RIZAL, Kalinga – The Cordillera Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) holds the first groundbreaking ceremony for support to barangay development projects as part of the country’s whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict on May 24, 2021.
The National Task Force of ELCAC allocated PHP20 million to Barangay Babalag East, Rizal Kalinga for three projects: a PHP15 million farm-to-market road, a PHP2 million health center, and a P3 million water work system.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. sees the realization of a whole-of-nation approach in a speech delivered by National Security Council Deputy Director General Vicente Agdamag and enjoins everyone to work together to finally put an end to the decades-long communist armed conflict and other terrorist activities.
“The country’s goal of finally putting an end to decades of global insurgency is coming true. I eagerly await the presentation of other projects in each city and province of the region. Let us work together to finally put an end to the decades-long communist armed conflict and other terrorist activities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo Iringan underscored that this initiative requires not just a military solution but rather a whole of nation approach to completely solve the problem we have in our midst.
“We need to have nurturing LGUs that will create an environment where the people can flourish and caring citizens who will fully support their local officials,” he said.
Furthermore, DILG CAR OIC-Regional Director Araceli San Jose requested community members’ assistance in monitoring and ensuring the proper implementation of these projects.
“Rest assured that we in the Regional Line Agencies (RLAs) and national government will also be closely monitoring these projects as part of ensuring good governance,” she said.
During the ceremony, Kalinga Governor Ferdinand Tubban emphasized the importance of welcoming former rebels back into the fold of the law in order to demonstrate the government’s desire to put an end to insurgency.
Rizal, Kalinga Mayor Karl Baac together with Punong Barangay Jose Rey Jambaro II, Lone Representative Allen Jesse Mangaoang enjoined the community to help address insurgency particularly in the upland municipalities of the province, and urged partners to collaborate for the successful implementation of all three projects under the National Government’s Support to Barangay Development Program.
By Pamela Mariz T. Geminiano
