OPAPRU chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (Screengrab from OPAPRU Facebook live video) MANILA - The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is looking at the possibility of integrating peace consciousness into the nation's education system. "To instill the culture of peace in the consciousness of the Filipino people, part of our effort is to strengthen the mainstreaming of peace education program in all levels of our educational system, including non-formal education," OPAPRU chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in his speech during the opening of the National Peace Consciousness Month 2022 at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Thursday. Galvez also noted that peace education must start at the elementary level and continue until the tertiary or college level. "Hence, we are working closely with the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education," he added. Galvez also said this year's theme for peace month celebration, "Pagkakaisa At Paghilom: Isang Bansa Para sa Kapayapaan" or "Unity And Healing: One Nation for Peace", is inspired by the collective vision of bringing peace, reconciliation, and unity all over the country. "By heeding the call for unity, regardless of religion, culture, and political beliefs, we, as one people, can attain our common goal of achieving a genuine and lasting peace," he added. Through the united efforts of the Filipino people, the OPAPRU chief expressed confidence that the gains of the "Comprehensive Philippine Peace Processes" would go a long way. "But in order to move forward, we need to let go of the pain of the past, learn from our experiences, and use these lessons to inspire us to build a better future for our nation that is free from conflict, prejudice, violence, and animosity," he said. Galvez also pointed out that the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is determined to pursue the implementation of all signed peace agreements and transformation programs, which are aligned with the five-point peace, reconciliation, and unity agenda. These are: Completion of peace agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) towards healing and reconciliation in the Bangsamoro; Ending of local communist armed conflict by expanding the transformation program for the local peace process; Completion and sustainment of the gains of the signed peace agreement with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido Ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB) and the Cordillera Bodong Administration - Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA); Enhancement of the resilience for peace of communities and vulnerable groups through social healing and peace-building approaches in support of the peace processes; and Enhancement of the delivery of Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Promotion or CSPP-compliant socioeconomic intervention in addressing the key drivers of conflict through convergence and complementation in support of the peace processes. The National Peace Consciousness Month is commemorated in the country every September under Proclamation 675 signed in 2004 by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (PNA) }