Surigao Norte town eyes programs vs insurgency amid pandemic

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 22, 2021): Surigao Norte town eyes programs vs insurgency amid pandemic (By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales)

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- “This administration will not stop delivering equality and equitable public services and better governance.”

This was the statement of Sison town mayor Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia on the local government’s efforts to address and end insurgency in their area.

In her guesting in the Laging Handa Network Briefing episode today, January 22, the local official hinted some of their plans to address pressing concerns on insurgency, particularly on infrastructure.

“Yung concreting of roads… yun talaga ang main concern dito sa amin since there are still [some] dilapidated roads in Sison na nagpapahirap for the transportation of our agricultural products,” the mayor said.

They plan on using their Assistance to Municipalities funds for last year from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to construct local access roads. The mayor hinted that the project is in preparation for their housing project for local farmers.

Last week, the local government was able to implement the Community Support Program (CSP) in Brgy. Ima after having been cleared from the influence of communist terrorist groups, which required neutralizing more than 100 residents who supported the leftist cause.

“Plan namin po na pagbutihin talaga yung services namin. We have to package all our services and bring them to the grassroots level. Yun talaga yung aim namin,” Mayor Fetalvero-Paronia said.

As they continue to pursue the fight against insurgency, the local government is also hopeful for the establishment of the Provincial Mobile Force Company in their town to better equip the local police force. A hectare of land was donated for such a project.

Ending insurgency is paramount to what the town mayor has envisioned for Sison, which is to transform it into the main government hub in the province. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has already established its provincial office in the area. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) provincial office is expected to establish its own office in the town as well. Next on that list is, hopefully, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) office, she said.

“[In] the soonest possible time, Sison will soar high and rise among the municipalities here in Surigao del Norte after masolve namin ang insurgency. We have a lot to offer here. Malaki po yung future ng Sison na we will be able to surpass all these things,” said Mayor Fetalvero-Paronia. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1064650