Government gives more to CPLA

MORE benefits are lined up for the members of the Cordillera Bodong Administration–Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA–CPLA).

This was bared on the June 7 press release of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp).

The government continues to work on the completion of development projects in the region as part of the socioeconomic component of the memorandum of agreement it signed with the CBA-CPLA last July 4, 2011.

“Through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) or Pamana program, 24 community projects in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, and Mountain Province are currently being implemented. These include road construction and rehabilitation, irrigation, multipurpose center construction, electrification, nursery building, and ambulance procurement, among others,” the Opapp press release said.

The office states that “at least ten of these projects are by now 30–60 percent complete and the rest are either on the bidding or testing stage”.

Under the livelihood and employment pillar of the government-CBA-CPLA agreement, Opapp, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry-CAR, recently held a series of enterprise development orientations in Abra, Mountain Province, Benguet, Apayao, and Kalinga.

Next in line for the CBA-CPLA members is a more extensive three-month business development class.

Pamana is government’s program and framework for peace and development in areas affected by conflict and communities covered by existing peace agreements.

It aims to reduce poverty, improve governance, and empower communities in situations of conflict.