Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Friday welcomed the joint initiative of the Schools Division Office (SDO) of the province of Aurora and the military on information dissemination efforts against the recruitment and infiltration of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) among students in the province.

“Providing information and education to the youth about local armed conflict is a critical step to keep them from being deceived and recruited by terrorists and communists,” Duterte said in a statement.

The education chief said the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the SDO Aurora and the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB) should be considered an example of a “whole-of-nation” approach against armed conflict.

The pact targets discussion on the subject matter with Grades 9 and 10, as well as senior high school learners.

However, Duterte noted that they expect the information drive to be effective yet gender-sensitive.

“We trust that our schools and their partners will efficiently implement the information campaign while still adhering to the Department’s policies on gender sensitivity, safety, and peacebuilding, among others,” she added.

Earlier, 91IB commander, Lt. Col. Julito Recto Jr., who signed the agreement with SDO Aurora superintendent Dr. Catalina Paez, said they will ensure they will use a child-friendly motivation in delivering the message to increase awareness on recruitment activities by communist rebels.

“It is part of the DepEd’s vision of producing Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation,” he said.

Paez also expressed her delight in securing a partnership with the Philippine Army.

The signing of the pact on Aug. 30 came ahead of the country’s commemoration of the National Peace Consciousness Month in September and World Peace Day on Sept. 21.

Under Proclamation No. 675 signed in 2004 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the country observes peace consciousness, intending to raise comprehensive awareness among Filipinos, eliminate violence, and respect the rights, freedom, understanding, and the sense of unity of the citizenry. (PNA)