GMA: Public consultations to solve dissatisfaction

'Tis the season of dissatisfaction.

Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo indicated yesterday there was a growing dissatisfaction among the people over the affairs of the Estrada administration.

"The dissatisfaction is already out there in the streets," Arroyo said during a visit to Davao City where she conducted multi-sectoral consultations with the people.

"What we are doing in the consultations is finding solutions to the dissatisfaction inside the halls and discuss the matter rather than just in the streets," Arroyo said.

The Vice President, who is concurrent Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, rued that the dissatisfaction "has also brought many young people to the mountains and take up arms in rebellion against the government."

Arroyo flew to Davao City yesterday for a series of consultations with various groups, among them the youth, non-government organizations and representatives from academe and the religious sector.

She also held a closed door meeting with local officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to tackle the needs of people in strife-torn areas in Mindanao.

Arroyo pointed out that it appeared that the people were more concerned about their basic needs than the problem of peace and order.

"People would rather address the problem of where to get the next meal than delve on the peace problem. We understand that if we are able to address the problem of the basic needs of our people, we will also be able to bring about peace," the Vice President said. --