By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA
MANILA — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Thursday stressed the importance of the culture of peace and harmony in achieving sustainable development for the country.
In a press conference, Commissioner Dr. Ronald Adamat said it is important for the youth to learn about the significance of peace and good values as future leaders of the country so they can actively help minimize corruption and campaign against drug addiction.
“In January of last year, CHED through this representation and HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) chairman Man Hee Lee entered into a memorandum of agreement in order to promote peace in the Philippines through the higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the country and for that matter many activities happened in the state universities like peace rallies,” he said.
Adamat added CHED will soon release an order for the integration of peace education in the higher education curriculum.
“It could be an elective subject or it could be integrated in subjects like history and social sciences. This is one way of sustaining our efforts to promote peace,” he said.
In line with this, CHED and HWPL will conduct a peace festival and launching of volunteer individuals for peace (VIP) at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan on Friday.
Around 30,000 students from public and private HEIs are expected to attend the event. There will be cultural performances which aim to represent harmony and peace beyond differences in ethnicity, religion or nationality.
Lee, who was also in the press conference, said the peace festival would inspire Filipinos to participate in peace building.
“The world is already in disorder. The role of media like you here is important so I encourage you to propagate good news to avoid chaos and peace as a legacy must be passed on to the new generation, so we must all be peace advocates,” he said.
Lee launched a peace education last year at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Quezon City, Cotabato City State Polytechnic College and University of Makati.
HWPL is a Seoul-based international non-government organization under the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It advocates peacebuilding through international law, harmony of religion, and peace education.
