|PIC1|Christian and Muslim peace groups recently joined forces in the Philippines to observe “Mindanao Peace Week” during which they urged all sectors and levels of society, as well as politicians to help foster peace in the Mindanao region, reports Assist News.

The week of peace for the troubled region saw pastors, Catholic priests, imams, and Arabic teachers join in a march along the streets and open fields in Kidapawan City alongside other members of the public, as well as military and police officials.

Other cities also held their own marches during the Mindanao Peace Week, which began on 29 November, including Iligan, Catabato, Maawi and General Santos City.

Church leaders across the denominational spectrum have made real efforts to foster and maintain peace in the region of Mindanao, a mainly Muslim-populated island in the Philippines, which has been home to conflict between Muslims and Christians for the last four decades.

|AD|Pedro B. Acharon Jr., Mayor of General Santos City, called on the people of the region to maintain their vigilance in helping to keep peace in the region during his welcome address to kick off the celebrations on the 29 November.

Other speakers at the opening celebrations in General Santos City stressed the need for peace as the “mother of requirements” in bringing development to the Mindanao region, Assist News reports.

The city has faced a number of threats to its security by a number of groups, as well as bombings in the city.

Government officials have also introduced new peace measures in an attempt to the years of conflict to an end.

In Manila city, government officials have organised and run several seminars for Muslim and Christian school children in an effort to raise their mutual understanding of each others’ religions, as well as to bring about closer dialogue and appreciation between the two religions.