Cotabato City — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Mindanao, with Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. expressing strong support during the launch of a new educational initiative aimed at empowering women peacebuilders.
The project, titled “Institutionalizing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Mindanao through Higher Education,” was officially launched on April 14, 2025. The program, spearheaded by the Philippine Center on Islam and Democracy and funded by the European Union, seeks to reintroduce and promote the Diploma Course on Women, Peace and Security at Mindanao State University-Maguindanao.
Describing the project as a “major step in amplifying the voices of women and highlighting their increased and more meaningful participation in the areas of peace and security,” Secretary Galvez emphasized that the program will help equip women with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to take on leadership roles in peacebuilding processes.
“The inclusion of women at the peace table is not just a matter of representation; it’s about creating more inclusive, lasting solutions to conflict,” Galvez said.
Joining him at the event was OPAPRU Executive Director Susana Guadalupe H. Marcaida, head of the WPS Center of Excellence, who led the ceremonial signing of the WPS Pledge Wall. Marcaida highlighted the critical role of education in fostering sustainable peace and advancing the goals of the Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS) 2023–2033.
“Education is the quiet revolution that makes all other revolutions possible. It is not just about literacy, diplomas, or graduate degrees. It is about dignity. It is about having a voice. It is about preparing societies not only to rebuild after conflict, but to reimagine what peace can truly look like,” Marcaida stressed.
The initiative underscores the government’s and its partners’ collective push for gender inclusion in peacebuilding efforts, especially in conflict-affected regions like Mindanao, where women have long played significant but often unrecognized roles in community resilience and conflict resolution.