proposed road map TO NATIONAL UNITY
The fundamental call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is UNITY. It is a prerequisite to the attainment of the Filipino people’s dreams – a Nation at peace; a developed country; and a bright future for future generations. These require the disciplined response, pro-active involvement and collective participation of the Filipino people.
The fundamental call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is UNITY. It is the prerequisite to the attainment of the Filipino people’s dreams – a Nation at peace; a developed country; and a bright future for future generations. These require the disciplined response, proactive involvement and collective participation of the Filipino people.
YES FOR PEACE – Bayanihan ng Bayan is proposed to arouse, organize and mobilize the Filipino people through a national open referendum and awareness sharing dialogues to mobilize all sectors to actively counter violent extremism as well as assert the right to peace and end armed conflicts by democratically institutionalizing good governance.
15,781,961 Filipinos, 10 years and older, have responded to its open referendum component since it was initiated at the University of the Philippines System in December 1988. The table below shows how the unfunded open referendum YES FOR PEACE – Bayanihan ng Bayan fared through the past administrations.
Notably, the documented sentiments of the 15,781,961 Filipinos who responded to the evolving questions designed to openly and democratically forge a national consensus to permanently end armed conflicts and establish an era of Peace, Progress and Prosperity has yet to be recognized and taken seriously by those who are waging armed struggle in the name of the Filipino people. They still claim to be the vanguards of the people’s will and seek to the overthrow duly elected administrations.
The Whole-of-Nation / Whole-of-Society approach of YES FOR PEACE – Bayanihan ng Bayan towards UNITY – Peace, Progress and Prosperity pursuant to the objectives of the comprehensive peace process consists of five (5) Thematic Phases:
1
AROUSE
Forge a national consensus through an open referendum among Filipinos – 10 years and older – on ten (10) questions based on United Nations Resolution 43/243, “Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace“.
2
ORGANIZE
People-centric and bottom-up declaration of Schools; Barangays; Cities/ Municipalities; Provinces; and Regions as YES FOR PEACE, UNITY and DEVELOPMENT Zones based on results of the open referendum.
3
MOBILIZE
Engage the pro-active involvement and collective participation of the Filipino people in identifying, planning, budgeting and implementing community-based peace, development and livelihood programs projects.
4
GOVERGENCE
Institutionalize good governance through the convergent delivery of peace, development and livelihood programs and projects identified, planned, budgeted and implemented through Bayanihan (pro-active involvement and collective participation) of the people at all levels of government from the barangay/community to the municipal/city to the provincial to the regional to the national level.
5
LEGISLATION
Revision of constitutional provisions as well as laws that have impeded peace, unity and development. The process shall be consultative, people-centric, and preferably bottom-up.
The proposed Road Map is anchored on Discipline. Each phase espouses the following values:
On 30 August 2022, PBBM stated in his Message for Yes for Peace, Incorporated, “After we passed a historic crossroads, we have come to the realization that the predominant desire od our people is to tread a path of unity, humility, and understanding. I am delighted that your organization has aligned with the administration’s core ideal which will positively guide us in the efficient delivery of public services and the espousal of good governance in the coming years. xxx
“As we proceed to the future with renewed hearts and minds, it is time to set aside our differences and let our philosophies converge in our shared dreams for our country. With our strengthened unification efforts, I am confident that we can nurture a more progressive, productive, and inclusive society for all.”
On 14 September 2022, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte wrote, “The fate of our nation rests in our fate in peace, our commitment to democracy and human rights, the union of different cultures and traditions of our regions, and our collective dream and aspiration for a life that is secure and free from violence.”
“The noble work of the organization supports the government’s whole-of-nation approach towards social cohesion, ensuring that more communities are reached, awareness raised, potentials empowered, and meaningful peace benefits are dynamically aided by multi-sectoral services.”
On 07 December 2022, VP and Education Secretary Duterte wrote in a message issued during the 14h National Convention of the DepEd National Employees Union (DepEd NEU), “I reiterate my full support to the YES FOR PEACE Bayanihan ng Bayan in carrying out its important and delicate mission to end the recruitment of Filipino learners by armed extremist groups pursuant to the whole-of-nation approach of the National Plan to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict approved by President Rodrigo Duterte. xxx
“I enjoin the proactive participation of the DepEd National Employees Union in addressing this national concern by working collaboratively with civil society groups such as the Yes for Peace Bayanihan ng Bayan movement.
“Our nation has suffered enough from insurgency and terrorism. Together, let us stop the breeding grounds of violence that endanger the future of our democracy, our nation, and our children.”
In response to the call of the VP and DepEd Secretary, the Joint DepEd NEU National Executive Committee and National Board of Trustees provided the office space, facilities and supplies as well as staff support for the campaign Secretariat of the campaign.
On 16 December 2022, Secretary of Interior and Local Government Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., stated in a Message, “In achieving a comprehensive peace process, a community-based approach must be the utmost consideration in defining it and not the government alone because how people view, understand and appreciate peace is what really matters. Peace is the ultimate goal of every nation, particularly in the daily experience of the common people seeking for a just and humane society. Peace also paves the way for development and we considered now that these two are inseparable. xxx
“I call on all institutions, civil society organizations, and individuals to emulate, if not follow, the efforts of Yes for Peace because at the end of the day, we will agree to peace, order, and development.”
On 30 January 2023, VP and Education Secretary Duterte launched the MATATAG agenda and declared, “We will embed the Culture of Peace in our curriculum to develop learners who are peace builders in communities. We will integrate peace competencies such as social awareness, responsibility, care for the environment, value for diversity, self-esteem, positive character, resilience and human security into the various learning areas of the K-12 curriculum.”
On March 23, 2023, the Joint DepEd NEU National Executive Council and National Board of Trustees unanimously approved a “Resolution Adopting Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan Campaign in Support of the MATATAG Agenda to Embed a ‘Culture of Peace’ in the Curriculum and Urging DepEd Secretary Sara Z, Duterte to Issue a DepEd Memorandum for the Implementation of its Open Referendum Phase to End the Recruitment of Learners by Armed Extremist Groups.”
The questions to be fielded in the proposed open referendum were then reformulated based on United Nations Resolution 43/153, “Declaration of the Culture of Peace”. To validate the questions, participants to the DepEd NEU Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon I and Luzon Clustered Assemblies 2023 Clustered Assemblies and 15th National Congress were asked to respond. The results are summarized in the table below:
|
Questions |
YES |
% |
NO |
% |
TOTAL |
|
1. Dapat ba nating itanim at arugain ang Kultura ng Kapayapaan sa ating mga paaralan, tahanan, komunidad, at pamahalaan? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 | 1,552 |
|
2. Dapat ba nating magkaisa at mag-Bayanihan sa pagtukoy, pagplano, pagpondo at pagsasagawa ng mga proyekto at programa upang mapanatili ang Kultura ng Kapayapaan sa bawa’t komunidad? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
1,552 |
|
3. Dapat ba nating itatag ang isang lipunan na walang karahasan – pisikal, seksuwal, sikolohikal, ekonomikal at sosyal? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
1,552 |
|
4. Dapat ba nating alagaan at pagyamanin ang ating kapaligiran upang masustinahan ang pag-unlad ng ating bansa bilang isang mahalagang bahagi ng prosesong pangkapayaan? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
1,552 |
|
5. Dapat ba nating kilalanin at igalang ang iba’t-ibang paniniwala natin? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
1,552 |
|
6. Dapat ba nating isabuhay ang pagiging Maka-Diyos, Maka-Kalikasan, Maka-Tao at Makabansa? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
1,552 |
|
7. Dapat ba nating itaguyod at isulong ang Karapatan sa Kapayapaan; mga Karapatang Pantao; mga Karapatan ng Katutubo; at mga Karapatan ng mga Bata? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
1,552 |
|
8. Dapat ba nating tutulan, hadlangan at labanan ang mga propaganda at paggamit ng armas, karahasan o terorismo anuman ang dahilan? |
1,549 |
99.80 |
3 |
0.19 |
1,552 |
|
9. Dapat ba nating maging mulat sa mga programa at proyekto ng iba’t-Ibang sangay ng pamahalaan at gamitin ang mga ito upang paunlarin ang ating mga komunidad at pagyamanin ang Kultura ng Kapayapaan? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
1,552 |
|
10. Dapat ba nating ituro ang mga kaganapan at maaring gawin sa pagtataguyod ng kapayapaan at pagsusulong ng karapatang pantao sa ating mga mag-aaral? |
1,552 |
100.00 |
0 |
0.00 |
1,552 |
Well-meaning critics, intellectuals and academicians ask, “The answers to the questions would obviously be “YES”, why conduct such survey?”
The open referendum is designed not merely to ask what people think. It is designed as an initial step in building a national mind-set to affirm the “Culture of Peace” and to embed it in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people.
It is evident from the above table that a national consensus on relevant provisions of the of the United Nations Declaration mentioned above can certainly be attained. It is just a question of how to conduct it. Based on experience, the most cost effective and resource efficient way is through the Department of Education.
Towards this, the 2023 DepEd NEU Clustered Assemblies unanimously adopted similar resolutions, “Resolution Reiterating the Joint DepEd NEU National Executive Council and National Board of Trustees Resolution Adopting Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan Campaign in Support of the MATATAG Agenda to Embed a ‘Culture of Peace’ in the Curriculum and Urging DepEd Secretary Sara Z, Duterte to Issue a DepEd Memorandum for the Implementation of its Open Referendum Phase to End the Recruitment of Learners by Armed Extremist Groups”.
On 29 November 2023, VP and Education Secretary Duterte wrote in her message read during the 15th DepEd NEU National Congress, “I am sincerely grateful for the proactive initiatives spearheaded by Yes for Peace – Bayanihan ng Bayan in response to our shared commitment to preventing the recruitment of Filipino learners by armed extremist groups. xxx
“Your collaboration with the Department of Education National Employees Union contribute to a promising future for collective decision-making and reinforcing our child protection policy. xxx
“Let us join hands in implementing basic education reforms under the MATATAG Agenda and integrating peace education into our K-12 curriculum. Together, we can inspire and empower learners to uphold peace and reject the recruitment efforts of armed extremist groups.
“Maging MATATAG tayo tungo sa isang Bansang Makabata at Batang Makabansa.”
In response to the Message of the VP and Education Secretary, the 15th DepEd NEU National Congress unanimously upheld the resolutions adopted by the 2023 DepEd NEU Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon I and Luzon Clustered Assemblies through Resolution No. 20.
Action Steps Needed
- Issuance of a DepEd Memorandum / Order by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Z. Duterte to implement the open referendum phase of the campaign.
- Issuance of a DILG Memorandum by Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. Engage to the proactive involvement and collective participation of Regional, Provincial, City, Municipal and Barangay Peace and Order Councils; Local Government Units (LGUs); the Sangguniang Barangays (SBs); the Sangguniang Kabataans (SKs); the Philippine National Police (PNP); and the National Youth Commission.
- Carry out the five (5) Thematic Areas of the YES FOR PEACE Bayanihan ng Bayan campaign in coordination with the Office of the Presidential Consultant on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) through the Comprehensive Peace Process as defined by Executive Order No. 158, s. 2021: Conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting; Whole-of-Society; Empowering
- Facilitate the proactive involvement and collective participation of the Filipino people through formal and informal channels of governance as concrete action steps with the cooperation of National Government Agencies with the end view of the following outcomes stipulated in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023 – 2028: a)participatory governance deepened; b)public accountability and integrity bolstered; c)government functions, systems, and mechanisms rationalized and strengthened; and d)competent, motivated, agile, and resilient public servants supported.
- Optimize the use of social media to disseminate information and updates on the implementation of the campaign.
- Keep relevant agencies of the United Nations abreast of developments and progress of the campaign pursuant to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”
- Develop measures in monitoring and evaluating the key performance indicators and targets in coordination with participating agencies, e.g., DepEd, DILG, NYC, etc., involved in activities that contribute toward building a climate for peace through specific projects intrinsic to their respective mandates and functions.
Who and What Do We Need?
