Major General Darryll Wong, Adjutant General of Hawaii and former Director of the State Civil Defense of the United States officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony of the national SMC-Petron Bacolod Disaster Preparedness Relief Center in Bacolod City yesterday.

Wong, who was the guest of honor, said the state of Hawaii hopes to partner with Bacolod as far as disaster preparedness is concerned after the center has been built.

He said that with the center, Bacolod and Negros will be prepared to respond to calamities immediately so disaster can be prevented and lives and properties are saved.

Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Risk Reduction Management Council, said that the launching of the center is timely especially that the country is celebrating the disaster preparedness month in July.

He said it will benefit not only the people of Bacolod but also the residents of Negros Oriental and Occidental and even of the neighboring provinces.

Chief Supt. Gil Hitosis, head Directorate for Police Community Relations of Camp crame said that PNP is conducting different response drills to raise awareness among the public and policemen can also train at the center.

Also present was AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Raymuno Mapagu.

Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez said the center, which is worth P6 to P8 million will be completed within eight months and is expected to provide support to different local government units in case of disasters and other emergencies.

Golez said that the staff of the center will also provide trainings for emergency response, relief assistance, paramedic services, and other logical requirements necessary in disaster preparedness.

SCARBOROUGH PROBLEM

Meanwhile, Mapagu said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is dealing with the problem of the Scarborough shoal, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits, in a way that will not escalate the tension.

“We should be relaxed and cool in addressing the problem through a diplomatic solution,” Mapagu, also said.

Mapagu and Ramos, who visited the joint RP-US Balikatan exercises in Palawan Monday and met with Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., said there should be no agitation, as it may only escalate the tension.

Tensions flared on April 10 at the Scarborough shoal, which is located off Zambales province, after two Chinese maritime surveillance ships blocked a Philippine warship from arresting Chinese fishermen, who were engaged in poaching activities.

BALIKATAN

Mapagu maintained that the joint Balikatan exercises, which is a traditional annual activity of both and AFP and US forces, has nothing to do with the Scarborough shoal impasse. It just happened that it took place at about the same time, he stressed.

The Communist Party of the Philippines, however, lambasted the Aquino and US governments for provoking conflicts in the South China Sea for the past two years by conducting naval maneuvers and power projection operations right next to the disputed areas and increasing US military presence in the Philippines.

“The naval exercises and maneuvers by the US military in the previous months and presently under the Balikatan series have everything to do with the brewing conflicts over the sovereignty claims regarding the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal”, the CPP, claimed in a statement, it issued.

While it is a matter of principle for the Filipino people to assert national sovereignty and territorial integrity over the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal, the CPP also said that it is a matter of principle for the Filipino people to demand a peaceful resolution of the conflicting claims through diplomatic negotiations on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit.* GPB/APN

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