GMA takes time out, dives in Sipalay bay

BACOLOD CITY – President Arroyo took time out to dive at Campomanes Bay in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental late Wednesday. She stayed in one of the private villas that dot the cliffs of this southern city.

In her speech during the Western Visayas Peace and Security Assembly here yesterday, Mrs. Arroyo hailed the transformation of Sipalay from a stronghold of the rebel movement in the 1980s into what Women in Travel described as the “best kept secret in tourism destination.”

“It is a secret no more,” she said, stressing that the Sipalay experience also validates the thesis that defeating insurgency promotes growth.

“The way to peace isn’t through the barrel of a gun. Rather it begins with providing a person a job, food on the table and human dignity,” the President, who looked rested, said.

The President was also presented with a Resolution and Action Agenda for Peace, Development and Security that compiles the direction set by local government units, military, police and civil society representatives as output of the two-day assembly held at the La Planta Hotel here.

“The communist rebels have spent years as a low-level threat and it is time for their disruption and violation of human rights to be put to rest so that the nation can move ahead,” stressed Mrs. Arroyo, who has directed the military and police to end the insurgency by 2010.

She also claimed that the government has achieved a great deal in its peace efforts, with Western Visayas improving in terms of security and economic growth.

The government’s peace agreement with the Revolutionary Proletarian Army is making things better, she said, adding that they want this pact to bring a new era of economic development to 15 towns and cities in Negros Occidental, Ibajay in Aklan and Leon and San Joaquin towns in Iloilo.

Mrs. Arroyo also urged localized peace talks by local government units and civil society.       – Antonieta Lopez