Cagayan town cleared of rebels get gov’t aid

By Oliver T. Baccay

RIZAL, Cagayan -- Government agencies collaborated to bring in development to communities identified as "insurgency cleared" in this town.
    In barangay Minanga, punong barangay Elmerio Echamane cited President Rodrigo Duterte's executive order 70 which institutionalized whole-of-nation approach in obtaining peace in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) which according to him was instrumental in clearing village from New People’s Army rebels.
    He added with the ELCAC, government agencies delivered various development projects in their barangay like livelihood programs.
    The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) -Cagayan recently installed solar lights in all houses in the barangay.
    Josephine Cabrera, supervising TESD specialist, said they also gave pigs, chicken and goats for animal raising project and training on communal vegetable gardening.
    Echamane said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR) gave one unit of fiber glass boat which they now use in crossing the Matagal River.
    The Dept. of Agriculture also gave them another 100 pieces chicken and vegetable seeds.
    The Dept. of Trade and Industry also gave pigs, one Kubota water pump from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
    Seeds were given by the Provincial Agriculture Office while structures for the animals were funded by the Provincial Government of Cagayan. 
    The Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE) set to give more livelihood projects. 
    Echamane also said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) promised to provide funds to build a barangay road to improve accessibility in the remote area. -- PIA2-Cagayan