Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar met with the leaders of 24 farmers’ organizations at the Hacienda Isabel Project in La Castellana supported by Alter Trade Foundation during his recent visit to Negros Occidental to look into various approaches on building peace in the Philippines, a press release from Alter Trade said.

The dialog was attended by Mayor Alberto Nicor of La Castellana.

In the press release, Alter Trade said Brattskar, the Third Party facilitator of the peace talks between the National Democratic Front and the government peace panel, had stated that the Royal Norwegian Government can contribute by helping the government and the NDF to bring peace to the country, because if there is peace there will be rapid economic growth.

At the dialog, Imelda Cervantes of Hacienda Isabel said that their place was a “no man’s land” in the 1980’s until they were able to claim their land under the agrarian reform program and availed support from Alter Trade’s credit and technology program, the press release said.

Annabelle Abaya of the GRP Panel asked for Alter Trade’s comment on a proposed social development project jointly to be undertaken by NDF and the GRP. ATFI vice president Earl Parreño replied that “It is worth giving a try, there is nothing to lose.”

Brattskar also visited the Alter Trade Mascobado Mill in Bago City where he talked with former rebels who are now development workers in the mill, the press release added.*

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