6 North Samar villages break free from NPA, get gov’t aid

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 29, 2021): 6 North Samar villages break free from NPA, get gov’t aid (By Sarwell Meniano)

ROAD TO PROGRESS. Officials visit the remote village of Hitapian in Catubig, Northern Samar for an outreach activity in this Jan. 14, 2021 photo. The village is one of six former rebel-infested areas in Eastern Visayas identified as a recipient of Barangay Development Program. (Photo courtesy of DILG-8)

The province of Northern Samar recently kicked off development projects in six communities previously infiltrated by the New People's Army (NPA).

The government earmarked PHP120 million, or PHP20 million for each village, Northern Samar provincial information officer Jhon Allen Berbon said in a phone interview.

The recipient communities are Hitapian, Osang and Nagoocan in Catubig town; San Miguel in Las Navas; Quezon in Catarman; and Calantiao in Bobon.

The Barangay Development Program, a hallmark program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), brings progress to former conflict-prone communities.

The NTF-ELCAC, created by virtue of Executive Order 70 issued on Dec. 4, 2018, is tasked to “provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the whole-of-nation approach to aid in the realization of collective aspirations for inclusive and sustainable peace.”

The projects include PHP31.93-million farm-to-market roads, PHP17.49-million water and sanitation system, PHP18.5-million health stations, PHP24.8-million school buildings, PHP11-million electrification, PHP10.05-million assistance to poor families, and PHP6.22-million agricultural and livelihood training assistance.

The funding has been released by the Department of Budget and Management to recipient local governments upon completion of required documentation.

Berbon said bidding is ongoing for infrastructure projects while proposals for the livelihood and skills training for some recipient villages are being finalized at the municipal level.

He said the program launch will be held in Las Navas next month.

“The whole-of-nation approach requires us to collaborate and cooperate to end insurgency. We need to push for these projects or else, the communist terrorist groups will come up with issues against the government,” Department of the Interior and Local Government Eastern Visayas Regional Director Arnaldo Escober Jr. said in a statement.

The Philippines' Anti-Terrorism Council has designated the Communist Party of the Philippines, NPA, and National Democratic Front as terrorist groups.

The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines also listed the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1158152