• President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Lenten Message
• Concerned government agencies closely monitoring ‘Typhoon Chedeng’
• Palace: National Peace Council is independent

Isipin po ninyo: Sa kabila ng lubos na kapangyarihang iligtas ang sarili sa kapahamakan,pinili ni Hesukristong magpakumbaba bilang tao, at ialay ang sariling buhay. Pinasan niya ang matinding kalbaryo upang maging bukal ng kaligtasan, at ilapit tayo sa Kaharian ng Diyos-Ama. Ayon nga po sa Aklat ni San Juan, Kapitulo 3, Bersikulo 16: “Gayon na lamang ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa sanlibutan, kaya ibinigay niya ang Kanyang bugtong na Anak, upang ang sinumang sumasampalataya sa Kanya ay hindi mapahamak, kundi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.”

Ito nga po ang nagsisilbi nating gabay sa pagtataguyod ng bansang nakatuon hindi lang sa kapakanan ng mga Pilipino ngayon kundi maging ng mga susunod pang henerasyon. Tinatawag tayong gawin ang lahat ng ating makakaya, upang maipamana ang isang lipunan na inuuna ang interes ng nakakarami bago ang sarili.

Gaya ng iniwang aral sa atin ni Santo Papa Francisco nang bumisita siya sa ating bansa, nakikita ang bakas ng presensya ng Panginoon sa pag-aalay ng habag at malasakit sa kapwa, lalo na sa mas nangangailangan. Makakaasa po kayo: Sa tuwid na daan, maigting nating sinusulong ang pagtatakwil sa anumang anyo ng katiwalian upang ihatid ang agarang benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan.

Ang hamon nga sa atin bilang mga tagasunod ni Hesukristo: Tumotoo tayo hindi lang sa salita, kung hindi sa gawa. Sa patuloy nating ambagan at pagkakaisa, sa gabay at pagmamahal ng Panginoon, tiyak na pagpapalain tayo ng kinabukasang tunay na makabuluhan sa bawat isa.

Isang mapayapa at makabuluhang Mahal na Araw po sa ating lahat.

The NDRRMC has already informed all the departments and agencies involved about the incoming storm, Lacierda said, adding that each agency already knows what to do.

He noted that preparations are underway on the part of concerned local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which is responsible for the prepositioning of relief goods.

“Lahat po ‘yan ay hinahanda naman,” Lacierda said.

The Palace official assured the public that government response to the storm has begun with the scientific monitoring of the typhoon’s path.

“Napatunayan naman ng PAGASA na maganda ang kanilang batting average sa pag-forecast ng typhoon path. So we will be able to anticipate and prepare for the incoming storm,” he said.

According to PAGASA, Typhoon Chedeng is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday.

‘Chedeng’ was spotted on Monday 2,240 kilometers (km) east of Mindanao and was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 km per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 170 kph. The typhoon was moving west at 23 kph.

The effects of the typhoon will not be immediately felt once it enters the PAR, PAGASA said, adding that rains may be felt in parts of Luzon and Visayas starting next week. PND (as)

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said during the daily press briefing that the council members are “chosen men and women of integrity and independence” who can look at the draft BBL with “fresh eyes” because they were never part of the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the crafting of the proposed law.

“Having no active involvement in the negotiations, other than a genuine interest in the peace process — as all of us have a genuine interest in the peace process — they were chosen to guide deliberations on the peace summit,” Lacierda explained.

President Aquino announced the creation of the National Peace Council during a speech on March 27, the first anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

The President invited Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, businessman Jaime Zobel de Ayala, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, former Ambassador to the Holy See and Malta Howard Dee, and Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, founder of the non-profit organization Teach Peace, Build Peace Movement, to gather other responsible and respected leaders to spearhead a National Peace Summit.

Lacierda further said that the administration did not impose anything on the leaders tapped to head the council.

“We have not imposed anything on them but they are mindful of the importance of the peace process, as manifested by this particular bill that is before Congress now. How they will look at it, how they will decide on it, how they will deliberate or discourse upon the Bangsamoro Basic Law is entirely their own,” he added.

“For those who fear that they are not independent, we can categorically assure you that this National Peace Summit is a conclave of men and women who genuinely seek peace and would like the peace process to push forward. How they look at the Bangsamoro Basic Law, we would leave it to their own independent observations,” Lacierda said. PND (jm)