Friday, January 04, 2008 Malacañang extends support to Sta. Catalina farmers By Edmund B. Sestoso
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has extended support to farmers of Sta. Catalina town through sustainable agriculture.
Arroyo deployed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Jesus Dureza to thresh out the details of the project with the Capitol and town officials.
Capitol information officer Adrian Sedillo said Secretary Dureza will be signing a memorandum of agreement with Governor Emilio Macias II and Sta. Catalina Mayor Ruben Melodia in connection with the implementation of "Support for Sustainable Agriculture to the Farmers".
It was learned that the project was part of the Country Program Action Plan whose one component is conflict prevention and peace building.
It was learned that Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) endorses the project for Sta. Catalina town as part of the implementation of the peace agreement between the National Government and the breakaway rebel groups known as Rebolusyunaryong Partidong Mangagawa-Pilipinas. They are also known as the Revolutionary Proletarian Army or the Alex Bongcayao Brigade.
Sedillo added that there are funds provided for the project from both the national and the local government units to contribute in transforming conflict affected communities into peace building communities with improved access to basic services and livelihood opportunities.
Sedillo said the funds poured by the National Government will still be Capitol who will manage the project.
