Iloilo gov’t maintains local peace engagement work to win rebels

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 16, 2024): Iloilo gov’t maintains local peace engagement work to win rebels (By Perla Lena)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. Immediate relatives of the New People's Army rebels killed in encounters with government troops meet with Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. (seated) at the provincial capitol on Monday (Aug. 12, 2024). Defensor said Thursday (Aug. 15, 2024) that the local peace engagement is working to help rebels return to the fold of the government. (Photo from 301st Infantry Brigade)

ILOILO CITY – The provincial government here said the local peace engagement continues to work to entice more rebels to return to the fold of the government.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said Thursday the province is doing everything to make the local peace engagement work with stakeholders under the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).

Defensor issued the statement after the series of encounters between government troopers and members of the New People's Army in the province that led to the death of seven rebels last week.

He said it was unfortunate that lives were lost during these clashes.

"We have a problem with armed conflict right now, something that we do not like, something that nobody likes. We have an encounter in the mountains and we have seven casualties," Defensor said in an interview.

He said that in helping insurgents, they are treated like other residents seeking government support, such as those looking for jobs.

The provincial government also provides funds to develop the barangays where they live.

"The solution is development. We will help them, so we can make it easier to bring them back to the fold," the governor added.

He said the projects targeted for implementation under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP), which were not immediately implemented for various reasons, would be pursued nonetheless.

In 2021, the province was allocated PHP720 million – PHP634.06 million or 123 infrastructure projects, and PHP85.49 million for capacity development projects.

The province completed the implementation of 91 projects, while 69 have yet to be finished and five have not yet been implemented.

Unspent funds were returned to the Bureau of the Treasury.

Defensor said he would ask the Department of Budget and Management to release the funds returned to the treasury.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231308