CATBALOGAN CITY- Office Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza said that they are still waiting instructions from President Rodrigo Duterte whether peace talks with the members of the National Democratic Front will resume or not.
Dureza, who was in the city on September 22 to attend a peace forum, said that he is also hopeful that the peace talks will resume for the country achieve a lasting peace.
“What the President wants is before we resume peace talks, there should be talks first on the implementation of a ceasefire,” he said.
The peace talks between the national government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front were suspended on order of Pres. Duterte after series of ambuscades reportedly staged by the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the communist group, against government troops.
“(The) success of the peace talks can be achieved if only members of rebel groups will not attack government forces”, Dureza said.
“We are waiting for that opportunity and perhaps it will be soon and we will be working again for the resumption of the peace talks. Definitely, we will have to wait for the final go signal of the President,” he added.
Eastern Visayas, particularly the three provinces of Samar, and some parts of Leyte are still affected by insurgency problem.
Based on the information from the Philippine Army, a total of 23 areas in the region are still affected by the insurgency, majority of which are located in Samar Island.
To address the problem of insurgency in the region, the government through OPAPP implemented the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) focusing at the tri-boundary of Samar Island, the conflict-affected towns of Matuguinao and San Jose de Buan in Samar province, Maslog and Jipapad in Eastern Samar and Lope de Vega and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar.
Pamana is the national government’s convergence program that extends development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities, ensuring that they are not left behind.
The proposed budget for Pamana projects next year is P250 million, higher than almost P200 million budget for this year.
The P250 million proposed budget may still be increased once OPAPP includes the integrated development plan in conflict-affected areas that was formulated by the local government units and submitted to the President, Dureza said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

By: JOEY A. GABIETA
Photos by: Rommel Cabrera

PALO, Leyte- The opening of the McDonald’s Palo was greeted with a bang and enthusiasm from its customers coming from this town and nearby areas.
No less than the president and CEO of McDonald’s, Kenneth Yang, and one of the country’s most popular actors, Alden Richards, were around to greet the first customers of McDonald’s when it opened on Wednesday(September 27).
Yang said that the opening of the McDonald’s Palo is now the 547th branch of one of the world’s most recognizable brands in the country as he expects more outlets to soon rise in Leyte and other parts of the region.
“We are just happy and very excited to be here in Palo as we provide the best service, good quality of our goods and great foods,” he said.
The McDonald’s president and CEO said that they are optimistic that its branch in Palo will also enjoy a stream of clients just like at their other branches in the country.
He also paid tribute to the resiliency of the people of Palo for their fast recovery when the town was devastated by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ November 8, 2013.
Meantime, Richards delighted the huge crowd who wanted to see him in flesh by accommodating their requests for photo opportunities and even for a hug.
At a certain point, the popular and handsome young actor also served as cashier to the much delight of the customers, young and old alike.
Richards also help promote the opening of the McDonald’s Palo by going around to the main streets of the town during a motorcade.
The store’s famous clown, Ronald McDonald was also all over the place entertaining and delighting the big crowd during the morning opening.
Caroline Lee-Andrade, owner and proprietor of the McDonald’s Palo, expressed her happiness to the people of the town and nearby areas for coming full force during the opening.
“We have a very successful opening and we believe that we can sustain the success considering that aside from having a known brand, we also offer great food and very good service to our customers,” Andrade said.
The McDonald’s Palo is located in Barangay Pawing, fast emerging as the commercial district of the town.
The structure, stuffed with colorful and uniquely-designed tables and chairs manned by 100 jolly and workaholic young staff, was constructed April of last year and was completed days before its Sept.26 grand opening.
It could accommodate 200 customers.
Before its first day of business, the store had its blessings with no less than Palo Archbishop John Du leading it and attended by local officials like Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and Mayor Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla and some of the big names in the business and society hereabouts.
Nightly activities like dance and variety shows were also held. A fabulous fireworks display capped the opening of McDonald’s Palo.

Opening of McDonald’s will generate employment to the locals

PALO, Leyte- Sitting on a 1,650 square meters lot, McDonald’s Palo will start to open its doors to its customers of this booming town and nearby areas on Wednesday (September 27).
And to further enliven its grand opening, one of the country’s hottest actors, Alden Richards, will help welcome McDonald’s Palo customers.
Caroline Lee Andrade, owner and proprietor, said that she is happy that McDonald’s, one of the world’s leading fastfood chains, will finally sit its foot on this historic town.
The construction of the McDonald’s Palo, which has a sitting capacity of 200, started April of this year and was completed just days before its opening on Wednesday.
“We are glad that McDonald’s will now be in Palo. Not only, in our little way, we can help contribute its (booming) economy through the taxes we’ll be paying but also help generate employment among its locals,” Andrade said.
Andrade added that aside from being a popular brand, she expects that McDonald’s Palo will also do well just like their two outlets in Tacloban City.
“We have a very popular brand and we offer the best quality of foods and all-out service to our customers,” she added.
For its operations in Palo, 17 kms away from the regional capital of Tacloban City and where regional government offices are located, about 100 people have gained employment.
“We have to hire the locals for their own convenience. They will no longer have to worry if they will have to go home late at night or report for work early in the morning. In fact, some of our employees who were assigned in our Tacloban branches were assigned in Palo,” Andrade added.
A drive-thru is also available for customers to right away have their orders.
Among the guests for its opening are Kenneth S. Yang, president and CEO; Margot B. Torres, deputy managing director; Melon L. Salazar, senior vice president, business development group; Rebecca Roselada, assistant vice president for franchising and field service and Meryl Adiel Timbol, corporations/PR manager and president of PANA(Philippine Association of National Advertisers).
Local officials led by Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla and Palo Archbishop John Du will join during the blessing on Tuesday(Sept.26).
During its first day of opening, popular actor Alden Richards will be there to entertain the customers as they enjoy the all-time favorite foods being offered by McDonald’s.
Richards will also have a motorcade around the town’s main streets.
McDonald’s Palo will formally open its doors to its customers at about 7:15 am and from thereon, there will be hourly raffles for customers to enjoy.
In the evening, there will be live band performances; a ‘McSaragyaw’ dance contest and a fireworks display to cap the celebration.
The following day, Sept. 28, a live band showdown will be staged at 7 pm. while a variety show with the ‘On the Spot’ band to perform on the night of Sept.29.
The celebration relative to the McDonald’s Palo opening will have the ‘McSaragyaw’ kids dance contest.
Andrade first opened the McDonalds branch in Tacloban City in 2002 along Rizal Avenue and followed by another outlet along Real Street last year.

By: Joey Gabieta

Assured of their safety and protection

TACLOBAN CITY— Members of the media were taught the basic principles on shooting sponsored by the Philippine National Police (PNP) here in the region.
And whatever lessons they have learned during the one-day training dubbed as ‘media security and safety training,’ could be applied if they chose to join their operations, Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz, police regional director, said.
The activity was held at the shooting range at the provincial headquarters of the Leyte police headquarters at San Jose district, this city.
About 50 media practitioners coming from Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and the cities of Tacloban, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Borongan, and Ormoc attended the shooting practice held Sunday(September 24).
Cruz said that they were happy that media practitioners of the region attended the activity, his first encounter with members of the media coming from different areas of the region since he assumed the post on August 30.
According to the police regional director, the members of the media could join on their police operations and will be given protection like providing them bulletproof vests and Kevlar to ensure their safety and protection.
With the media joining their operations, particularly those on illegal drugs, they could see for themselves that police operatives are doing their acts within their sworn duty and that they are not engaging in any illegal activities, like planting of evidence or resorting to extrajudicial killing, Cruz said.
“We’re not expecting for media to always join us in our police operations. We are doing this to let them know on what they should do and what they need to do when they join police operations,” Cruz said.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte opened the idea for media practitioners join police operations amid allegations of extrajudicial killings as he continues his controversial fight on illegal drugs.
During the simulation exercise, the media participants were made to watch where they should stay on an actual police operation.
“The position is very important to ensure your safety on a deadly assault,” Cruz stressed.
Prior to the simulation exercise, the media practitioners were first taught on proper gun handling and firing and to remember every single detail when joining police operations as they may be called to appear before the court to stand as witnesses.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)