MANILA, (PIA) -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Felicito A. Valmocina on Tuesday, April 30, hailed the government's localized approach in combating communist insurgency, saying it has "effectively weakened" communist rebel forces in most areas.

"This is good because it followed the right way of bringing down the insurgency to the barangay (village) level and encouraging constituents through an information campaign," Valmocina said in an interview with PIA-NCR, following the launch of the Barangay Malinta Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Valenzuela City.

"Barangays really need to be active participants because if we don't make an effort, when will this end?" he added.

(Photo by John Lester M. Naguna/PIA-NCR)

Valmocina cited the nearly 80-90 percent success rate from deploying the whole-of-nation approach down to communities. He urged sustaining the momentum, calling on Filipinos to unite instead of harboring grievances that insurgents exploit.

Part of the strategy involves bringing basic services to remote areas deprived of government support, which rebels take advantage of. The DILG, under Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.'s leadership, now prioritizes infrastructure and livelihood projects in the countryside.

In Valenzuela City, the newly launched Barangay Malinta Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict aims to be a command center monitoring not just rebel threats but also criminality, according to Dennis Godfrey F. Gammad, the regional director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

Through the barangay-level task force, issues will be quickly addressed and concerns relayed to relevant agencies, he said.

Gammad estimated it may take 1-2 more years to defeat the insurgency in Metro Manila before transitioning to a peace and development phase. "We are already very successful right now. What we're doing is protecting and preserving our achievements," he said.

Valmocina also underscored the benefits of unity over harboring resentments against the government, saying "If we unite until the end, there will be fewer problems."

Officials and stakeholders, meanwhile, also thanked Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian for extending his support to the proactive anti-insurgency effort. (PIA-NCR)