GOVERNOR Dennis Pineda bared Monday, June 7, the Provincial Government's efforts, via the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Elcac) provincial task force, to achieve and maintain peace and order in Pampanga amid the raging coronavirus pandemic.
During the virtual Barangay Levelling Session on the Localization of Executive Order 70, otherwise known as the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict, attended by some 400 government officials in the province, Pineda said “this [insurgency] remains a major challenge in achieving local peace and order.”
"To respond to this issue, we have conducted various programs such as dialogue with the Clark locators’ employee unions,” Pineda said, adding the Provincial Elcac Task Force has provided briefings and orientation for teachers, youth, and indigenous peoples to educate them and avert their involvement with insurgent groups.
“We have also coordinated with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to provide land titles to our Aeta brothers and sisters, and provide other necessary assistance to them. We also built a hospital in Clark for employees, and provide livelihood assistance to the insurgents who surrendered to our task force,” the governor added.
While thanking government for providing an avenue to discuss the important issue of insurgency in the country, Pineda assured that the moves are just some of the efforts initiated by the provincial task force and more are in the pipeline.
For her part, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia acknowledged the efforts of the different agencies and local governments in assisting them and the uniformed personnel to address the problem of insurgency.
“For 50 years, our government has continued to fight insurgency not only in the mountains, but also in the lowlands. That is why we continue to come up with ways to address the challenges brought by this,” Fabia said.
She also acknowledged the crucial role of mayors and punong barangays to successfully combat insurgency in the province.
“You have big roles to play. Hopefully, after this activity, you [local officials], with the support of every DILG officer in your locality, will work together so that we can finally achieve a peaceful and prosperous community,” Fabia said.
Topics discussed include the Communist Terrorist Groups’ Framework, Executive Order 70 and the 12 National Clusters Framework and the Joint Regional Task Force Undertakings, Concerns and Ways Forward.
Pampanga is the third to hold the levelling session in Central Luzon after Aurora and Zambales. (JTD/With PIA-Central Luzon)