P50M peace fund for 2018 approved

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 18): P50M peace fund for 2018 approved

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental yesterday gave its concurrence to the P50 million Peace and Order budget for 2018, as approved earlier by the Provincial Peace and Order Council.

On motion of Board Member David Albert Lacson, chairperson of the SP committee on Peace and Order, the provincial council also granted authority to Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to prioritize peace and order projects for implementation this year.

PPOC action officer Ma. Lina Sanogal earlier disclosed that P15 million of the newly-approved fund, will be earmarked for intelligence data gathering, with the bulk of the budget allocated to various peace and order programs and projects.

The SP also approved PPOC resolution number 17-04 authorizing the release of the confidential fund for first and succeeding quarters of 2018 from the allocation of the Office of the Governor charged against the 2018 PPOC fund.

The proposal of Kapatiran Inc, formerly known as the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, for a Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) for the proposed PAMANA peace and development community site in Brgy. Locotan, Kabankalan City, was also approved by the SP.

A resolution approved by the PPOC last month indicated that the CBFMA could provide KAPATIRAN members an opportunity to participate in managing and sustaining the reforestation program of the provincial government of Negros Occidental.

The CBFMA is a major requirement for the tenurial instrument so the full implementation of the disposition of arms under the Closure Agreement between the RMP-P/RPA/ABB and the Philippine government can be completed.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has hired former RPA-ABB members as forest guards in Negros Occidental.

Sanogal said the PAMANA infrastructure projects in Brgy. Locotan, Kabankalan City, are almost complete, and beneficiaries can settle after the acquisition of the tenurial instruments.          
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/January/18/topstory7.htm