Tacloban City (October 23) -- The League of Municipalities in the different provinces of Eastern Visayas are set to attend the League of Municipalities of the Philippines general assembly at the historic Manila Hotel on October 24 – 26, 2006.

The general assembly is scheduled to tackle two summits: one, on sustainable upland development; the other, on hunger and population, Baybay Mayor Carlos Cari, the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Leyte Chapter informed.

Mayor Neliptha Figueroa of Zumarraga, Samar who is the president of the Samar Chapter said that no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be the guest of honor in the twin summits. The President is expected to deliver a policy statement on the two issues that carry the country’s perennial problem on poverty.

Mayor Pedro Fustanes of Bontoc, Southern Leyte, who is the Southern Leyte Chapter president said that the Southern Leyte mayors will indeed attend the Summit where the President is expected to sign an executive order institutionalizing the nationwide development of Philippine uplands.

Studies made, show that of the total 30 million hectares comprising the Philippines, only an estimated one million hectares of old growth remain, down from 20 million hectares a hundred years ago.

The decline in the size of the natural forests is attributed to many different factors which results to the erosion in the uplands to the detriment of the lowland dwellers, farmers and fishermen who suffer severe floods and siltation. This leads to the conclusion that upland development impacts upon the very survival of the nation.