Government declares ceasefire with communist rebels
In the spirit of the Christmas season, the government declared today an 18-day suspension of military operations (SOMO) against communist rebels, the longest ceasefire period in the last 10 years.
In a press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, government peace panel chair Alexander Padilla said the ceasefire will take effect Dec. 16 and ends midnight of January 3 next year.
Padilla said that on Dec. 1 and 2, the peace panel which he heads together with Atty. Pablito Sanidad met with National Democratic Front (NDF) panel chair Luis Jalandoni, Coni Ledesma and their lawyers in Hongkong.
It was the first round of informal meetings between the two sides under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III. Without any pre-set agenda, discussions on matters of mutual concern and interest were taken up. “The talks were open, friendly, free-wheeling and eventually, meaningful,” Padilla said.
As part of confidence building measures, Padilla revealed that Jalandoni is scheduled to arrive in Manila Saturday after receiving the copy of a Department of Justice order lifting the hold departure order (HDO) against him.
Padilla said the cancellation of HDO against Jalandoni is among the government’s initiatives for the resumption of talks with the communist rebels.
Both parties, according to him, have agreed to another round of informal talks that will be conducted in the second week of January. The resumption of formal negotiations is scheduled in the third week of February next year.
“In this regard, the government deeply appreciates and conveys its thank to the Third Party Facilitator, the Royal Norwegian Government, for its support and willingness to host the above talks in Oslo, Norway under their auspices,” Padilla said.
Padilla said the GRP panel was instructed by the President to remain focused in pursuing the path to peace towards a just and honorable settlement of the decade-old conflict.
“We are hopeful that each and every Filipino shares the vision of the current government in fostering the unity of our people through peace,” he added. (PCOO)
Early resumption of talks with MILF seen
Member countries of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao have expressed interest in extending the tour of duties of their personnel in Mindanao which could pave the way for the early resumption of formal talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In a media briefing in Malacanang on Friday, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles said the government have requested IMT country-members to extend the tour of duties of their respective contingents for three months starting Dec. 9 this year.
Deles said the government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), sent official information to the embassies of Brunei, Libya, Japan and Malaysia, the third party facilitator in the talks.
“Today, we have spoken to the embassies of Brunei and Japan both of whom have said that they are not withdrawing and they positively responded to our request,” she said.
Deles said the government also received a letter from the Malaysian head of the IMT requesting assistance to keep the IMT on the ground.
“So we are very positive, we are very confident at this point that even Malaysia will agree,” she said.
Deles expressed hope the move would be supported by the MILF central committee to further create a conducive environment for the early resumption of talks to finally bring in peace and development in Mindanao.
The Malaysian-led IMT has been monitoring the ceasefire, socio-economic and humanitarian agreements between the government and the MILF since 2004.
The IMT’s one-year mandate is to expire under the Terms of Reference signed by both parties in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 9, 2009. (PCOO)
Aquino says volunteerism can help government in energizing remote areas
GERONA, Tarlac: President Benigno S. Aquino III hailed the volunteerism spirit of the electric cooperatives that worked to restore electricity in typhoon Juan-ravaged provinces of Northern Luzon last October saying volunteerism will help government complete its goal of energizing the remote areas of the country.
In an extemporaneous speech during the recognition of Task Force Kapatid-Typhoon Juan at the Tarlac Electric Cooperative Inc. auditorium, the President paid tribute to the volunteers who were able to restore electrical connection within one week and I salute you for this.”
The President said the Department of Energy has allotted P1.4 billion under the General Appropriations Act of 2011 to energize the remaining parts of the country, especially the remote areas that private sector distributors can’t reach.
He said while he was in the Senate he could not understand how the previous administration could claim having energized 99 percent of the country but continues to ask for budgets for the national electrification program.
“I told myself that if they were able to energize 99 percent then that leaves me with one percent to finish. But I found out that in one barangay, even if only two or three homes or sitios were given electricity, they claim complete energization. That is why it could claim 99 percent accomplishment,” the President said.
Without electricity, how would the fishermen prolong the shelf life of their products with cold storage?. How can the housewives watch the teleserye they love to view while resting for the day? And how can the students study their lessons, the President asked.
He said Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras informed him that actual energization of the country has reached 61 percent and we need more investments to be able to complete electrifying the country by the time my term is completed.
The President said it would take until 2020 to fully energize the country, especially the remote areas that can’t be covered by existing national grids.
He said the previous administration left him with a deficit of P325 million but because of the belt tightening measures he put in place, we now have a surplus.
The Chief Executive enumerated the numerous investments generated from his foreign travels in the United States ($2.4 billion with 43,000 jobs to be generated), the $2.8 billion firm commitments from Japan plus another $2.6 billion which require a few more documentation to be able to enter the country.
In addition, he said, Procter & Gamble is expanding its Cabuyao plant by P2.4 billion. Nestle he added is also pouring in P4.5 billion for expansion of its Cabuyao plant aside from requiring more coffee beans from local farmers.
The President said the Japanese government recently granted the Philippines loans of P21 billion to fund its road upgrading and maintenance programs. The President lamented that the main artery, EDSA “saw better days when it was still Highway 54 than now.”
The President decried that many of his critics, “those clinging to their old ways, would do everything to thwart our road to progress. In which case, I think I need to expand the New Bilibid Prison to charge and house all of these wrongdoers,” he added.
He thanked the awardees, who came from the electric cooperatives organized by the National Electrification Administration, for “taking their pledge of commitment to support his administration for change.” The awardees took their oaths after a video presentation that showed the extent of work they volunteered for and for which the private electric coops shouldered the cost of rehabilitation destroyed lines, poles and generators.
The volunteers, mostly linemen, accompanied their respective coop presidents and general managers in accepting the plaques of recognition from the President, Secretary Almendras and NEA Administrator Edita S. Bueno. (PCOO)
Aquino cites government’s constitutional mandate on family
GERONA, Tarlac--- President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday said the government is mandated to push for responsible parenthood, protect the family, ensure that all children get the proper education and health care and the total well-being of the Filipino.
The President was reacting to reports that some members of Congress would file impeachment charges against him should he continue pushing for the Reproductive Health Bill.
The RH bill has to be approved by Congress before it reaches the Senate and “I don’t recall that pushing for responsible parenthood is an impeachable offense,” the President said in an interview after awarding the volunteer electric cooperatives that restored electric power in Northern Luzon provinces that were badly hit by storm Juan last October.
He said that as it is, 40 percent of Filipinos could not even avail of the services of healthcare professionals with the current large population. “The government is tasked to provide solutions to health care, education and other problems besetting the country,” he added. (PCOO)
