He said that in compliance with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's order to crush rebellion by 2010, Negros should follow what Cebu, Leyte and Bohol did.
He explained that the three provinces have reduced insurgency to a minimum.
"We have a very good example in these provinces where insurgency problem was reduced to a minimum because of the active participation of local government units (LGUs), especially their respective governors," he said.
Ibrado was commanding general of the Army's Central Command (CentCom) prior to his promotion as new Army chief of the country last May 14.
"There is really a need for more participation of local government units and other government agencies in Negros Occidental to address the root causes of insurgency," added Ibrado, who also made a courtesy call to Bacolod Bishop Navarra Thursday.
"If there is no delivery of basic services to areas affected by the insurgency problem, our efforts of enlightening the people on the real intention of the CPP-NPA and addressing the threats of the armed insurgents will only go to waste," he added.
Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, who also attended the ground breaking in Murcia, agreed with Ibrado's contention in fighting insurgency.
Escalante said mayors should also be in the forefront in solving the root causes of insurgency in their respective areas.
Ibrado, meanwhile, cited the efforts of Mayor Esteban Coscolluela in providing jobs and livelihood opportunities to rebel-returnees in Murcia.
He reiterated the stance of Arroyo that "if we put a stop to insurgency, the Philippines will the richest country in Asia."
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Nestor Ochoa, newly-installed 3rd Infantry Division commander, said they are targeting a reduction in the insurgency problem in Negros and Panay islands to an insignificant level by yearend.
At present, Western Visayas has 781 insurgency-affected barangays, 344 of which are in Negros Occidental, records from the Police Regional Office 6 revealed.
The New Peoples Army (NPA) also has an estimated 405 combatants, equivalent to a battalion-size unit of the Philippine Army, with more than 300 firearms, police records added. (EAD)
