BukSU seeks collaboration with OPAPRU on peace promotion, research

BukSU – Bukidnon State University has expressed its intent to collaborate with the national government’s effort for peace, reconciliation, and unity through peace education, research, conflict sensitivity, and peace promotion.

Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, University President, expressed this in a letter of intent to Sec. Carlito A. Galvez Jr, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity.

Associate Prof. Walter I. Balane, Head of the BukSU Center for Peace Studies, met with officers from two OPAPRU offices, from the Communications and Public Affairs Services and the Policy Development Strategic Management Services, Knowledge Management and Peace Institute Services (KMPIS).

BukSU Center for Peace Studies is under the Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovations headed by Dr. Carina Joane V. Barroso.

Dir. Darwin Wally Dee, Director of the OPAPRU Communications and Public Affairs Services and a representative of Dir. Rowena T. Lopez, Head of the OPAPRU Policy Development Strategic Management Services and Knowledge Management and Peace Institute Services met with Mr. Balane in the OPAPRU Head Office in Ortigas, Pasig City on August 18, 2023.

Among the initial points of proposed collaboration include peace knowledge management, co-sponsorship of peace education and peace promotion activities, engagement in peace research conferences and educators’ assembly.

Dir. Dee urged BukSU to look into what its research resources can do to help pursue the government’s thrust for local peace engagements (LPEs) especially in insurgency affected areas. The government’s LPE thrust covers security, socio-economic aspects, confidence building, and transitional justice. OPAPRU is developing a Conflict Vulnerability Index to aid in its efforts for transformation among conflict-affected areas.

OPAPRU’s Knowledge Management team is keen on partnering with BukSU for the establishment of a Peace Education Research Nook (P.E.R.N) in coordination with the Center for Peace Studies and the University Library.

OPAPRU also invited BukSU to send participants to the Virtual Learning and Reflection Session on Future Proofing Peace Education through Effective Cyber-Security Measures in the Academe this month and the 3rd Peace Research Conference to be held on September 7-8, 2023 in Manila.

Ian Karlo Olegario, Project Development Officer IV of the OPAPRU KMPIS welcomed the invitation to send OPAPRU resource persons to a proposed BukSU Peace Promotion Webinar for faculty and students in time for the commemoration of the month of September as National Peace Consciousness Month and in November for the Mindanao Week of Peace.

Both organizations are keen on signing a memorandum of understanding within the year to formalize the expressed intent of collaboration. (With reports from OVPREI Center for Peace Studies).