There'll be peace in Mindanao, PGMA vows
THERE will be peace in Mindanao, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said last night, as she described as a temporary setback in the peace process the renewed fighting that broke out in the region following the attacks on civilian populations by renegade forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In remarks before members of the Islamic community at the 4th Iftar sponsored by the World Islamic Call Society (WICS) Saturday night (Sept. 20) at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila, the President expressed confidence that peace will finally come to Mindanao.
“Nothwithstanding the setbacks in our peace process, I stand before you tonight to declare loud and clear that the Philippines will have peace in Mindanao,” she said.
Among those present were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Cerge Remonde, National Secuirty Adviser Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, and WICS Representative to the Philippines Mohamed Elballushi.
She pointed out that since early in her administration, she has been working hard to forge an agreement with the MILF starting with a ceasefire that was recently unplugged “by the recent violence carried out by lawless elements of the MILF.”
The continuous support of allies and the new paradigm shift in the peace process, which includes more authentic dialogues with communities, have rekindled government's determination to bring lasting peace to some harassed areas in southern Philippines.
“There is no alternative to peace. With the help of friends like the World Islamic Call Society, and our other friends from Islamic countries, we will bring peace to Mindanao. So we would take this opportunity to acknowledge here tonight the central role of so many friends and allies in bringing peace and hope to the Philippines,” the President said.
She stressed that with peace, development and prosperity would follow, and Mindanao would fully realize its potential as the country's main food basket.
“The sad irony of Mindanao, even if it is our bread basket or food basket, and yet it has some of the highest hunger in our nation. It has large fields of high productivity, yet it also has the majority of our poorest provinces. The prime reason is the endless Mindanao conflict,” the President said.
The President thanked friends in the Islamic world and other nations which have been helping the government on the peace process now centered on the UN-accepted DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration).
“Each and every one of these friends of peace of the Philippines have made the world better and safer because of your concerns for what happens in Mindanao. For that, we are eternally grateful. We have high hopes that our friends in the Islamic world will support our focus,” she said.
As part of its overall efforts to end the decades-old Mindanao conflict, the Philippines is hosting in May next year the first-ever Special Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue for Cooperation and Development in May.
PGMA creates Cotabato Flood Control Task Force
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has created the Cotabato Flood Control Task Force (CFC-TF) to undertake an integrated flood-control program in the heavily-silted, flood-prone Lower Cotabato River Basin.
Torrential rains spawned by typhoons Frank and Cosme earlier this year triggered massive flooding in the Lower Cotabato River Basin, which covers the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Saranggani, Sultan Kudarat, the City of Cotabato and parts of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Heavy siltation of the major rivers of the Mindanao River Basin and the Ligwasan Marsh has exposed the Lower Cotabato River Basin to perennial flooding.
Executive Order (EO) No. 743 “Creating A Task Force on Cotabato Flood Control” was signed by President Arroyo last July 24.
The anti-flooding task force will “ensure that public funds for Cotabato (River Basin) flood control shall be spent judiciously and effectively through efficient prioritization of programs and consistent monitoring of projects.”
The CFC-TF will “serve as the clearing house for all proposals related the Cotabato (River Basin) flood control.”
The task force was also directed to generate proposals from implementing agencies for Cotabato flood-control efforts, as well as infrastructure support.
Under EO 743, the CFC-TF will work with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the “ARMM for the important interventions that need to be implemented for Cotabato (River Basin) flood control,” as well as the “Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) of the ARMM and of Region XII “on common or overlapping project activities related to Cotabato flood control.”
To be chaired by a representative of civil society who will be designated by the President, the task force will be composed of the ARMM governor, the chairman of the Region XII Regional Development Council (RDC), the ARMM’s secretary of public works, and the DPWH director for Region XII.
A secretariat to be headed by an executive director will manage the TF’s day-to-day affairs and operations, and “conduct studies on flood control to minimize the adverse effects to lives, properties and livelihood of residents in the Cotabato River Basin that may be caused by similar floods.”
The CFC-TF, whose funding come from the President’s Contingent Fund, will “exercise its powers and functions for a period of two years unless otherwise directed by the President.”
PGMA off to New York Sunday to deliver RP’s M.D.G. mid-term report at U.N. General Assembly
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will fly to New York City Sunday to deliver during the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) the Philippines’ mid-term report on its progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The President will leave Manila Sunday night (Sept. 21) aboard a commercial flight of the Philippine Air Lines (PAL).
The President will be the fourth national leader to speak, a rare honor accorded the Philippines considering that there are more than a hundred out of the 192 member-states whose chief executives will also be attending the event.
“The visit of the President at this time is in the national interest given that the world body will address urgent issues, especially global poverty and hunger situation, as well as the achievement of the MDG, whose resolution is of primary concern to developing countries, including the Philippines,“ Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo has said.
The Philippines is a signatory to the 2000 Millennium which was signed by 189 member-states of the United Nations.
The declaration rolled out the time-bound MDGs as a global agenda for development by 2015. The eight MDGs are: halve extreme poverty and hunger; universal primary education; gender equality; reduce child mortality; improved women's health; stop and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases; environmental sustainability; and global partnerships for aid, trade and debt relief.
While in New York, the President will also actively participate in the High-Level Debate of the 63rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and in other high-level meetings with global leaders to put forward Philippine concerns on key international issues, and to highlight Philippine progress before the international community.
“This will both allow the Philippines to be heard in multilateral diplomacy to address global concerns, and reinforce international confidence in the Philippines, supportive of national development efforts,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said in a press conference Wednesday
The President is also scheduled to meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon with whom she will discuss the MDGs and international cooperation for food and energy, UN Peacekeeping Operations in which the Philippines is an important contributor, as well as the regional situation in Southeast Asia where the Philippines plays a lead role in the ASEAN.
The President will also discuss the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and the Special Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development. The Philippines will host the GFMD in October this year, and the NAM in May next year.
President Arroyo will also meet with Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Edmeleddin Ihsanoglu to inform him of her government’s new peace policy that is based on consultation with stake holders in Mindanao.
The President would also “express appreciation to the OIC for its continuing support, and will strengthen the dialogue for peace, indicating also the Philippines commitment to harmonious relations with the Islamic world, reflected in the Philippine request for OIC observer status,” added Dureza.
The President will also push for the candidacy of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for a seat in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ seat is of fundamental interest to the Philippines as it would facilitate Philippine contributions to the progressive development of international law to reflect the perspectives and concerns of developing countries.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) country report on the Philippines last year noted that halfway to the 2015 target year to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Philippines has made considerable progress, particularly in poverty reduction, nutrition, reducing child mortality, combating HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases and access to safe drinking water and sanitary toilet facility.
But the Philippines needs to work harder on targets concerning universal access to education, maternal mortality and access to reproductive health services, the 2007 UNDP report added.
In her foreword to the 2007 UNDP report, President Arroyo said the Midterm Report “enables us to prepare ourselves to overcome potential obstacles and ensures that we successfully complete the course of achieving the MDGs by 2015, thus addressing the uneven progress on the MDGs among the regions of the country and the concern on the adequacy of financing to meet the MDGs both remain high in our agenda.”
DOJ’s Task Force 211 ‘quick reaction team’ an asset in resolving media-related killings
THE Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Task Force 211’s success rate in resolving media-related killings or violence can be attributed to the unit’s “quick reaction team” composed of highly trained investigators, forensic and prosecutors.
Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor in an interview said Task Force 211’s “quick reaction team” is staffed by experts agents culled from the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The team is presently headed by DOJ assistance secretary Ian Norman Dato.
Blancaflor said such expert unit is immediately dispatched to the field or area where the media-related violence transpired.
Blancaflor added the quick action of this unit is the reason why two witnesses in the brutal-slaying of DXMD-RMN program director Dennis Cuesta in Gen. Santos, South Cotabato last August 4 in now in government custody.
The witnesses were identified as Bob Flores and Lance Boy Escala.
Blancaflor said the two positively identified Chief/Insp. Redonto Boy Acheron as one of the gunmen who ambushed who broadcaster last August.
Acheron is detailed at the Philippine National Police (PNP) office in Gen. Santos and a nephew of its incumbent mayor, Pedro Acheron Jr.,(PNA)
Surigao Norte officials pass resolution as counter-measure vs travel advisories
GENERAL LUNA, SIARGAO ISLAND (September 21) – Officials of the provincial government of Surigao del Norte pass resolution asking foreign embassies to be specific in issuing travel advisories in Mindanao.
This was learned from Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Melva Garcia during the press conference of the 14th Siargao International Surfing Cup held on Saturday (September 20) at Cabuntog Resort here.
According to SP member Garcia, foreign embassies should specify what place in Mindanao a travel advisory must be issued because not all places in Mindanao are in conflict.
This was supported by Department of Tourism (DOT)-Caraga Regional Director Leticia Tan saying it’s unfair for those peaceful places in Mindanao to be included in the travel advisory since the advisory is general, and this will affect the tourism industry of those regions.
“Say for example here in our region where Caraga is very peaceful in general, but because of these travel advisories, foreigners will have second thoughts of coming to our region”, Dir. Tan said.
When asked of the status of the number of tourists visiting Caraga region, Dir. Tan said the travel advisories issued by some foreign embassies do not affect the influx of tourists visiting Caraga, especially at present where the 14th Siargao International Surfing Cup is staged in this town and will run until Friday (Sept. 26).
Meanwhile, Dir. Cynthia Lazo of the Sports and Wellness Division of DOT Central Office stressed that the conduct of the international surfing cup and other sports tourisms is a big help in elevating the tourism industry of the country.
The annual Siargao International Surfing Cup will culminate on Friday (Sept. 26) with the awarding of winners, highlighting the event. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-13)
DOT: Travel advisories cannot hinder 2008 Billabong Surfing Cup’s success
GEN. LUNA, SIARGAO ISLAND (September 21) - The recent events happening in Lanao del Sur which led to the issuance of travel advisories by some countries did not really affect the tourist arrivals in Siargao.
This is the joint statements of officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Local Government of Surigao del Norte, and LGU-Gen. Luna in a press conference held yesterday (Sept.20) at Cabuntog Resort, this town.
DOT Caraga Regional Director Leticia Tan said statistics showed that at present, tourist arrivals in Caraga Region are increasing. “We’re not affected by travel advisories because it dictates that our incoming visitors are still increasing so let us not be affected by the travel advisories,” she said.
Likewise, Dir. Tan thanked the members of the media for helping the government in promoting the region as one of the tourist destinations in the Philippines. “With these people here advertising Gen. Luna, Siargao and entire Caraga Region, there is no reason for us to be afraid of travel advisories,” Tan said.
Meanwhile, DOT Sports and Wellness Director Cynthia Lazo believed that as a whole it (travel advisory) does not affect much with the tourism industry of the country.
On the other hand, Surigao del Norte Board Member Melva Garcia for her part as the chair of committee on Tourism of the province bared the passage of a resolution addressed to different embassies requesting them in case they will issue travel advisory in Mindanao, but they should specify which part in Mindanao they’re going to let their tourist not to go.
“So when it comes to Surigao we are a very peaceful province so they should not include Surigao del Norte for that matter as part of the whole,” Garcia noted.
Gen. Luna Mayor Felipe Espejon also conveyed Garcia’s request to the different embassies regarding travel advisories and was convinced that there’s an increase of tourist arrivals in his town. (Fryan E. Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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