MALIBCONG, Abra (PIA) – Seven far-flung barangays in the municipality of Malibcong, Abra participated in the Local Peace Engagement and Community Consultation from August 20-21, 2024.
Philippine Army’s 24th Infantry “Wildcat” Battalion Commanding Officer LtCol. Jose Wilfredo G. Panes shared that the peace caravan and consultation aims to strengthen peace and development initiatives in the grassroots.
“Nandito yung iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno na handang tumulong sa inyo. Nandito sila ngayon para iparating ito sa inyo at pakinggan din natin ang mga pangangailangan ninyo at maiparating sa nakakataas,” he said.
During the two-day consultation, residents of barangays Mataragan, Pacgued, Dulao, Bayabas, Umnap, Buanao, and Lat-ey raised issues and concerns which were clarified and addressed in the open forums.
The Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) was also explained to encourage former members of communist terrorist groups and Militia ng Bayan including their families to avail of the program that can help them start anew in the mainstream society.
Participants of the peace caravan also benefited from the services and programs of the different government agencies such as the dishwashing liquid making demonstration by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), free medical check-up by the Municipal Health Office, free haircut services and feeding activity by the Philippine Army.
Malibcong Vice-Mayor Leon Tadeo Jr. expressed optimism with the strengthening of partnership formed through the peace caravan.
“Partnership and cooperation have always been key for the transformation and development of our community. Collaboration with the government agencies is the key factor for moving forward,” he stressed.
He added the community consultations are instrumental to openly and peacefully discussing issues affecting the people who are the priority in the development agenda.
The Local Peace Engagement and Community Consultation was led by the 24th IB in partnership with the Malibcong local government unit, TESDA-Abra, Department of Agrarian Reform-Abra, and other government agencies.
Said activity is among the efforts under a whole-of-nation approach to end local communist terrorist armed conflict institutionalized through Executive Order No. 70. (JJPM, PIA-CAR, Abra)
