P279M proposed for
peace projects
WITH NEAR CLOSURE OF RPA PACT
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process yesterday proposed a P279.16 million budget for livelihood and development programs for conflict-affected communities identified by the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas, Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (Tabara-Paduano Group).

The closure of the peace agreement between the rebel group and the government is targeted to be signed by President Benigno Aquino III before his State of the Nation Address on July 23.

As a requirement for the signing of the peace agreement, the Provincial Peace and Order Council of Negros Occidental, chaired by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., yesterday passed a resolution supporting the closure of the peace agreement, which is geared towards the RPM-P-RPA-ABB’s disposition of firearms and forces, in a meeting at the Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.

The Negros Occidental provincial government has released P638,000 in livelihood and financial assistance to 67 rebel returnees, who have surrendered to the military and renounced the armed struggle in Negros Occidental, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

This developed as 12 more ex-rebels, who were presented yesterday by Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, to Marañon, also availed of P76,000 in livelihood and financial assistance, in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.

Marañon lauded the decision of the 12 former rebels to live normal lives with their families, stressing that the solution to poverty is not through the use of violence and arms. “If you have any problem, do not hesitate to relay them to us, as we will be happy to help you,” he stressed.

Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Negros Occidental Provincial Health Officer, yesterday said health workers in the province have been instructed to remain vigilant for possible cases of the deadly Enterovirus-71 (EV-71), which has claimed the lives of at least 60 children in Cambodia since April this year.

They have also been instructed to report any suspected cases of EV-71, he said.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona has instructed the Department of Health National Epidemiology Center to include EV-71 infection as a notifiable disease in the country. This will compel all health providers, especially physicians, to report individual cases or even outbreaks to the DOH, he said.