Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Conference to tackle peace, development in W. Visayas

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 3, 2019): Conference to tackle peace, development in W. Visayas



PEACEBUILDING CONFERENCE. Local chief executives and concerned national government agencies will gather in Iloilo City on July 11 to tackle peace, security and development in Western Visayas. National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director for Western Visayas Ro-Ann A. Bacal said on Tuesday (July 2, 2019) the conference is part of the whole of nation approach in addressing insurgency issues in conflict-affected areas. (PNA photo by Perla G. Lena)

Local chief executives and concerned national government agencies in Western Visayas will gather next week to discuss peace, security, and development.

Roan A. Bacal, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director for Western Visayas, said on Tuesday the gathering will take place on July 11 at the Iloilo Convention Center.

The conference follows the recent briefing of the Regional Development Council (RDC) on the “Whole of the Nation Approach in attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), and Directing the Adoption of National Peace Framework” held during the second quarter regular full council meeting of the region’s policy-making body on June 21.

“It is part of 'whole of nation' approach because now we would like a more convergent approach to barangays. We will now sit together, see where these barangays are and what are their problems and how we can, as a government, plan our strategy to be able to resolve their problems and make them feel the government is really for them,”
Bacal said.


She added that one of the agenda of President Duterte focuses on security. "Before he ends his term, the President would like barangays that are influenced by the New People’s Army (NPA) and leftist groups to be part of the mainstream," she said.

Also, they will “feel that government is really there for them and that they have better alternatives in being in government rather than being with the NPA," Bacal said.

The July 11th meeting will be graced by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security Secretary Roy Cimatu.

They are expected to discuss how to reach out to barangays that are “still under the influenced of insurgents and see how we can end it all by making sure development is really felt by them.”

Bacal said the feedback they received was that barangays located in remote areas “do not feel the government and we are losing to the propaganda of the left”.

“It’s about time now that we face this squarely and tell them government is here for everyone. We are also here to make sure that people who are underserved and also sometimes neglected will be attended to,” she stressed.

NEDA met with representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of the Interior and Local Government where they discussed their preparations for the meeting.

Meantime, during the June 21 briefing, Lt. Col. Joel R. Jonson, Military Assistance of the NTF-ELCAC underscored the big role of the RDC in the identification of conflict-affected areas to be prioritized in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“We need to have this extra mile to reach out this conflict-affected barangays,” he said.

He also pointed out the convergence between the RDC and the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) down to the barangay level to address the concerns against communist terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, Antique Governor and RDC Chair Rhodora Cadiao in her message also said that building and sustaining peace is not a standalone obligation of the Philippine National Police, AFP, and RPOC.

She said regardless of age, gender or social status everyone should participate in nation building and create solutions.

“Driven by the slogan whole of nation approach, we aim for the government, private sector, civil society, and the whole citizenry to work together for a just and sustainable peace so every individual affected by armed conflict, especially women, children and elderly, will no longer undergo times when the life is dark and full of terror,” she said.

She added that there is a need to analyze the region’s current status to be able to strategize and for it to effectively work.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1073872

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