Philippine Army declares IPSP Bayanihan in Negros successful

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Philippine Army officials in Negros island said the implementation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan on the area is a success.

This was the general assessment of Colonel Francisco Delfin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental, and Lieutenant Colonel Roderick Garcia, commander of the 79th Infantry Battalion based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.

Delfin and Garcia issued their statements in an interview following a weekend meeting by the local Bantay Bayanihan, a multi-sectoral group tasked to monitor the implementation of the IPSP Bayanihan in Negros Oriental.

According to Delfin, the people are responding positively to the various activities being implemented under IPSP Bayanihan for peace and development. Unlike in the past where people would cower in fear or even hide upon seeing uniformed Army soldiers, today the citizenry welcomes the presence of these government troops in their communities, he said.

The transformation program puts emphasis on professionalism and “adherence to international human rights laws”, Delfin stressed. “You can see that our operations now are not tainted with complaints of human rights violations,” he said.

Garcia, for his part, pointed at the peace initiatives in the 2nd and 3rd districts of Negros Oriental where “conflict has been managed.” The operations and activities of the New People’s Army have “scaled down” in these areas, he said, citing the local government units and the CSOs for their support and cooperation in the peace efforts.

After these areas were cleared of the insurgency problem, the 79th IB is now into non-traditional efforts such as participating in socio-civic activities like tree planting, Brigada Eskwela, coastal clean-up, and medical and dental missions, among others, Garcia said.

These non-combat activities have actually brought the Army closer to the people. “We just want the people to know that we are here to help alleviate their lives and for peace and development to take place in their area,” he said.

The 79th IB, Garcia said, also provides manpower to the Philippine National Police (PNP) when needed as well as being on call 24/7 during disasters and other emergencies.

When asked what will happen when the IPSP Bayanihan terminates at the end of this year, Delfin assured the public that the higher headquarters of the AFP is continuously assessing the campaign to determine if there is a need for its continuation.

The IPSP Bayanihan is a campaign of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and shared and co-authored by other stakeholders in the non-government sector in winning the peace and reeled off on January 1, 2010. (FREEMAN)