Include AFP in planning dev’t projects: Official

From the Sun Star-Cebu (Mar 12, 2019): Include AFP in planning dev’t projects: Official

THE 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) proposed during the joint Regional Development Council (RDC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meetings to include the security sector in development planning.

Brigadier General Ignacio Madriaga, 302nd Brigade commander in Region 7, said if they are involved in development planning, they can harmonize development and security programs especially in rebel-infested areas. The RDC chaired by international designer Kenneth Cobonpue and RPOC chaired by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III held a joint meeting on March 11 to tackle not only the anti-illegal drug campaign as a matter of National Security Policy, but several government projects that remained unimplemented due to security problems.

“Normally, the biggest gap is that economic planners and security officials have different indicators. Of course, the planners look at economic indicators, while the security sector looks at the security aspect,” Madriaga said.

The official suggested economic development, with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), must be brought to areas infested by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to uplift the lives of the people.

“We must counter the CPP-NPA propaganda that an area has no development because the government has forgotten and neglected them,” Madriaga said.

In the same RDC-RPOC meeting, Cobonpue said they will request the PA’s 53rd Engineering Brigade to undertake the construction of schools in various areas because contractors will not participate in bidding due to security reasons.

Madriaga said that if the engineering brigade will take over projects like school buildings, this is subject to Commission on Audit rules and regulations.

He added the AFP at present has added engineering brigades to help the government in implementing projects in areas with communist threats.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1796587