BY NONOY LACSON

LUUK, Sulu — Members of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) from all over the country convened in this province to formally launch the “Education for Peace” program, citing education as a key to lasting peace and development for Sulu.

The JCI officially launched its “Education for Peace” program at Mans Beach Resort in this town on Saturday, with hundreds  of JCI members from across the country,  government officials, military leaders and civil society partners gracing the event.

In his keynote speech, Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino delos Santos, commander of the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade, cited the Army Literacy Patrol System (ALPS), an initiative of the military that deploys trained soldiers as literacy educators in remote areas in Sulu province. 

Since its inception in 2018, ALPS has reached more than 2,000 learners in remote areas of most municipalities in this province, where formal education is absent.

 He said soldiers transformed military vehicles into mobile classrooms, armed not with weapons, but with whiteboards, pencils and books.

 “These soldiers became teachers, mentors, and community builders. They crossed rivers and climbed mountains not to fight, but to teach children to spell their names. That is a kind of heroism that cannot be measured in medals,” Delos Santos said.