NOV.

18, 2011 DATE

NR # 2591
REF. NO.

Reject war, pursue peace, liberalism and democracy: Belmonte

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. today called on the nations youth to reject war and to rebuff those who espouse it, and steadfastly pursue the cause of peace, liberalism and democracy. There is no denying the gravity of problems facing the nation, the most pronounced of which is the long-drawn out rebellion and arms conflict which has condemned communities into a life of fear, uncertainty and abject poverty, Belmonte stressed. Peace will not happen by accident. Peace is not the absence of war, peace is justice, peace is good governance, peace is public accountability, peace is economic stability and prosperity. What the region needs are more leaders who will not only serve the cause of peace but leaders who will wage war against poverty, corruption and injustice, Belmonte added. Speaker Belmonte and H.E. Harry K. Thomas, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines presided over the completion ceremony for the 27 graduate-members of the 12th Batch of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders (CIPYML) held at the Andaya Hall, Batasan Complex, Thursday. The aims of the Program are laudable, namely to contribute to the development of a culture of peace in Mindanao and respect for the countrys democratic processes, and to develop a new breed of leaders in your region with a broad understanding of national issues and governance processes, Belmonte said. In his congratulatory message, Ambassador Thomas said the program affords the young Mindanao leaders the rare opportunity to learn first hand the intricacies of good governance and policy legislation which textbooks cant possibly teach them in a short span of time. The American envoy, likewise urged the young Muslim interns to be the role-models for the young people in their respective areas in Mindanao and the country in general, stressing that the future depends on you! The 12th group to complete the internship project, Belmonte noted, is made possible under the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program of the House of Representatives and the US Agency for International Development. Since its inception, the program has graduate 273 young leaders from the Mindanao region in cooperation with the Mindanao State University (MSU) and the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UPNCPAG).

NOV. 18, 2011 DATE

NR # 2591
REF. NO.

On the part of the House of Representatives, a management committee, composed of four departments the Office of the Secretary General headed by Sec. Gen. Marilyn BaruaYap, the Administrative Department, the Committee Affairs Department (CAD) and the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) have been organized to ensure that the young Mindanao leader-interns get the most out of their three months on-thejob training-exposure in congress. Sec. Gen. Yap revealed that this year, with our partners, the USAID-GEM, the UPNCPAG and the MSU we have incorporated strategic enrichment modifications to the program to ensure that the four months of immersion (of interns) in the academic or theoretical and the practical challenges of policy making in the House of Representatives equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage meaningfully in the development endeavors in their respective communities. As tangible proof of how well the interns performed, Sec. Gen. Yap proudly noted their policy papers on current significant national issues and concerns which have been compiled and published and now constitute valuable contributions to the stream of policy making and development in the country. In response to the flowing accolades, Mr. Ar-Nusharief E. Hassiman, valedictorian of the CIPVML Batch 12, hit the mark when he declared that what matter are not the differences among Filipinos but what makes all the same. It is not what makes us different from each other that is important but what makes us the same. Hassiman said as he enjoined his co-graduates: Let us not forget that making the most of everything that we have now should always be directed to the pleasure of God, not for worldly gains and to the service of others, not for selfish interest. The young leader ended by praying May God grant you all with goodness. May we all be assets in the world of Islamic Professionals. (30) dpt