Officials and student leaders of the Pangasinan State University participated in the first National Peace Convention held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila on January 25.
Through the able leadership of Commissioner Ronald L. Adamat of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Chairman of PSU’s governing Board, the academic institution got a first-hand experience to witness the historic convention held for the first time.
University President Elbert M. Galas said PSU is honored to be part of the event that intends to encourage participants to be advocates of peace and unite everyone in the name of peace.
“PSU, as a peace-loving academic institution, upholds the adoption of peace-building and conflict prevention strategies that will strengthen the PSU community’s resolve to achieve unity and sustainable development for the institution and the country, in general,” Dr. Galas said.
Bannering the theme “Peace Builds One Nation, One Future – Peace is Here”, the event was highlighted by a series of talks and presentations by government and business sector peace specialists aimed at crafting a roadmap dubbed as PBBM-SD or Peace Builds, Binds Minds for Sustainable Development to achieve national unity through peace.
In the afternoon, parallel sessions took place for five sector groups: academe and youth, religious leaders, lawmakers and non-government organizations, media, and women leaders. In each session, there were speeches followed by an open forum to produce a resolution from each sector .
Furthermore, the event showcased Commissioner Adamat’s tangible peace framework to the government which would pave the way to the proclamation of a National Peace Day, a commemorative working holiday to be observed by the entire country upon the approval of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
