By
Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA
CITY – Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
(OPAPP) Undersecretary Jose Lorena yesterday (June 10) encouraged the youth
belonging to Indigenous People (IP) groups here to be informed on the latest
developments and participate in the discussions of the peace process,
particularly on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
“We
have to be informed, especially the youth so that we will be aware of our
rights,” told Usec. Lorena to IP students during a Journalistic Writing
Workshop held by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), supported by the
United States Embassy and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Uundersecretary
Lorena, who started his career as a journalist before becoming a lawyer
emphasized to the students to use what they learn in the workshop and apply it
when they go back to communities. “You should practice what you learn here and
be the voices of your communities,” he said.
During
a short talk, Lorena shared with the IP students a brief history of the
Bangsamoro struggle and its road to autonomy. He emphasized to the students
that the long-standing conflict here should already be ended.
“Now
is the time to end the long standing conflict in Mindanao to pave the way for
development,” he said.
Meanwhile,
NCIP regional director Timuey Woy Lim Wong encouraged the participants to
develop their potentials since “this opportunity can help you discover that you
are a good writer”.
On
the other hand, PIA regional director Noemi B. Edaga told the students: “I hope
that this activity will be fruitful for you when you graduate, when you have
work”.
