Dureza pledges college scholarships to Mangyan youth

Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza has pledged college scholarships for the youth of the Mangyan tribe in Oriental Mindoro as part of the government's initiative to extend assistance to conflict-stricken communities.

A press statement from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said Dureza went to the province on Tuesday where he met seven Mangyan tribes and inaugurated a road-building project.

"I asked them what they need and they wanted to improve the education of their children," Dureza said following the dialogue. "I committed to immediately increase allocation for our scholars for now. It's a very specific request so we decided to support on the spot."

Furthermore, Dureza committed for the development of indigenous communities in the town of Mansalay through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) project.

"We need to improve the lives of people. Development is as crucial as peace and should be a simultaneous effort," he said.

OPAPP is the lead agency in the PAMANA project which aims to develop and bring livelihood programs for communities in conflict-affected areas.

The OPAPP statement said Dureza's activity in Mansalay town was part of the Indigenous People's (IP) peace table of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under the IP peace table, government peace panels engage, meet, converse with and hear the concerns, inputs, recommendations of IPs in the country as part of the ongoing peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front and the crafting of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News