just and lasting peace is a priority agenda of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) under President Benigno S. Aquino III administration.

The Thematic Enrichment Seminar in Peace Education for the Trainers’ Training of BCPED as a capability building activity will discuss various topics with peace advocacy at the core.

These are inner peace; non-violence and conflict transformation; religion, values and peace education; human rights and gender equality; challenging prejudice and building tolerance; and updates on peace policies of the Government of the Philippines (GPH).

Among the invited resource persons are Rev. Fr. Jovic Lobrigo, former Albay Social Action Center executive director; Prof. Elvira Asuan from the academe; Director Rolando Asuncion of the Office of the Presidential Adviser of the Peace Process (OPAPP), the agency tasked to lead the peace talks among other peace building activities of the government.

Meantime, BCPED is still accepting research proposals on peace education until February 28. Such research plans may be along regional research and development thematic program areas agreed upon during the research agenda setting workshop held November 9-10, 2010. These are on topics along human security; environment, natural resources and sustainable development; social service, business and entrepreneurship; peace education; and governance, policy advocacy and networking.

BCPED is chaired by Bicol University President Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, Ph.D. with select state universities and colleges, private institutions, government and non-government offices as members. (PIA V/Albay)