ACLC College Gensan

Monday, August 30

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The secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it would form a peace panel as soon as the government completes its lineup of peace negotiators.

“As soon as the government completes its panel, we can come out very shortly with our own panel...As soon as the government completes their line-up, we can come up very shortly with our line-up," said Mohagher Iqbal, the chair of the MILF committee on information.

Iqbal, who previously chaired the MILF panel, said their organization is considering people for the position of chief negotiator.

“We have a shortlist but I not yet privileged to disclose it," Iqbal said.

Both the MILF and the government have disbanded its peace panel at the later part of the administration of President Arroyo. The new administration has named those who will compose its panel, except for one member.

Iqbal said “at this point in time, the MILF thinks that the government should be the one who should put into place its peace panel."

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said in his first State of the Nation Address in July that he is hoping that the peace talks with the MILF would resume after the month-long Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting that began on August 9 and will end on September 11.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews) – Close to a thousand tuna industry workers in this city who had lost their jobs due to the impact of the two-year fishing ban in the high seas off the Western and Central Pacific Ocean have so far received P3.629 million worth of assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Lawyer Ma. Gloria Tango, DOLE Region 12 director, said Monday at least 957 displaced workers from eight companies under the local tuna fishing and processing sectors have already availed of various livelihood packages and other related assistance offered by the agency
since the fishing ban started last January 1.

She said they provided livelihood or small business starter kits, emergency employment and free basic safety training to the workers and included their dependents in the Kabataan Information Technology Opportunities program.

Last week, Tango said they released additional livelihood or Kabuhayan starter kits to 142 workers who were directly affected by the tuna fishing ban.

She said the livelihood packages, which were worth P5,000 each, included bicycles for balut vending as well as basic equipment and supplies for carenderia or small eateries, massage therapy and dressmaking businesses.

Tango said they released the packages following the approval of the project proposals that were earlier submitted by the beneficiaries to DOLE-12.

“We’ve been encouraging the affected workers to go into small business ventures so they will have alternative livelihood sources during the duration of the fishing ban and even beyond,” she said.

General Santos City (PIA SarGen) -- As part of cushioning the effects of La Niña phenomenon, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XII will beef up information campaign on geohazards.

This, following the order Tuesday of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje to his field officials to heighten their "information campaign on geohazards, particularly at the community level."

He also enjoined people living in critical zones to take precautionary measures to prevent loss of lives and properties.

Region XII Executive Director Raquil-Ali Lucman welcomed the directive with enthusiasm, saying the region is keen on intensifying information campaign on geohazards to warn communities of potential risks as a result of living in critical areas.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said earlier that La Niña is expected this month (August) until March next year which will affect at least 69 provinces of the country.

La Niña, according to Pagasa is the abnormal cooling of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific and is characterized by excessive rainfall.

Paje said the geohazard mapping and assessment program is expected to be completed this year with the production of maps. He said the mapping has already covered most parts of the country.