|
SENATORS
on Monday pushed for quicker delivery of basic public
services as the key to peace in strife-torn Basilan and
Sulu provinces.
Sen.
Richard Gordon, concurrent national Red Cross chairman,
said the peace and order situation in Mindanao can be
immediately improved “if peacekeeping efforts are
matched by vigorous action to build up the physical,
social and legal infrastructure in the region.”
This
developed as Sen. Gregorio Honasan backed Speaker Jose
de Venecia Jr.’s “mini-Marshall Plan” for Mindanao,
saying the decades-old armed conflict there could only
be effectively resolved through a comprehensive peace
package that would deliver massive infrastructure,
livelihood and business development in the South.
In a
press conference, Honasan said the raging battle between
the armed forces and Moro rebels in Mindanao was the
same experience he and his father, also a former
soldier, experienced over 30 years ago.
“Only
the dates and the personalities have changed but the
situation that brought about the conflict is still the
same. Bakit walang pinagbago [How come there’s
been no change]?” he asked.
Honasan
suggested that the government implement “a comprehensive
package of development funded by local and foreign
sources.”
According to Gordon, who just came back from a visit to
Sulu, the situation there is “stable and under control”
despite reports reaching Manila of an increasing number
of casualties from the raging firefights between
government troops and Moro rebels.
“The
no-guns policy is being enforced and it is welcomed by
the populace,” Gordon said, adding that “normal business
and social life prevails.”
But, in
a report to the President, he said that “the people
there are complaining about the poor provision of basic
services like schools, water and roads, the payment of
salaries to teachers and support for economic
activities.” |
