PAMANA set to start peace road

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 16): PAMANA set to start peace road

Former members of the armed group Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Bongcayao Brigade who have long returned to the folds of the government will now have better road access to their settlement area.

The local government of San Carlos and the PAMANA program or the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process is set to start the road project as a commitment of the national government to continue peace programs against insurgency.

The city government represented by City Mayor Gerardo P. Valmayor, Jr. entered into a work contract for the improvement of a 3-kilometer Pagbatangan-Nangka-Crossing Magasin Road (Boundary) at Brgy.
Bagonbon with OPELL Construction and Development Corporation as contractor last for the amount of P8.8M after a public bidding conducted earlier.

According to Mariel Avenir, Project Development Officer III of the City Planning and Development Coordinator’s Office, the entire project is funded under the PAMANA in the amount of P9,750,000 and counter-parted by the city government at P975,000.

Avenir cited that the project is an improvement of an existing gravel road where a portion of 500 meters will be concreted particularly at upper Sitio Nangka where the 117 registered former armed group and their families reside.

Avenir added that after said project’s completion next year OPAPP PAMANA will grant the amount of P16.5M to the city to continue with the rest of the road project.

According to the contract, road construction will be within 264 working days with expected completion on July 8, 2015.

The beneficiaries of said project who are former armed group identified the site in 2012 during the consultation with the local technical working group represented by various local agencies and representatives of the OPAPP who helped with the closure program with said rebel returnees.

These returnees have grouped themselves into a People’s Organization, the Kapatiran Para sa Progresibong Panlipunan to which livelihood projects and other basic facilities will also be provided by the OPAPP PAMANA thru the city government.

PAMANA is the national government program and framework for peace and development for conflict affected areas aimed at reducing poverty, improving governance and empowering communities.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1031402897102