SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – In pursuit of defeating the local communist group CPP-NPA-NDF, the Municipal Task Force – End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) recently delivered various services in a Serbisyo Caravan to residents in Brgy. Mapaya, San Jose.
Spearheaded by the Philippine National Police (PNP)-1st Occidental Mindoro Provincial Mobile Force Company (OMPMFC), the activity is in line with the Executive Order 70, prioritizing delivery of basic services and social development packages to conflict-affected and vulnerable areas, including Geographically Isolated, Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) such as Sitio Imbarasan.
OMPMFC, Municipal Health Office (MHO), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) lead the feeding activity and distribution of food packs to 284 households. The offices also offered additional services such as medical and health services, information drive on various livelihood scholarships and grants, and haircut services.
As part of the AFP’s continuous information campaign on insurgency, a distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to inform the public on the deceptive recruitment tactics of the communist group NPA were also conducted by the 68th Infantry Battalion.
Assistant Police Community Relations-Police Non-Commissioned Officer (PCR-PNCO) Pat Michael J. Yapit explained that as a member of the MTF-ELCAC, PNP serves as a bridge between the communities and the government, disproving the CPP-NPA-NDF’s deceptive propaganda.
“Sa part ng PNP, inilalapit natin ang services sa community para maliwanagan ang mga taga roon [sa Brgy. Mapaya] na hindi totoong walang naibibigay o nagagawa ang gobyerno sa lugar nila. Hindi [naman ito] red area, pero may mga taga roon na kamag-anak na high-profile member ng NPA,” Yapid said.
He added that a consultation on possible projects between the Local Government Unit and the Barangay and Sitio leaders was also conducted during the caravan.
“Kasama si [San Jose] Mayor [Rey C. Ladaga sa activity] at nag bahagi ng mga past and possible projects [sa komunidad]. Binaggit ng Sitio leader at Barangay Captain [na kailangan nila] ng water system [kasi kahit] may temporary source ng water ay hirap pa rin. Isa pa yung [pangangailangan sa] livelihood kasi ang lugar nila ay hindi agriculture-ideal land,” said Yapit.
A tree planting activity was done at the conclusion of the service caravan, sowing more than 70 seedlings of fruit-bearing trees in the hilly part of the community’s school, namely: lanzones, rambutan, and cashew to prevent land erosion and combat the effects of climate change, and to provide sustainable food for the community. (DSG/PIA Mimaropa – Occidental Mindoro)
