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Vice-President for Operations at McBride PET Corporation Harvey Keh, Bureau Director, Office on Education, Culture and Health (OECH) of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Dr. Carlos P. Buasen, Jr., and Catholic Relief Services Program Manager William Azuecena advised the electorates to consider candidates who can foster unity among the institutions of the society during the tenth and final Veritas Servant Leadership Halalan Forum 2016.

Keh stressed that the joint efforts of the private sector, the Catholic Church and the government could create a great impact for the good of all people throughout the country.

“Kapag nagsama ang gobyerno, private sector at Simbahan maganda ang synergy at ang labas nito maraming mga programa na mas madaling maipapatupad, malaking magagawa para sa community,” Keh said.

He also added that that education is a great contributing factor towards community building.

“Napakahalagang maturuan ng civic involvement ang mga kabataan. Mahalagang maintindihan ng mga kabataan, una ano ba ang duty niya bilang isang Pilipino. Pangalawa, ano ang roles and responsibilities ng ating mga government officials. Bumoboto tayo na hindi naman natin talaga alam ang trabaho nila, paano natin sila sisingilin?” Keh said.

Azuecena said that vote-buying destroys the concept of community building because it sets the people apart.

“Ang pamimigay ng pera (tuwing eleksyon) ay hindi maganda sa pagbi-build ng community. Ito po’y naghahati sa mga miyembro ng kumunidad, ‘yung iba naninindigan sa prinsipyo, ‘yung iba nagpapaalipin sa pera,” Azuecena explained.

He also appealed to the candidates to give the members of the community access to the process of development.

“Bigyan sila ng access kung saan makakapag-participate ang mga community member sa proseso ng leadership at sa proseso ng pag-unlad,” Azuecena said.

For Dir. Buasen’s part, he said that the indigenous people need to strengthen and restore their communities.

“Noong pinag-uusapan itong tungkol sa building communities, ang mga tribal leaders nagreact, sabi nila sa atin yata baka more on strengthening communities, kasi since time in memorial daw nandoon na sila, buo na sila at doon naman sa mga nawala sa kanilang mga lupang ninuno, baka more on restoring communities,” Dir. Buasen Jr. explained.

He also said that the indigenous people are open for development with identity as long as they are part of the process towards it.

“Wala namang tribal leader na nagsabi na masama ang pag-unlad at ang pagpasok ng teknolohiya. Ang iginigiit lang na doon sa mga proseso na ganito ay nakakasama sila, involve sila at kung may kinalaman sa kanila, sila sana ‘yung nagpapasya. Development with identity ang gusto ng mga katutubo na hindi nasasagasaan ang pagiging distinct nila na katutubo,” Dir. Buasen Jr. added.

The Veritas Servant Leadership Halalan Forum 2016 is a Radio Veritas special election forum series that focuses on the 10 qualities of a servant leader that should be the gauge for the voters in choosing their candidates.

These 10 qualities include listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of the people, and building community.

Radio Veritas 846 is owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Manila. Established in 1969, the Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient Catholic radio station continues to be the leading social communications ministry for truth and evangelization in the country today.