The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army and its political wing, the National Democratic Front, did not spare from its criticisms the government-backed "Go Negosyo" Caravan, which promotes entrepreneurship among Filipinos, and the super regions program of the Arroyo administration.

In a statement it issued yesterday, it said that such economic package is aimed to further plunder the province's natural resources and oppress Negrense laborers and farmers.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended the "Go Negosyo sa Bacolod" on July 13 and awarded the most inspiring entrepreneurs in Bacolod and Negros Occidental. The same day, she also presided over the Infrastructure and Investment Conference of the Central Philippines Super Region at the New Bacolod- Silay Airport in Silay City. Arroyo said there will be a boost in tourism investment once roads and airports are built and energy supply is assured in the region.

But the CPP-NPA-NDF said part of this economic package is the real intention of the Arroyo administration to prioritize Negros in the Visayas for aggressive counter-insurgency operations to dismantle the NPA movement in the island.

"That Negros is a priority in counter-insurgency (operations) was the reason why it was the venue for the launching of the grand plan for the Central Philippine (Super) Regions," the CPP-NPA-NDF statement added.

It also said that infrastructure development projects like airports, roads and bridges, eco-tourism, mining operations, and alcogas production are not intended to improve the lives of the farmers, fisherfolk, urban poor, women and small entrepreneurs.*NLG

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