BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF – ELCAC) remains committed  in ensuring sustainable peace and bring development to remote communities in Cordillera, especially the local conflict – affected barangays.
 
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the  RTF – ELCAC Cordillera co – vice chairperson,  presided over a meeting  on February 19, which primarily for each cluster to provide updates and accomplishments reports, for the guidance of the new Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Cordillera.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista is the newly appointed CORDS for Cordillera, and will sit as the chairperson of the RTF – ELCAC.

Along with Magalong as vice chairperson is  Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr., as the current Regional Development Council chairperson.
 
The RTF ELCAC clusters  are namely;  Peace, Law Enforcement and Development  Support; Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management, Legal Cooperation; Strategic Communication; Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment; International Engagement, Infrastructure and Resource Management , Local Peace Engagement; Basic Services; Local Government Empowerment,  and Sectoral Unification, Capacity Building, Empowerment and Mobilization.

Updates on the implementation of the ELCAC flagship programs such as the  the Support to Barangay Development Programs (SBDP), the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) and the Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development (CUCPO) were reported during the meeting.

The SBDP aims to bring sustainable development program to formerly conflict – affected communities and barangays in geographically isolated and displaced areas. From 2021 to 2024, there  are a  total of 124 SBDP barangay beneficiaries in the region.

The RCSP serves as a convergence of various government programs and initiatives aimed  at addressing the root causes of insurgency,  and promoting peace and development in conflict – affected areas. To date, there are 146 RCSP barangay beneficiaries.

The CUCPO aims to enhance the delivery of basic services, local peace dialogue and promote the welfare of sectoral groups in urban communities. So far, there are 41 beneficiaries.

All the accomplishment reports, updates, and other concerns raised will be relayed to Bautista through  DOTr  Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Atty. Jose Villacorta, who represented  him  in the said meeting.

Magalong assured that  the Cordillera RTF – ELCAC is  united and committed, and  through CORDS’  guidance, will  collaborate  to  help  ensure  sustainable peace and bring development to all the Cordillera communities, down to the remotest barangays. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)