Motiong Mayor Renato Cabael
The newly elected mayor of the municipality of Motiong in the province of Samar has asked the government to NOT YET declare their town as insurgency free area until such time that all the development projects funded by PAMANA will be finished.
PAMANA (PAyapa at MAsaganang PAmayanan or Peaceful and Resilient Communities) is the national government's peace and development framework for empowering conflict-affected areas spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and supported by concerned government line agencies, local government units (LGUs) and civil society groups.
PAMANA follows a so-called "convergence strategy" to close the development gaps, such as building roads and similar infrastructure impeovements, in conflict-affected ones, where they are needed the most.
According to Mayor Renato Cabael, there are six barangays in his municipality considered as influenced by the New People's Army: San Andres, Biri, Barayong, Malonoy, Kawalayanan and Pamamas-an.
Three PAMANA road and bridge projects worth PhP496 million are expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2017.
The farm-to-market roads aim to help the farmers readily transport their produce to the town proper.
Mayor Cabael's reasoning for wanting to hold off the declaration of his town as "insurgency free" is that his constituents fear the disruption of development aid assistance with the status change. They want the OPAPP aid to continue so more because there are still development issues oor needs that remain unmet.
Nevertheless, Cabael acknowledged the direct impact of the peace talks between the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines-New People's Army and the Government of the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte's new administration: "Malaki ang epekto ng peace talks, kasi kumagat talaga ang ceasefire at nagkaroon ng kapayapaan. Dati kasi yung mga nasa upland barangays nakatira ay natatakot kung merong military operations at magkakasalubongan sila ng mga combatants. Kasi syempre minsan pag mag isa kalang sa bundok nagtatanim, pagkakamalan ka pang symphatizer. Pero ngayon na fully implemented na ang ceasefire, wala nang agam-agam ang mga tao," said Cabael. (The peace talks and the cease fire have a big impact on the peace and order situation. Before, those living in the upland villages were fearful of getting caught in the crossfire of the combatants, or being suspected as a sympathizer of either side. Now the apprehensiveness is gone.)
"They can concentrate now on their livelihood. Talagang nararamdaman naming ang direct effect ng peace talks (That is the direct effect of the peace talks that is profoundly felt)," he added.
With the projects of the PAMANA still pending in his municipality, Cabael is asking OPPAP not to declare yet their town as free from insurgency until such time that the road and other development projects are already finished.
Meanwhile, aside from PAMANA funded projects, the Department of Welfare and Development through their KALAHI-CIDSS program, implemented water system projects and at the same time constructed a rice mill that is maintained by a farmer's association at Brgy New Minarog, Motiong Samar.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133134/mayor-asks-opapp-to-not-yet-declare-motiong-insurgency-free
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