Dev’t funds await 160 conflict-free NorMin villages

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 5, 2021): Dev’t funds await 160 conflict-free NorMin villages

UPDATES. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar (left) interviews Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, during the CORDS X podcast on Saturday (Dec. 4, 2021). Brawner gave updates on the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and Support to Barangay Development Program in Northern Mindanao. (CORDS X screenshot)

An official of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army said on Saturday that the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) has identified 160 conflict-free villages across Northern Mindanao eligible for anti-insurgency projects in 2022.

During an interview in the CORDS X podcast on Saturday night, Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., 4ID commander, said efforts are underway to include the identified villages for project funding under the National Task Force (NTF)-ELCAC’s banner program, Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP).

He assured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ support and commitment is unwavering.

“Sinisiguro po natin doon sa barangay na hindi po natin sila pababayaan. That is why very important itong SBDP dahil ito po ‘yung mga proyekto na magdadala ng basic services sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po doon sa mga malalayong lugar (We assure the barangay that we will not neglect them. That is why the SBDP is very important because it has projects that will bring basic services closer to the people, especially those in far-flung areas),” he told Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary and podcast host Martin Andanar.

“Alam naman po natin na one of the root causes of the insurgency is the non-delivery of basic services to the constituents (We know that one of the root causes of insurgency is the non-delivery of basic services to the constituents),” Brawner added.

Brawner noted that their agency is responsible for leading the Community Support Program for conflict-affected areas.

He also sought the support of the public on the efforts of the government to put an end to the insurgency that has been haunting the country for the past five decades.

“Itong NTF-ELCAC ay napakagandang programa po dahil ito ay nagbibigay ng mga benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po dun sa mga malalayong lugar. Sana po ay suportahan natin ito nang sa gayun (The NTF-ELCAC is a good program because the people in remote areas are benefitting from it. I hope that you will also support this so) we can put an end to the problems of the local communist armed conflict,” Brawner said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1161858