CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- An official of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army said on Saturday that the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) has identified a total of 160 conflict-free barangays across Northern Mindanao which are eligible for anti-insurgency projects in 2022.
During an interview on CORDS X Podcast, 4ID Commander MGen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that efforts are already underway to include these identified barangays for project funding under NTF-ELCAC’s banner program, the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP).
He assured that the AFP’s support and commitment to the barangay is unwavering.
“Sinisiguro po natin doon sa barangay na hindi po natin sila pababayaan. That is why very important itong SBDP dahil ito po yung mga proyekto na magdadala ng basic services sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po doon sa mga malalayong lugar [We assure the barangay that we will not neglect them. That is why the SBDP is very important because under this are projects that will bring basic services closer to the people, especially those in far-flung areas],” he told Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
“Alam naman po natin na one of the root causes of the insurgency is the non-delivery of basic services to the constituents [We know that one of the root causes of insurgency is the non-delivery of basic services to the constituents],” he added.
MGen. Brawner noted that their agency is responsible for leading the Community Support Program (CSP) for conflict-affected areas, in order to identify the programs and services much needed in the community.
He also sought the support of the public on the efforts of the government to put an end to the insurgency that has been haunting the country in the past five decades.
“Itong NTF-ELCAC ay napakagandang programa po dahil ito ay nagbibigay ng mga benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na o dun sa mga malalayong lugar. Sana po ay suportahan natin ito nang sa gayun ay we can put an end to the problems of the local communist armed conflict [The NTF-ELCAC is a good program because the people in remote areas are benefitting from it. I hope that you will also support this so we can put an end to the problems of the local communist armed conflict],” MGen. Brawner said. (PCOO)
