NEGROS Occidental Gov. Bong Lacson led the turnover of the Payapa and Masaganang Pamayanan (Panama) and Development Acceleration Program-funded projects worth a total of P25 million in the peace and development community sites in Sitio Ilan and Sitio Mambinay in Barangay Locotan, Kabankalan City on Tuesday, November 26.
More than 800 beneficiaries availed of government services such as free medical and dental services, skills and livelihood training, free massage and haircut, and Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) enrollment, among others.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was also signed between the provincial government, the City Government of Kabankalan led by Mayor Pedro Zayco, and Kapatiran Para sa Progresong Panlipunan Inc. (Kapatiran) led by Veronica Tabara, and witnessed by Department of National Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano, 302nd Infantry Battalion Commander Colonel Noel Baluyan, Barangay Locotan Punong and Barangay Zhawrigley Dayon, and 6th District Board Member Jeffrey Tubola, among others.
The MOU aims to strengthen the mutual cooperation and peace building support, in particular, provide socio and economic reintegration for the Kapatirans in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's call for a whole-of-nation approach to end local conflict.
"For peace to be real, we must address, preserve and respect the core of humanity and human dignity and it must be the kind that leads no one behind," said Lacson.
The projects includes providing additional units of classroom, constructing a four-classroom school building, a day-care center, a multi-purpose building and health center, and rehabilitating the Locotan-Mambinay Road with canal lining.
The activity is also a highlight of the Negros Peace Week Celebration. (PR)