CARAGA RTF-ELCAC CAPACITATES LGUS TO ATTAIN COMMON GOALS VS INSURGENCY

By Jennifer P. Gaitano The local government units (LGUs) with its respective officials actively participated during the Levelling and Consultation Session conducted by the Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) held on Thursday. Through the help of the resource persons, participants were capacitated in addressing various issues and concerns that would directly or indirectly resolve the insurgency problem in the region. The said activity was aimed to further capacitate the local Task Force with the knowledge on the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPPNPA-NDF) strategies, tactics, programs; emphasize the need to address the 10 CTG programs; synchronize the effort from the national down to the regional, provincial, city, municipality and barangay level Task Forces; and sustain the gains of the task force’s efforts in ending local communists’ armed conflict. Cabinet Sec. Karlo Alexei Nograles, Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Caraga, stressed that ending local communists armed conflict still remains as a top priority of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. And this levelling session and consultation was aimed to provide guidance to all instrumentalities of the government in Caraga region to achieve this common goal. “This activity also aims to generate active support and involvement of all sectors thru a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach in fighting insurgency in the region,” added Nograles. The official further reiterated that the president is keen on putting an end to local communists armed conflict under his administration. “With this levelling session and consultation in the region, we hoped to attain a common understanding on the battle against the CPP-NPAs, and ensure economic development and security particularly