Chiz joins calls for transparency in MILF peace talks

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 18 (PIA) -- Senator Francis Escudero has urged the government peace panel to ensure that all stakeholders are consulted before it presents a counter-proposal to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) call for the creation a sub-state in Mindanao.

Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said government negotiators should get the input of every stakeholder to avoid the pitfalls when the past administration forged the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) with the MILF. The pact was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

"The road to peace in Mindanao is a delicate issue. Our peace panel should find the right approach which does not isolate anyone. The direct participation of local and religious leaders, representatives of tribes and clans should be solicited. Inclusivity should be one of the major bases for the talk,” Escudero said.

The government peace panel said it will present its counter-proposal to the MILF when peace talks resume on August 22 in Kuala Lumpur, and major stakeholders from different areas in Mindanao have asked the government to be transparent in its dealings with the Muslim rebels.

“I join the call for transparency. I am hopeful that our panel will lay down on the table what their counter-proposal is. The President has been very clear about his instructions to the panel and that is to come up with a proposal that will be presented to the people,” the senator said.

In an informal briefing at Camp Crame last week, President Benigno Aquino III said that while the prospects for a long-lasting solution to the peace problem in Mindanao is simmering, it will probably need a congressional nod to establish a sub-state being espoused by the MILF in the region.

The Chief Executive made it clear that the MILF proposal would require consultations with all the stakeholders because “this is not just a Muslim problem.”

“The quest for peace settlement in Mindanao is a dream shared by every one of us. There ought to be a road map that is based on merits, inclusivity and constitutionality. We should learn from history, let us not keep on repeating the mistakes of the past,” the senator explained. (MAL/Office of Sen. Escudero)

First Cancer center in Bicol opens today

By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 18 (PIA) -- Bicolano cancer patients need not go to Manila for further diagnosis and treatment for their life threatening disease with the opening today of the Bicol’s only cancer center and breast care unit at the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) in this city.

The Bicol Cancer Center was a brain child of Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay, in partnership with the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City, the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc. ((PFBCI), and the BRTTH that came into fruition in just two years time.

Salceda during his short talk has committed that the provincial government will purchase mammography and chemotherapy equipment during the first quarter of 2012 and optimistic that he can source out funding for the purchase of the more costly radio therapy equipment to treat patient at a very much lower cost than chemotherapy.

He said the Bicol Cancer Center will provide a holistic management from diagnostic to state of the art treatment for the less fortunate Bicolano patients who do not have to go to Manila for their treatment.

Salceda commended Dr. Rogelio G. Rivera, medical director of BRTTH in being able to fast track the realization of the establishment of the center in a very short time and maintaining a strong linkage with its partners the EAMC and the PFBCI.

On the other hand Dr. Roland Cortez, medical director of EAMC, said that they are fully committed in providing the necessary assistance to the center to make it a truly effective cancer treatment hub in Bicol.(MAL/EDL, PIA V)

Ariman Junction-Bulusan Lake Road concreting to boost eco tourism

by Harry Deri

SORSOGON CITY, Aug. 18 (PIA) -- The completion of the two road sections of the national secondary road connecting Barangays Tagdon and Macabari in Barcelona town of the second congressional district of Sorsogon is expected to boost economic and tourism circuit of the province, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Sorsogon II District engineer Juanito Alamar said the completed secondary road, with approximately 903.00m in length, connects the main highway of the two barangays.

With an allocation of P20 million, said infrastructure project implemented has two road components, with the first section at km 610+499.55 – km 610+920.80 in Brgy. Tagdon while the other section is at km614+277 – km 614+758.63 in Barangay Macabari.

Said road leads to the famous Bulusan Lake Natural Park, a tourist hub, which also connects the primary access route to the Municipalities of Barcelona, Bulusan and Irosin, all of these towns were rich with historical and tourist attractions.

Likewise, the transportation of agricultural produce for trade and market delivery of social services to the basic sector will now be safer and faster. (MAL/HD, DPWH/BAR)

LGUs support greening program

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Aug. 18 (PIA)-- Local Government Units (LGU) and other agencies led by Governor Joseph C. Cua committed to support the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP).

The program specifically seeks to plant 1.5 billion seedlings in 1.5 million hectares of public lands nationwide in six years, from 2011 to 2016—more than twice the government’s accomplishment for the past 25 years, which adds to about 730,000 hectares.

The NGP also seeks to improve water quality in rivers and irrigation for farm lands, reduce the potential for flooding, soak up carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and lay the foundation for an expanded wood-products economy.

Gov. Cua said that said commitment that targets should be done to establish balance between environment and economic advancement. He also promised to assist LGU and agencies in the said endeavor.

On the other hand, Cong. Sarmiento expressed confidence that the nation and its people would be able to achieve the goal. It can be noted that Sarmiento has implemented almost the same project in the province dubbed as Go For Three Program.

NGP was issued by President Benigno S Aquino III under Executive Order (EO) 26, declaring the implementation of the National Greening Program as a government priority program to reduce poverty, promote food security, environmental stability and biodiversity conservation, and enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

Fight against rabies continues

by Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Aug. 18 (PIA) -- Members of the Rabies Regional Task Force convened on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at the Regent Hotel here, assessing rabies situation in the region and deliberating on the Rabies Prevention and Control Program in Bicol

The 2-day event also endeavors to come up with effective measures to reduce the incidence of rabies in human and control the transmission of virus in canine.

Dr. Rona P. Bernales, Regional Animal Health coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA) V said specific target that the task force needs to accomplish is come up with an action plan geared towards the eradication of rabies in the region for 2011-2012.

“The fight to obliterate rabies in the region has been going on for quite sometime, yet we seem to be still far off from its realization. Through this gathering, we want to exert every possible means to fulfill this long time aspiration and come up with concrete plans through the help of our partner agencies,” Bernales said in an interview.

Among the provinces in the region, Albay had the most number of rabies cases.

According to Dr. Alan Lucañas, head of Infectious Disease Cluster, from January to August 15, 2011, Albay has already recorded a total of 17 cases of rabies. Camarines Sur comes next with three (3) cases coming from Barangay Laganac in Balatan, Barangay Vinagre in Tigaon and another case from Barangay Masoli, town of Bato .

The province of Camarines Norte has also three cases, Masbate and Sorsogon both with two (2) cases and the province of Catanduanes with zero or no recorded case of rabies.

In combating the emergence of rabies Dr. Lucañas also made mention of two of the most significant initiatives that the Department of Health has implemented.

“We are proud that we have already initiated some initiatives, including the integration of rabies lectures in our curriculum thru the Department of Education and the initiative to include tandoks in our fight against rabies,” Lucañas said in his report.

On the last day of the assessment, the task force will collate all the reports coming from various agencies and will map out plans for total rabies eradication by 2012. (MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)