Peace council strengthens means to defeat insurgency in Region 8

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 23): Peace council strengthens means to defeat insurgency in Region 8

The Regional Peace and Order Council in Region 8 (RPOC-8), under the chairmanship of Governor Paul R. Daza of Northern Samar, has taken steps to continue peaceful means of defeating insurgency in the region particularly in remote conflict-affected areas. Daza revealed that being a recipient of P12-million worth of Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) which is the government’s peace and development framework to respond and strengthen peace building, reconstruction and development in conflict-affected areas, his constituents are assured that peaceful means will continue to be employed instead of using militarization in these areas. Daza further added that the 801st Philippine Army engineering brigade will help build infrastructure project such as buildings, bridges and farm-to-market roads in conflict-affected areas to guarantee that the target date of accomplishment will be realized and development programs will immediately restored to such areas and long lasting peace will soon be achieved. The Pamana has three pillars for sustainable peace and development, first; building foundation for peace, second; establishing resilient communities, and third; addressing regional development. Emy Bonifacio, Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) identified conflict-affected areas: 23 percent of municipalities in Samar, 17 percent in Northern Samar, and 16 percent in Eastern Samar. Bonifacio added that 25 percent of barangays are affected in Northern Samar, 14 percent in Eastern Samar, and 13 percent in Samar. Eastern Samar was also a recipient of Pamana check worth P16 million while Northern Samar got a check worth P16 million during the RPOC-8 meeting held recently.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1991353638172