Day: May 22, 2023

The Marcos administration is determined to build on the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process by sustaining its momentum and pushing forward with the implementation of all signed peace agreements. This was emphasized by acting Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Isidro Purisima to participants of the Mindanao Development Forum 2023 spearheaded by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) on May 18. In a statement Sunday, Purisima stressed that peace and development ‘must always go hand in hand’ and should be pursued with the ‘same level of intensity and vigor” in his talk to representatives of national line agencies, official development assistance (ODA) community and diplomatic corps. He noted that the dividends of peace are now being felt across the island-region, as evidenced by the decreasing poverty rates in the Bangsamoro and the decision of former rebels to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law, among others. ‘This is the reason why the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is employing cross-cutting strategies to implement an integrated, transparent, people-centered, and human rights-based peace and security policy,’ Purisima said. He also added that all of OPAPRU’s peacebuilding interventions, particularly in conflict-vulnerable and conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, are dovetailed to the current administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023 – 2028. In the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace process, he said the agency is focused on ensuring that former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants are able to successfully reintegrate into mainstream society. ‘The meaningful transformation of combatants, their families and communities, lies in its community-driven approach,’ Purisima said. He also added that ‘all members of the community, particularly local government units and residents are part of the peacebuilding process.’ Under the normalization track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the third phase of decommissioning of MILF members will resume this year, as decommissioned combatants and their families are now being provided with socioeconomic assistance. Purisima said OPAPRU, through the Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities is also transforming six government-acknowledged MILF camps and 33 core barangays in the region into zones of peace and development. To promote healing and reconciliation in the Bangsamoro, he said the OPAPRU is also focused on completing the national government’s remaining commitments under the Final Peace Agreement it had signed with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). He said the agency is set to roll out a transformation program for MNLF members and their families this year, which aims to capacitate them to become peaceful and productive members of society and actively involve them in the region’s socioeconomic development. ‘With the reunification of the MILF and MNLF under the Marcos Administration’s banner of unity, we are confident that we shall continue to achieve more milestones under the Bangsamoro peace process,’ Purisima said. In line with its efforts to fulfill the commitments it had made under peace agreements, he said the OPAPRU is also implementing a similar Transformation Program for KAPATIRAN and Cordillera Bodong Administration – Cordillera People’s Liberation Army members. Under the CAB’s political track, Purisima said the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization has been reconvened under the Marcos administration to coordinate and mobilize the resources of the national government to effectively implement the Normalization Program. He also reported that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), which is under the leadership of its chairperson, lawyer Leah Tanodra-Armamento, are now being reviewed by the Office of the President. ‘Once the NAC’s IRR is finalized, it can already carry out its mandate of accepting and processing the amnesty applications of former (FRs) rebels through the Local Amnesty Board, and determine their eligibility under Proclamation Nos. 1090 and 1091,’ Purisima pointed out.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting to expand the protected bike lanes network to 2,400 kilometers by 2028. To date, 564 kilometers of this network have been established so far in Metro Cebu, Metro Manila and Metro Davao. The agency made the announcement as it celebrates Road Safety Month which aims to promote road safety and raise awareness on the health impact and economic costs involved. “As we rethink mobility and shift our focus on the most vulnerable road users, the call for responsibility and accountability on the road is further reiterated,” the DOTr said. “Everyone is also enjoined that all road users, particularly those who are most at risk, deserve uncompromised safety on the road.” The protected bike lanes is under DOTr’s active transport program — one of the agency’s flagship programs — that is in accordance with the National Transport Policy and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. The use of protected bike lanes was implemented at the height of the pandemic in 2021, when there was limited mobility due to the pandemic restrictions. The bike lane network augmented public transportation and helped people safely get to work during the pandemic. Based on a 2020 survey from Social Weather Stations and Department of Health, 87 percent of Filipinos agree that roads in cities and municipalities will be better if public transportation, bikes, and pedestrians are prioritized over private vehicles.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Most parts of the country will continue to experience rain showers due to the southwesterly windflow and localized thunderstorms, the weather bureau said Monday. The southwesterly windflow will cause scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Palawan, Occidental Mindoro and Antique. These areas may experience flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. “Other parts of the country will have warm weather with high chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” Obet Badrina of PAGASA said, adding that the rain showers are likely in the afternoon or evening. Flash floods or landslides are possible during severe thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas also continue to prevail across the archipelago. Meanwhile, the typhoon with international name Mawar was last tracked 2,230 kilometers east of Mindanao, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Badrina said Mawar has no direct effect on the country yet, and is expected to enter PAR on Friday. Once inside, it will be given the local name Betty and is forecast to enhance the southwest monsoon, he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Local officials and residents in the province of Ilocos Norte woke up early on Monday to welcome the arrival of Cebu Pacific’s flight 5J 404 from Manila to Laoag with over a hundred passengers aboard. With the low-cost airline’s resumption of flights to this city, after it stopped operations in January 2017, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos said in her speech during the relaunching at the Laoag International Airport that everybody is excited about the budget carrier’s promotional fares and expansion of fleets now reaching a total of 35 routes with Laoag as the latest so far this May. ‘Laoag plays a crucial role in preserving the country’s rich history and culture, and Cebu Pacific is excited to finally be able to bring more Juans to this beautiful city,’ said Michael Ivan S. Shau, chief corporate affairs officer of Cebu Pacific in a media interview. Shau hopes that the relaunching of the Manila-Laoag daily flight will encourage more people to travel and experience the best of Ilocos Region. Laoag serves as the jump-off point for travelers who wanted to go to major tourist destinations such as Pagudpud and Paoay, including Vigan City in neighboring Ilocos Sur province. The Manila to Laoag flight only takes about an hour of travel compared to the minimum of nine hours when taken by bus. Cebu Pacific expressed commitment to expand its flight frequency and route availability here and abroad to capture the growing demand for air travel. After a year of persuading Cebu Pacific to resume its Laoag operation, Perry Martinez, general manager of the Metro Ilocos Norte Council under the Ilocos Norte government, said they are happy that more options are now available. For the comfort of air passengers arriving at the Laoag airport early, Martinez said they have facilitated the operation of a taxi and a shuttle service to connect passengers to the city proper. This year, the government plans to spend PHP2.49 billion for the upgrade of at least five airports, including Laoag International Airport, allowing Laoag to facilitate the entry of additional airlines in its gateway.

Source: Philippines News Agency