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Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza and Gov. Migs Dominguez will lead government officials at the forum, which will be held at the capitol gymnasium in partnership with the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo).
The festival will conclude on Nov. 28 while the island-wide Week of Peace starts Nov. 29.
Dominguez said the forum is intended to "provide an opportunity to the different sectors of the province to discuss peace and development issues and concerns and to encourage them to identify, set priorities and formulate policy options in the interest of a peaceful, just, equitable and progressive province."
He added that the event shall assist "peace institutions, development agencies, grassroots structures and local actors to better respond to the challenges of peace-building."
Simultaneous with the forum is a showcase of the province’s peace-building initiatives, which include the "Kalinaw Sarangani" program and "From Arms to Farms" models in former rebel-infested villages.
MEDCo and the provincial government will also hold exhibits, a jobs fair, and a medical mission around the peace forum venue. The medical mission will be led by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, International Monitoring Team and the provincial government.
A peace covenant signing, to be led by Vice Gov. Steve Solon, will cap the peace forum. (MindaNews)