BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The national government through the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program continues the responsive delivery of basic services to barangays declared as insurgency-free to ensure conflict-resilient, sustainable and economically developed communities even in remote areas.
In the Cordillera, Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Director Araceli San Jose reported that from 2021 – 2024, there were 124 barangays that benefitted from the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) with a total funding of around P865.13 million for 215 priority projects identified in their respective Barangay Development Programs.
Of the 215 projects, 121 are farm – to – market roads, 32 water and sanitation systems, 25 health stations, 24 school buildings, 11 rural electrification (street lights, household), and two capacity building trainings.
The SBDP projects benefitted P120,944 individuals including school children, and generated 4,274 employment, San Jose said.
These projects were identified and prioritized based on the needs of the community through the Retooled Community Support Program. These are funded through the SBDP bankrolled under the Local Government Support Fund to address poverty, deliver basic services and usher development in geographically isolated areas that are declared as insurgency- free.
Through the other Regional Task Force- ELCAC Basic Sector Cluster member agencies, more programs and projects are delivered to SBDP barangay beneficiaries.
In 2024 alone, there were nine health stations improved and rehabilitated with a budget of P7 million, 18 Human Resource for Health were hired and deployed with P12.26 million funding, and 320 communal irrigation system repaired and restored, while another 129 were constructed.
Through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, social services programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, supplementary feeding program, social pension for indigents and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program were also delivered to the SBDP barangays with funding allotment of around P65.75 million.
To maintain insurgency – free communities in CAR, San Jose reported that 100 percent of the LGUs in the region composed of six provinces, one highly urbanized city, one component city, 75 municipalities and 1,178 barangays, have passed local legislations declaring the communist terrorist groups as persona non grata within their respective jurisdiction.
She also reiterated the call for a whole – of – society approach in finally ending the problem of insurgency and terrorism.
“Lahat tayo mula sa mga regional line agencies, ang ating mga CSOs, ang ating mga kababayan, lahat tayo may magagawa, lahat tayo kailangang magtulungan para mapagtagumpayan natin itong menace na ito, yung atingproblema sa insurgency at terrorism,” San Jose stressed.
“And of course, kailangang magkaisa tayo for long lasting peace and sustainable development,” she added. (JDP/CCD with Trishabel Cabico-PIA CAR-SLU Intern)
