President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed the importance of a long-lasting peace and a secured community in attaining economic growth.
In her message at the Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) of Western Visayas (Region 6) held in Bacolod City, the President took note that the Western Visayas Region has vastly improved in its security problems that economic progress is well on its way for the region.
“We have achieved a great deal. Western Visayas is vastly improved in terms of security and economic growth. The current agreement with the RPM-RPA is making things better” the President said.
The President said a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA) would “bring a new era of economic development, enumerating the areas Cauayan, Hinobaan,Ilog,Candoni, Kabankalan and Sipalay or C.H.I.C.K.S. that would benefit from a peace pact.
The peace pact, coupled with the government’s thrust to invest in the people would propel economic development, the President said.
Peace not through the barrel of the gun, but through economic development was first noted in the Bohol peace initiatives. The first LPSA was also held in Bohol. (PIA/Bohol)
