Rico to talk peace at Rotary forum

 By JUNE S. BLANCO

REP. Erico Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) will the represent local government units (LGU) sector during the 2012 Peace Festival on September 28 at the SMX Convention Center.

In her letter-invitation to Aumentado, Peace President Liza Manalo-Mapagu, festival chair, said when they presented the draft program to the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CRS-AFP) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp), “there was a consensus that we have to include one of the most important sectors in peace-making and peace-building which is the LGU sector.”

She further said the attendees unanimously chose Aumentado to represent the sector and that “they are excited to bring you in on the discussion to show the very inspiring ‘Bohol Peace Story”. 

Mapagu also said there will be no speeches at the forum but it will be a highly interactive panel discussion.

It aims to shed light on Bohol’s “winning moments” and accomplishments, what else the organization will do or should have done, what it can we do together with the Rotary, Opapp, CRS-AFP and others to sustain the accomplishments, what specific activities and projects can the LGU sector or the public do to support the agencies/organizations and advocates on peace.

Hosted by the Rotary Clubs of District 3830 and Opapp, the event is a national gathering devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, recognizing and celebrating peace initiative efforts, and deepening commitment by various sectors to winning the peace.

The gathering revolves around the theme “Celebrating Together for Peace”, with around 1,000 participants from various sectors working on peace, and Rotarians from the different districts in the country attending.

Mapagu said the conference will bring in all national leaders who are involved in the peace initiatives in an interactive panel and a peace workshop for the new generation.

Opapp Secretary Teresita Deles and District Governor Suzanne Sta. Maria of Rotary international District 3830 also signed the Mapagu invitation.

To note, before this term as congressman, Aumentado was a three-termer governor of Bohol who pushed a civilian-led anti-insurgency program dubbed by one brigade commander as the “left hand-right hand approach” that contributed to the joint declaration by the military and the police that the province was already insurgency-free.