Peace talks good for country’s unity and development – Vargas

Possibilities that Peace Talks might be the result of an agreement between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines is a welcome sign for Quezon City's three-termer Congressman now District 5 Councilor Alfred Vargas.

"Nagpapasalamat tayo sa pasya ng administrayon sa ilalim ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. na muling ituloy ang usapang pangkapayapaan. Ito ay makakatulong sa pagkamit ng ating mithiin na pag-unlad ng ating bansa at pag-ginhawa ng buhay ng bawat mamamayan," Vargas said.

He added that the resumption of peace talks is vital to the "serious foreign policy issues" now confronting the government, especially in the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Ngayong mas tumitindi ang pang-aapi sa mga Pilipinong mangingisda sa sarili nating karagatan, mas kailangang magkaisa ang bawat Pilipino. Hindi natin kalaban ang isa't isa. At iisa ang ating layuning paunlarin ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan, sa kanayunan man o mga lungsod," Vargas explained.

Vargas who was the former Congress Committee Chairman on Social Services, peaceful resolution of conflicts is also an economic issue.

He said he had witnessed that if a city is peaceful, everything is in order and the economy is alive like the Quezon City.

The laws would be crafted he said will be geared towards uplifting the lives of many poor Filipinos if the armed Conflict is resolved, according to Vargas.

"Ang kapayapaan ay hindi lamang natin maabot sa mga bagong rounds ng peace talk. Kinakailangan ding iangat ang social protection floor, kaya't malaki rin ang pasasalamat natin sa Kamara, lalo na kay Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez na naging haligi sa pagpasa ng priority measures ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos," Vargas explained.