PLGU calls support to ELCAC to keep Sibugay insurgency-free

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Apr. 06 (PIA) - to sustain the gains of End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program, there needs to be continued support, “para ‘di magkaroon muli ng communist-terrorist groups (CTGs) sa probinsya ,” said Provincial Task Force (PTF)-ELCAC focal Engr. Romel Duran during Kapihan program. 

He said, when the province was declared insurgency-free in 2020, the national government downloaded in 2021, P80M funds under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) component of ELCAC.
 
The said fund was intended for the Four barangay-beneficiaries used to be affected by insurgency that included Brgy Guinoman in Diplahan town; Balagon, Siay municipality; Lacnapan in Kabasalan and Tampilisan.
 
Each barangay was allocated P20M for the development of their area that included infrastructure projects, livelihood, communication line , and electrification.
 
“Panawagan ko po na importanteng ma sustain po lahat ng gains of ELCAC kahit magpalit na ng administrasyon, if not, may possibility na babalik po sila,” Engr. Duran said .
 
He also called on partner agencies to still provide and include in their agency Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) in 2023, efforts to sustain the gains of ELCAC.
 
“Sayang if di ito ma sustain, nasimulan na natin ‘to at malaki ang tulong na naibigay sa community, nawala ang kaso ng insurgency sa probinsya, mas tumaas ang tiwala sa gobyerno dahil natutugunan at natutulungan ang mga tao sa far-flung communities, mga IPs,” Duran said.
 
Engr. Duran gave update as to the status of project implementation in the said 4 BDP areas. He said Road concreting in Balagon-Siay, and Guinoman in Diplahan, is 100% complete; while other infra projects are still ongoing;  livelihood support like poultry, piggery, enterprise development is still at its 25 to 35%  implementaton due to few issues on procurement process, while there are cases of rebidding and water system is almost complete, he enumerated. (JPA / Zamboanga Sibugay)