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Thursday, August 10, 2006
Speak out: Better solutions available
By Sarah A. Dayoha
Executive Director, Women's Resource Center of Cebu
While Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and her apologists are quick to redefine their concept of total war after being commented upon by concerned Cebuanos, notably former governor Vicente de la Serna, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Msgr. Achilles Dakay, we at the Women's Resource Center of Cebu are wary.
While she claims that hers is a total war that will include a campaign against poverty, her actions reveal otherwise. Didn't she work on the creation of Cafgu units in Cebu? Didn't she gather all the barangay captains and even invited a self-proclaimed anti-communist to identify and keep a close watch at people's organizations?
Common sense tells us what she's up to, thanks to the earlier pronouncement of President Arroyo of adding P1 billion to the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
We thus appeal for her not to use military solution to the insurgency problem. Women's experiences, especially in rural areas, during the Marcos regime and Aquino administration reveal profound socio-economic and psychological impact that scarred their lives forever.
Most of these women are innocent civilians who fell prey to abusive
military and paramilitary personnel. Thus, instead of gaining the women's support and their family, they support instead the NPAs.
There are better solutions to insurgency and rebellion. Job generation, livelihood programs for women, provision of health and day care centers, farm-to-market roads, education and training.
It only takes an independent and open mind to discover this.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 10, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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