VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte called on the public and former rebels to ensure that children can attend school and get their education.

“Let us guide our children to become catalysts of solidarity, progress and lasting peace in our respective communities,” Duterte said.

She reiterated the power of education in changing people’s lives.

“It is a tool that can emancipate us from poverty or injustice. It is also a powerful tool for peacebuilding and combating terrorism,” Duterte said.

She shared the Department of Education’s institutionalization of the peace curriculum to teach children the value of peace and to learn more about conflict resolution and non-violence.

Duterte also urged the public to sustain peace-building efforts.

“As we move forward, I hope that one day soon, we wake up to the news that the entire Philippines is already NPA [New People’s Army] terrorist-free,” she said.

“Let us make this happen,” she added.