BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Mountain Province’s Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) underwent reorganization and a name change, becoming the Provincial Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) Team, as per the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2023-46.
Evelyn B. Trinidad, DILG-Mountain Province Provincial Director, explained that the RCSP is designed to bolster the military’s CSP initiatives and shift the focus towards local government units. The program has proven effective in empowering local communities and reducing the influence of communist terrorist groups, according to Trinidad.
Sheren S. Fabag, Local Government Operations Officer, described the RCSP as a tool for local governments to identify and address issues within their communities and devise necessary government interventions.
Fabag outlined six key processes under the RCSP. The first is pre-immersion, involving strategic planning and organization. The second is immersion, which includes community consultations, the Serbisyo Caravan, and the enhancement of Barangay Development Plans (BDPs).
Post-immersion, the third step, involves town hall sessions and cooperation with higher Local Government Units. The fourth process, capacity development, focuses on empowering Barangay-based institutions through capacity-building activities.
The last two processes involve implementing programs, projects, and activities based on consultation results and monitoring and evaluation.
For 2024, RCSP has targeted 17 barangays from four municipalities of Mountain Province. The beneficiaries include Alab Proper, Balili, Bayyo, Maligcong, Talubin of Bontoc; Saliok, Maducayan of Natonin; Bun-ayan, Camatagan, Lagan, Losad, Poblacion, Tambingan of Sabangan; and Antadao, Kilong, Tetep-an Norte, and Tetep-an Sur of Sagada. By Daryle C. Fayofay
