Manila (7 November) -- Approaches to address issues and problems affecting peace and security in Eastern Visayas will be discussed in a Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) scheduled on Nov. 8-9 in Tacloban City.

Some 200 participants, including national and local leaders and representatives from various sectors, will attend the two-day assembly, according to National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

At the close of the assembly, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will address the participants who would present to her an action agenda for a broad and multi-sectoral campaign to promote peace and security in the region composed of the two Leyte provinces, three Samar provinces and Biliran.

The LPSA is a series of consultations in the different regions of the country undertaken by national government agencies in response to the clamor of local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders for support to their various conflict resolution and peace building initiatives.

To ensure priority development support for local peace initiatives, the President has ordered concerned national agencies to submit to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita a list of areas scheduled for local peace initiatives.

This is aimed at identifying, providing funding and implementing priority programs and projects to be extended or sustained in tandem with the local peace workers.