Samar, N. Samar to be insurgency-free by 2016 says Army official

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr  18): Samar, N. Samar to be insurgency-free by 2016 says Army official


Samar and Northern Samar will already be among the provinces in Eastern Visayas to be named as insurgency-free and manageable conflict-ready for development by 2016.

Lt. Col. Leo Lorenzo Madroñal, assistant chief of staff for Civil-Military Operation (CMO) of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA) here, said on Thursday that the government is now winning the hearts and minds of the people with their new approach in dealing with the insurgency problem.

The military has adopted a holistic approach and people-centered programs in trying to respond to the problem.

In previous months, Madroñal said that the military has already handed-over to local government units (LGUs) in the provinces of Leyte, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Southern Leyte the responsibility for Internal Peace and Security.

Recently, the military presented before the Regional Development Council (RDC) its efforts in achieving a peaceful environment that would lead to economic development in areas affected by insurgents.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=517672