SUPPORT FROM IPS. Vergelio Santiago Sr. (left) and David Amador, both Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives for Tapaz, Capiz, and Janiuay, Iloilo respectively, on Wednesday (Dec. 18, 2019) express their support for the administration's thrust to end the local communist armed conflict. Santiago and Amador participated in the three-day regional action planning workshop facilitated by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in support of Executive Order 70. (PNA Photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY -- The "whole-of-nation approach" in ending the local communist armed conflict has solicited the commitment of the indigenous peoples in Panay through their Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR).
The indigenous cultural communities and the indigenous people’s leaders were gathered here for a three-day regional action-planning workshop facilitated by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, in support of the Executive Order 70, which institutionalizes a "whole-of-nation approach" against insurgency.
In an interview on the sidelines of the workshop on Wednesday, Vergelio Santiago Sr., a member of Panay Bukidnon and IPMR in the Sangguniang Bayan in the municipality of Tapaz, Capiz, expressed his support to the government’s fight to end the insurgency.
Santiago bared his priority plans for the IPs in Tapaz, with the opening of road networks in upland areas as his priority.
“We need road networks because we saw that it prevents those from the other side (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) to visit our villages. In the lowlands, where there are road networks, they are not usually seen,” Santiago said.
With the help of its local chief executive, Santiago said the villages of Rizal Norte, Maliao, Aglupacan, Siya, Hilwan, and Minan will soon have a 70-kilometer road network.
The budget for the road construction is included in the 2020 annual budget of Tapaz, he said.
Santiago reaches out to rebels by informing them of the services and programs offered by the government.
“We are happy to say that they do not prevent the entry of government projects, like the roads in the area. I talked to them that the project of the government will benefit the locals, and they should not stop the projects entering the villages,” he said, noting that his influence as IPMR also encouraged some six CPP-NPA members to return to the fold of the law.
“As IPMR, I also protect our youth in the villages not to join the armed struggle, and encourage the rebels to surrender to the government,” he said.
Meanwhile, David Amador, a member of Panay Bukidnon and IPMR in the Sangguniang Bayan in the municipality of Janiuay, Iloilo, said rebels are sometimes seen moving around the villages of Barasalon, Atinmonan, and Canawillian but do not stay.
“We do not have a problem with peace and order in our IP communities,” he said. The neighboring town of Maasin is more affected by the presence of NPA members.
Now an ex-officio member of the Janiuay SB, Amador said he can easily air to the local government any issues affecting the IPs.
He expressed his full support to the Executive Order 70 to also protect the IPs in Panay Bukidnon in Janiuay from the atrocities of the CPP-NPA.
“We push for genuine peace. The government can expect support from the IPs in Janiuay for the EO 70,” he said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089080
The indigenous cultural communities and the indigenous people’s leaders were gathered here for a three-day regional action-planning workshop facilitated by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, in support of the Executive Order 70, which institutionalizes a "whole-of-nation approach" against insurgency.
In an interview on the sidelines of the workshop on Wednesday, Vergelio Santiago Sr., a member of Panay Bukidnon and IPMR in the Sangguniang Bayan in the municipality of Tapaz, Capiz, expressed his support to the government’s fight to end the insurgency.
Santiago bared his priority plans for the IPs in Tapaz, with the opening of road networks in upland areas as his priority.
“We need road networks because we saw that it prevents those from the other side (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) to visit our villages. In the lowlands, where there are road networks, they are not usually seen,” Santiago said.
With the help of its local chief executive, Santiago said the villages of Rizal Norte, Maliao, Aglupacan, Siya, Hilwan, and Minan will soon have a 70-kilometer road network.
The budget for the road construction is included in the 2020 annual budget of Tapaz, he said.
Santiago reaches out to rebels by informing them of the services and programs offered by the government.
“We are happy to say that they do not prevent the entry of government projects, like the roads in the area. I talked to them that the project of the government will benefit the locals, and they should not stop the projects entering the villages,” he said, noting that his influence as IPMR also encouraged some six CPP-NPA members to return to the fold of the law.
“As IPMR, I also protect our youth in the villages not to join the armed struggle, and encourage the rebels to surrender to the government,” he said.
Meanwhile, David Amador, a member of Panay Bukidnon and IPMR in the Sangguniang Bayan in the municipality of Janiuay, Iloilo, said rebels are sometimes seen moving around the villages of Barasalon, Atinmonan, and Canawillian but do not stay.
“We do not have a problem with peace and order in our IP communities,” he said. The neighboring town of Maasin is more affected by the presence of NPA members.
Now an ex-officio member of the Janiuay SB, Amador said he can easily air to the local government any issues affecting the IPs.
He expressed his full support to the Executive Order 70 to also protect the IPs in Panay Bukidnon in Janiuay from the atrocities of the CPP-NPA.
“We push for genuine peace. The government can expect support from the IPs in Janiuay for the EO 70,” he said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089080
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