Caraga RTF-ELCAC capacitates LGUs to attain common goals vs insurgency

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 22, 2021): Caraga RTF-ELCAC capacitates LGUs to attain common goals vs insurgency (By Jennifer P. Gaitano)

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 22 (PIA) – The local government units (LGUs) with its respective officials actively participated during the Levelling and Consultation Session conducted by the Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) held on Thursday. Through the help of the resource persons, participants were capacitated in addressing various issues and concerns that would directly or indirectly resolve the insurgency problem in the region.

The said activity was aimed to further capacitate the local Task Force with the knowledge on the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) strategies, tactics, programs; emphasize the need to address the 10 CTG programs; synchronize the effort from the national down to the regional, provincial, city, municipality and barangay level Task Forces; and sustain the gains of the task force's efforts in ending local communists' armed conflict.

Cabinet Sec. Karlo Alexei Nograles, Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Caraga, stressed that ending local communists armed conflict still remains as a top priority of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. And this levelling session and consultation was aimed to provide guidance to all instrumentalities of the government in Caraga region to achieve this common goal.

“This activity also aims to generate active support and involvement of all sectors thru a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach in fighting insurgency in the region,” added Nograles.

The official further reiterated that the president is keen on putting an end to local communists armed conflict under his administration. "With this levelling session and consultation in the region, we hoped to attain a common understanding on the battle against the CPP-NPAs, and ensure economic development and security particularly in the conflict-affected areas," he remarked.

During the course of the session, participating LGUs through its representatives were able to raise questions and clarifications, as well as shared strategies on how they would be able to help the national government and the task force in fulfilling the objectives and goals towards ending local communists armed conflict.

The group also discussed to take into consideration the following plan of action: strengthen network with stakeholders; orchestrate government programs as part of good governance; assist in the preparation of sectoral agenda; promote government programs and narratives and clarify burning issues; identify policy gaps and structural deficiency to attain good governance (social reform agenda); continue the conduct of sectoral studies; and sustain the IEC on sectoral studies.

Meanwhile, Secretary Allen Capuyan, executive director of NTF-ELCAC, urged all the LGUs and government agencies involved that also compose the task force to strive more and continue to implement their respective programs in line with the President’s Executive No. 70.

The creation of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCACs) is anchored on the Executive Order No. 70 signed by President Duterte in 2018 which mandates a “Whole-Of-Nation” Approach in resolving the communist rebellion.

Under EO 70, LGUs shall take the lead in the conduct of local peace dialogues as a way of peacefully engaging the rebels and convincing them to return to the folds of the law. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1064566