BONTOC, Mountain Province – Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. demanded concerned government agencies tasked to implement various projects under the government’s Ending City Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) to be transparent on the interventions being implemented in identified conflict-stricken areas regionwide to avoid duplication that will result to eventual waste of public funds.
Lacwasan, who also brought the matter to the attention of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) during its recent fourth quarter meeting, pointed out that concerned government agencies tasked to provide interventions in conflict-stricken areas in the region should closely coordinate with the involved local governments to ensure there will be no duplication of projects so that local government funds will used for other interventions that will help in uplifting the living condition of the people in the said areas.
“We want to maximize the use of whatever available funds of local governments and concerned government agencies so that all the identified interventions will be realized and for conflict-stricken areas to achieve the desired lasting peace, a catalyst for sustainable growth and development,” Gov. Lacwasan stressed.
The governor underscored the provincial government has projects already funded by the provincial government and it is important for concerned agencies to coordinate their identified priority projects in the conflict-stricken areas so that funds will be maximized for the realization of lasting peace in the countryside.
Lacwasan made it a point to be present during the conduct of ELCAC gatherings in the identified conflict-stricken barangays in the province so that he can personally decide on matters of pressing concern raised by the people in the said areas for them to feel the presence of government right in their midst.
According to him, the regional ELCAC task force must review the list of their identified conflict-stricken and rebel-infested areas in the different parts of the region and work with the provincial task forces in the finalization of the said list considering there are areas in Mountain Province that were not previously included in the said list which have history of rebel attacks among other harassment operations in the past.
He pointed out it is best for regional and provincial ELCAC members to be present during the scheduled gatherings in the identified conflict-stricken areas so that they will be able to decide on what should be the appropriate interventions to be implemented by concerned government agencies and those that will be left with the local governments to help improve the prevailing situation in the said areas and contribute in efforts to uplift the living condition of the people in the remote villages as well as ensure increased economic activities and sources of livelihood of the people.
Lacwasan stated that it is still best for concerned government agencies and local governments to reach out to the people living in conflict-stricken areas for them to be appraised of their issues and concerns and give appropriate actions to the said problems of the people living in the rural areas for the realization of lasting peace. By HENT
