THE National Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), through its Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP), turned over farm tractors to seven recipient-barangays in Escalante City on Monday, October 11.
The distribution, held at the city's gymnasium, was led by the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the City Government of Escalante.
Barangays Paitan and Dian-ay each received two tractors, while Barangays Mabini, Libertad, Pinapugasan, Udtungan and Washington had one tractor each.
The needs of the concerned barangays were identified through the result of the retooled Community Support Program.
Among these needs included farm-to-market roads, health centers, electrification, water and sanitation facilities, schools, and livelihood projects, among others.
Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap Jr., in a statement, said the national government, Philippine Army and Armed Forces have done their share to help these barangays.
Yap noted that their place is already peaceful, and they cannot win the war against insurgency, in a bloody way alone.
He said they will bring government closer to the people.
"I can assure you, we are working overnight to serve you all our beloved Escalantehanon and I am proud to announce that the concreting projects of NTF-Elcac in our hinterland barangays are now ongoing," Yap said.
"We will commit that we will pursue this NTF-Elcac projects of our government no matter what happens," he added.
Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander 303rd Infantry Brigade, said the SBDP event marked the beginning of the roll-out of their goal to clear the province of Communist People of the Philippines-New People's Army-Nationalist Democratic Front affectation.
Pasaporte said these projects would bring benefits not only to the recipient barangays but also to the entire province in general.
"Your Army in Negros together with the local government units are here to support and promote peace and order in the province and gratefully take our part as a member of this SBDP to capacitate the Geographically Displaced and Isolated Areas (Gida) and eradicate the insurgency of rebels in Negros Island," said.