PIA Dispatch - Monday, July 6, 2009

PGMA to bring RP cause to NAM Summit

MANILA, July 6 - President Gloria-Macapagal-Arroyo Arroyo will join hands with 117 other heads of state during the 15th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Egypt to strengthen regional and global cooperation on various political, economic and social issues affecting developing countries like the Philippines.

In a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the President is scheduled to attend the 15th NAM summit on July 15 and 16 in Sharm El Sheikh.

Fajardo said the opening ceremonies of the 15th NAM summit will be held in the morning of July 15 while debate sessions will be held in the afternoon.

On July 16, Fajardo said the NAM leaders will hold a general assembly and bilateral talks before the closing of the 15th NAM summit at 5 p.m.

For sure, Fajardo said the President will maximize and capitalize on the opportunities during the 15th NAM summit.

Egypt is one of the founding countries of NAM which also hosted the second summit in Cairo in 1964.

The NAM, whose membership counts 118 heads of State, make up nearly two-thirds of the members of the United Nations (UN), making it an important forum for developing countries to work out a coordinated stance on various political, economic, and social issues on the international agenda.

The visit to Egypt is part of the President’s international commitment to seek better relationships and give a stronger voice for developing countries to promote their socio-economic and political growth.

As the leading voice of developing countries, the President has been at the forefront in combating domestic and regional terrorism, promoting interfaith dialogue to attain durable peace, including stronger cooperation against poverty to advance peace and development in the region.

In recent years, NAM has elevated the interests of developing countries in its struggles for self-determination, the pursuit of world peace and the search for a more equitable and just global order.

These include proposals for a more balanced global growth through constructive and realistic positions that are approved by its members.

The 15th NAM summit will be also attended by around 22 observers and guest states.

Held every three years, the last NAM summit was held in September 2006 in Havana, Cuba.

Egypt will remain as chairman of the movement until 2012.


AFP blames it on MILF 56 bombings in Central Mindanao

MANILA, July 6 - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said a total of 56 bombings were perpetrated by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) since January this year in Central Mindanao.

The figure includes last Sunday's attack near the Cotabato City Cathedral that left five people, including a government militiaman, dead and at least 55 others injured, said AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines strongly condemns the series of bombings perpetrated by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front which killed five and wounded 55 people on July 6 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral which are obviously terroristic attacks and diversionary tactics," said Brawner.

Brawner said that from January 1, 2009 up to date, a total of 56 Lawless MILF-SOG signature bombs exploded within Central Mindanao area; 28 of them targeted civilians, 23 targeted the military and 5 targeted vital installations. In spite of this, the military was able to recover 18 unexploded Lawless MILF-SOG signature bombs, nine of them targeted civilians, eight targeted military and one targeted a power line.

"Initial investigation shows that the make up of the bomb that recently exploded in Cotabato City is also similar to the signature of the lawless MILF-SOG," said Brawner.

Brawner said "these acts are completely unacceptable and the AFP will make sure that the perpetrators will be arrested and brought to justice."

"Since the bombing attacks started, the AFP has increased its security measures and has deployed more troops in these urbanized areas. Checkpoints were also put up to make sure that the civilians are safe from these terrorists," said Brawner.

"Terrorism has already claimed so many lives and affected our progress. If we do not put an end to this now, more lives would be lost," he added.

Brawner said the military is appealing for public cooperation to, once and for all, put an end to these bombings.

"The AFP is calling out on our people to cooperate. We need the help of all sectors, our local government agencies and units and all citizens in general to help us win this war against terrorism," he said.

"We ask our citizens to be doubly alert and vigilant against these threats. In case they find something suspicious, they must immediately report to the police and, of course, to the AFP, through calling or texting these numbers: 0917-5153333 or 0908-7863333," he added.


Despite Cotabato blast, Palace upbeat on MILF talks

Malacanang remains optimistic that the stalled peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume despite the alleged involvement of MILF renegade members in the recent Cotabato City bombing that killed at least five innocent civilians.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said in a press briefing in Malacanang that ending the decades-long hostilities in Mindanao is part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 10-point legacy agenda.

Although she did not deny that the explosion in Cotabato City may cause a delay, she expressed confidence that the stalled talks will be completed before the President steps down next year.

On Sunday, the President instructed Secretary Jesus Dureza to lead all concerned agencies in the distribution of assistance to the victims of explosion.

Fajardo said that in compliance with the President’s directives, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed food and medical assistance to the victims while the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) gave P10,000 each as financial assistance to the families of the victims and P5,000 each for the injured individuals.


DOH requests more funds to fight A(H1N1) flu in RP

MANILA, July 6 - The Department of Health (DOH) has requested additional funds for its campaign against A(H1N1) influenza following the continuous increase of infected cases, an official said Monday.

Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, a medical specialist of the DOH-National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said in a radio interview that they have requested over P19-million worth of funds as the cases continue to increase.

Leesuy said this will also be used in preparation for a possible "second wave" of the virus with the reported presence of a stronger virus strain abroad.

He said the government and health authorities must prepare for the possibility that the virus may become more virulent.

The additional funds will be used for swabbing kits and for buying the anti-viral Oseltamivir or Tamiflu. Some of the funds will also be used to equip other hospitals and laboratories nationwide with testing capabilities to help speed up specimen analysis for possible cases of influenza A(H1N1) virus.

The DOH is ensuring that all government hospitals, both at the national and local government levels have the capacity to administer care to high-risk patients where the severe manifestations of the A(H1N1) virus are frequently seen.

In a separate interview, DoH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that it is too early to declare the present A(H1N1) virus in the country as a seasonal flu after health authorities claimed it to be mild in nature.

Although it is mild in nature, we should under estimate the possibility that a second wave will happen or a more serious virus will emerge after this, Duque said.

Earlier, Duque said the DoH will train more health-service personnel as part of its mitigation strategy against the virus.

He said more health personnel are needed to handle more confirmed cases in the coming months.

The DOH reported that the toll of A(H1N1) cases in the country as of July 1 is 1,709.

Duque also bared on-going preparations for a possible second wave which he said would likely bring a stronger and more virulent strain from abroad.

With the ongoing threat, he reiterated his advise to the public to take preventive measures like strengthening a person’s immune system and following simple coughing and sneezing manners.

As of June 29, the World Health Organization said there are a total 70,893 A(H1N1) cases with 311 deaths from 109 reporting countries.