Manila (31 July) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will preside over the meeting of the Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) in Region 2 when she visits this province on Thursday, July 31, 2008.

The Region 2 LPSA conference cum workshop will be led by National Security Adviser (NSA) Norberto Gonzales and will discuss initiatives and mechanisms that promote peace and security in the region.

Specifically, the two-day event, which begins on the 30th of July, will tackle proposed solutions to peace and security problems through an action agenda that LPSA members would formulate and implement, taking into consideration the unique features of the locality.

Also some 200 participants composed of Cabinet members, local government officials, including governors and city mayors; Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police officials; as well as civil society leaders, business groups, religious institutions, and the academe, are expected to take part in this leg of the LPSA.

The LPSA is a continuing drive being held in the various regions of the country in response to the clamors of local government units and local stakeholders for support to their various conflict-resolution and peace building initiatives.