Gov’t to rid NPA rebels’ influence in barangays

By Mar T. Supnad

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur - The national government will focus on clearing barangays from insurgency in the country by implementing development programs in communities influenced or controlled by the New People’s Army.

Cabinet Sec. Karlo Alexei Nograles bared this during a press conference Feb. 2 at Hotel Luna in this city.

“When it comes to public service and development programs, the government will pour in development to the under threat barangays, which were identified as priority areas” Sec. Nograles told the media.

“Napag-usapan na namin yan sa gabinete, na-lay out na 'yong mga program na kailangang gawin at siyempre isa sa mga programang nakikita natin is to pour in development talaga doon sa mga areas. So doon sa mga na-identify na priority areas, which are mga barangays na under threat, 'yon ang ipa-prioritize natin. Na-present na sa Pangulo yung mga barangays na under threat at 'yon ang uunahin natin pagdating sa public service at development programs," he said. 

The national government will implement development programs such as farm-to-market roads, water systems, school buildings, health stations, livelihood programs and other programs that will be identified.

This is part of government’s campaign to end insurgency through Executive Order No. 70, which aimed to address root causes of insurgency through the Whole-of-Nation approach and creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Nograles said the “whole-of-nation” approach addresses the root cause of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, facilitating societal inclusivity, and ensuring active participation of all sectors of the society in the pursuit of the country’s peace agenda.

“We assess that when Filipinos feel the positive impacts of the government programs, the affected barangays will become insurgency-free and we’re very happy to say that more and more areas are being free from the threat of local armed conflicts,” Nograles said.

Last Jan. 27, more than 100 villagers from various barangays in Ilocos Sur affected by local armed conflicts attended seminar and livelihood training conducted by the Philippine Army, Dept. of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Dept. of Agriculture and the provincial government and 17 of them, who are former members of the Militia ng Bayan, received cash benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of DILG.