54 Lupon Tagapamayapa finish transformative mediation

BACOLOD CITY — A total of 54 Lupon Tagapamayapa (LT) members from the municipalities of Cauayan and San Enrique completed the recent workshop on Transformative Mediation at Negros Residences in Bacolod City.

They comprised the sixth batch in the series of three-day activities that aim to strengthen the skills of LTs in conflict resolution.

The topics included mediation roadmap, effective communication, circle of conflict, negotiation, caucus, and co-mediation, among others.

The training was conducted by the Provincial Planning and Development Office in collaboration with the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) and the Provincial Peace and Order Committee.

SP Member and LnB president Richard Sablan and Sixth District SP Member Genaro Alvarez IV shared their messages to the participants.

Both affirmed the importance of providing conflict resolution skills to LTs being the front-liners in their communities.

For his part, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson, who personally proposed the workshop, said that the role of LTs is crucial in the promotion of peace and the community-building efforts of the province.

LTs are the new “baganihan” (heroes), according to the governor, because of the unique work assigned to them toward peace and development.

Ed Jalbuena of Mednet, Philippines, served as the resource person, while the staff of the PPDO led by its OIC, Benja Lucasan, provided the overall facilitation.

The Lupon Tagapamayapa, established under the Katarungang Pambarangay provisions of the Local Government Code, mediates disputes at the barangay level to decongest courts and promote amicable settlement.