Military targets to declare Samar as MCA-DRA before end of the year, N. Samar by 2014

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 24): Military targets to declare Samar as MCA-DRA before end of the year, N. Samar by 2014

The 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) based in this city targets to declare Samar as Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development Ready Area (MCA-DRA) by year-end and before end of 2014 for Northern Samar.

Cpt. Amado Gutierrez, chief of the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO), said that strategies in order to achieve this target have been in progress for almost a year.

This include exposing the skeletal formation of New People's Army (NPA) within an “influenced barangay” for the people in the community to be aware of their presence and their real intent to overthrow people’s strong desire for peace and development.

Such intent of the NPAs, according to Gutierrez, obviously contradicts to the programs the barangay are pursuing because their agenda is against development.

Gutierrez, however, revealed that the kind of strategy they are employing to win peace back usually results to armed encounters because of their concentrated efforts to clear areas infested by NPAs.

Meanwhile, another strategy Gutierrez also believed to be effective in meeting the target is encouraging rebels to reintegrate in the mainstream society and avail of the national government’s current program through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Gutierrez said that this is a package of livelihood assistance, immediate assistance and remuneration under AFP’s (Armed Forces of the Philippines) "Guns for Peace" to whatever firearm the former rebel will also bring along with him as he returns to the fold of law.

Gutierrez also mentioned another package of cash assistance and other available services and opportunities a former rebel is likewise entitled to receive and avail from a local government unit where he is a part of through the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP).

At present, Gutierrez disclosed, that there are more than 130 NPAs, militia and members of mass organizations combined who benefited from such government’s programs. They are now productive in their chosen means of subsistence while enjoying a life that is peaceful and happy with their respective family.

This program alongside the conduct of combat operations and other activities in the barangay, as stated also by Gutierrez, contributed much to the significant decrease in manpower of NPA’s Regional Party Committee.

From the 654 manpower during the first quarter of 2011, it scaled down to 613 during the same period last year and dwindled down again to 575 during the first months of 2013.

It continues to drop in number until currently, their manpower is at 569. This means, the Regional Party Committee off-tracked with 85 of its members in the span of three years only.

Meanwhile, there was also significant decrease in the number of firearms possessed by NPAs this year in comparison to 2011 and 2012.

From 700 during the first semester of 2011, it became 678 during 2012, and has decreased again to 647 during the same quarter of 2013. Currently, it is at 637.

With this trend in the number of NPA personalities and firearms continue to decrease; Gutierrez believed a promising result is underway for Samar to be declared as MCA-DRA this year and Northern Samar by 2014.

Eastern Samar province was declared already as “Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development Ready Province” March 26 of this year, same with five towns in the Province of Northern Samar just recently. These are the towns of Allen, Biri, Capul, San Antonio and San Vicente.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=579609