65 villages in Davao de Oro benefit from BDP

From the Manila Times (Aug 31, 2021): 65 villages in Davao de Oro benefit from BDP (By Ruth Palo)

A total of 129 projects under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict's (NTF-Elcac) Barangay Development Program (BDP) have already been implemented in 65 barangay (villages) in Davao de Oro.

Out of the 129 projects, 119 of which are infrastructure projects while the other 10 are livelihood projects and other forms of assistance.

The NTF-Elcac has so far identified 65 qualified barangay in the province. The villages have identified their priority projects through community consultations on the Retooled Community Support Program facilitated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and provincial and local government units.

These projects include 64 road projects; 26 water systems; seven electrification; seven school buildings; seven health centers; one evacuation center; two flood control; one slope protection; four streetlights; seven assistance to indigents; and three livelihood programs.

The BDP, a hallmark program of NTF-Elcac with the end goal of bringing development to former conflict-prone communities, has identified 822 barangay across the country benefiting from the program.

These villages were former guerilla fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Davao de Oro has been a stronghold of armed rebels. In fact, 11 NPA units had been identified operating in the area in 2016.

Currently, according to the provincial government, only one NPA unit remains in Davao de Oro and more than 800 former rebels have returned to the folds of the law, which resulted in the improved business competitiveness rating of the province.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/08/31/news/regions/65-villages-in-davao-de-oro-benefit-from-bdp/1812953