94 MORE VILLAGES IN CARAGA TO RECEIVE AID UNDER RCSP

Ninety-four (94) more barangays in Caraga Region will now be included in the implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP), Cabinet Secretary and the region’s Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) Karlo Nograles said Thursday, September 30.

In his keynote speech during the regional launching of the Duterte Legacy Campaign - Barangayanihan Caravan held in Cabadbaran City, CabSec. Nograles said an addition of 94 conflict-affected and geographicallyisolated barangays will now be included in the implementation of the RCSP in 2022.

“Our endeavor to address local communist armed conflict in the region in order to improve the lives of all Caraganons, especially those threatened by the Communist Terrorist Groups, will not stop amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the regional CORDS said.

The newly added barangays will undergo the same RCSP activities that the initial RCSP priority barangays underwent which include conduct of Serbisyo Caravans, convergence meetings, workshops on crafting/enhancing their BDPs, and capacity development activities for the Barangay Based Institutions, among others.

Meanwhile, CabSec. Nograles is ‘happy’

to report that all local chief executives of barangays who are part of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) beneficiaries have expressed support and recognition of the accomplishments of the BDP in uplifting their communities’ living conditions and in improving their areas.

As of September 2021, of the 357 Barangay Development Projects (BDP) of the initial list of 191 priority barangays, 133 projects or 37.25% have been approved and are ready for procurement preparation; 185 projects or 51.82% are now under the procurement process which includes posting, pre-bid conferences, and opening of bids. The construction of 39 projects is now ongoing, the CORDS reported.

He also noted that a series of peace dialogues and service caravans were also conducted in farflung communities and interventions to address the socio-economic condition in these geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas were also continued which have provided holistic opportunities for residents of these areas.

For this, he cites the successful law enforcement operations and the collaborative efforts of all the Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTFELCAC) members and the joint mechanism of the Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order Council, which yielded encouraging improvements with a dramatic increase of rebel surrenderees resulting to a reduction of insurgency-related crimes in the region.

“The issue of insurgency has been one of the stumbling blocks for attaining sustainable peace and development in Caraga. [But] with all the accomplishments gained two years since its creation, the Task Force is well prepared to sustain the momentum. And soon enough, we will finally attain lasting peace and prosperity in the region,” the cabinet secretary said. (DMNR/ PIA-Caraga)