Climate change briefing, infra projects await PGMA visit to Lubao and Mexico
|
| |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit Lubao and Mexico in Pampanga tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 25) to
preside over a climate change and solid waste management briefing and inspect infrastructure development
projects that would provide additional livelihood opportunities in the countryside.
After the briefing at Prado Saba Elementary School in Barangay Sto. Niño, the President will launch the
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) “Common Tao Day,” where ordinary citizens spend an
extraordinary day with the country’s chief executive.
During the celebration, the Office of the President (OP) through the PCSO will provide medical, dental, and
optical services to beneficiaries. She will also join the beneficiaries for lunch.
She will inspect the Kalayaan Barangay School Building constructed by the 355th Philippine Air Force Aviation
Engineering Wing for San Matias Elementary School in Barangay San Matias.
From Lubao, the President will proceed to Mexico to inaugurate a newly constructed material recovery facility
(MRF) building and turn over MRF equipment under the “Unlad Saka Mula sa Basura” project to Barangay
Suclaban officials.
The project is a tripartite program supported by BUTIL Party List Rep. Agapito Guanlao under Republic Act 9003
or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
R.A. 9003 adopts a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that would
ensure the protection of public health and environment.
It aims to: 1) address the need for increased income and better quality of life for farmers, primarily by increasing
farm yields through organic fertilizers; 2) promote environmentally-sound solid waste management practices
and technologies; and 3) promote partnership with farmers groups, local governments and the larger community
|
| |
National interest foremost in VFA review – Adan
|
| |
National interest is the top consideration in the continuing review of the Visiting Forces Agreement, according to
Edilberto Adan, executive director of the Visiting Forces Agreement Commission (VFACOM).
The VFA review, according to Adan in a media briefing in Malacanang, is necessary to ensure respect for
Philippine laws and traditions. It is meant, he said, to assess the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty with the
United States.
“The VFA activities that have been conducted over the years serve the national interest. There might be certain
procedures or guidelines that need to be refined and we, at the commission level, are constantly looking into
that. This is the internal review that is continuously done by the commission,” Adan said.
Adan said the commission respects the views of the Senate which wants to amend the VFA or even abrogate it
altogether .
However, Adan added, the government must also consider the stand of local chief executives, from mayors to
governors, who have expressed support through council and board resolutions to the joint defense exercises.
“In fact, even the League of Governors of the Philippines has expressed its support to this joint exercises with
the US and the support of the US to the Philippines because the arrangement helps improve the quality of life in
their communities and upgrade the capability of our Armed Forces,” he said.
For his part, Assistant Secretary Eduardo Malaya pointed out that from 1999 to 2009, US military and defense
assistance amounted to $429 million.
In 1995, Adan said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND)
launched a 15-year modernization program to improve our capabilities after the US bases left in 1992.
“We have a mutual defense treaty with the US, our only security alliance with any nation. And that treaty obliges
us to maintain our joint capability to be able to work together fight together if necessary,” Adan said.
With or without the VFA, Adan said there is a mutual obligation for both nations to work together and train
together to increase military cooperation and enhance security relations between the two countries.
Adan said the joint undertaking is crucial in the preserving stability in the region including the fight against
terrorism particularly after intelligence reports has established that the Abu Sayyaf has links with the Jemaah
Islamiyah and the al-Qaeda terrorist groups.
|
| |
|
