This National Peace Consciousness Month, coinciding with the Philippine Civil Service Month, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Catalino S. Cuy urges civil servants to be catalysts for peace.
“Civil servants are at the heart of peacekeeping and advocating a culture of peace starting with themselves, their homes and communities,” he says.
“Peace is a precursor of development which is a common aspiration of Filipinos beyond differences in faith, tribes, social class, and demographic backgrounds,” he adds.
He notes that the theme of the 117th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service that says “Tugon sa Hamon ng Pagbabago: Malasakit ng Lingkod Bayani” resonates with National Peace Consciousness Month theme that is “Puso Para Sa Kapayapaan, Magkaisa Para Sa Bayan!”
“This is a reminder to all civil servants – both government officials and employees – to manifest ‘malasakit’ or compassion in public service which revolves around advancing peace and development,” he points out.
The DILG OIC says that civil servants may contribute to peacebuilding simply by doing their job competently and ethically because “it would assure the optimum performance of government institutions.”
In addition, he says, civil servants “as duty bearers beyond office hours” are expected to embody nationalism and patriotism promoting appreciation and pride of country and people.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) is leading the celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month while the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is leading the Philippine Civil Service Anniversary.
“On our part in guarding peace, ang DILG ang inyong matino, mahusay, at maaasahang Kagawaran para sa mapagkalinga at maunlad na mga pamahalaang lokal ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he says.
The regular annual celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month during the month of September is mandated under Proclamation No. 675 issued in July 2004, meant “to instill greater consciousness and understanding among Filipinos on the comprehensive peace process to strengthen and sustain institutional and popular support for and participation in this effort”, among others.
On the other hand, the celebration of the Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service this September is in line with Public Law No. 5, “An Act for the Establishment and Maintenance of Our Efficient and Honest Civil Service in the Philippine Islands,” enacted on September 19, 1900.
