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The Aquino administration is exerting necessary efforts to ensure the success of the ongoing peace talks between the government and insurgency groups in the country as it stressed the two key elements in winning the long elusive peace for all.

In his message at the culmination of the “Padyak para sa Kapayapaan” here, Saturday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr. noted the government’s stringent initiatives to win the peace through the delivery of justice and providing livelihood for the people.

“There are two key elements needed for the success of the peace talks: justice and the availability of livelihood,” Coloma noted stressing the importance of strengthening the criminal justice system.

With regards to livelihood, Coloma noted that the lack of gainful employment or economic opportunity more often leads to the commission of crimes due to poverty.

“Many crimes are committed out of hunger or out of desperation,” he said adding that these two key elements are being pushed by the President through various programs committed to poverty reduction.

He said that one of the concrete programs of the government geared towards poverty alleviation is the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program that will help at least 23 million families across the country.

“The CCT program is one of the aggressive and comprehensive programs of the Aquino government,” Coloma noted. “For the first time, the government has allocated 21 billion pesos for this program that will directly benefit the underprivileged Filipinos with the help of the local government units.”

Coloma asked the help of the people to promote Region 4A which includes the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (CALABARZON) as the premiere zone of peace and prosperity. He encouraged them to promote efforts that will help in winning the peace rather than waging war against insurgency in the region, and the whole country.

He also stressed the relevant role of mass media in the promotion and eventually attaining peace by sharing developmental stories to the people.

Also present during the event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, local government executives and members of various sectors of society.

“Padyak para sa Kapayapaan” is a bikathon and peace advocacy forum launched by the Calabarzon PNP in support of the Aquino administration’s initiatives to end the four-decade communist insurgency through the peace talks.

CALABARZON police director, Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said the national police believes that the peace talks is the best chance to foster trust and confidence among the negotiating parties and bring an end to the fighting between government forces and alleged members of the insurgency. (PNA)

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