OPAV to cops, military: Make Central Visayas insurgency-free

CEBU, Philippines — Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino has urged concerned government agencies including the police and military in making Region 7 insurgency-free by 2021.

At present, there are 15 barangays in six towns in Negros Oriental that were identified as insurgent-infested areas that the government wants to be free from insurgency.

Dino said that with all their combined efforts, he is positive that, Central Visayas will be insurgency-free in 2021. Along with this, he said the region will experience sustainable peace and economic upsurge.

Dino, speaking before the Regional Convergence Workshop on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), said that the Philippines, has been burdened by the proliferation of communist terrorist groups through the years.

This problem started way back in the 1960s and the past administrations have attempted to put an end to this perennial challenge and unfortunately this problem persists until today, he said.

To address this issue, President Duterte has put in place Executive Order No. 70 that institutionalizes a whole of nation approach in ending local communist armed conflict, and designating his secretaries as Cabinet Officers for Regional Development for Security (CORDS) in order to operationalize the EO.

"I am happy that we are all gathered here today, determined not only to neutralize the communist terrorist groups, but also to secure peace that is sustainable paving the way for national growth and development to the satisfaction of our citizenry," Dino said.

He emphasized that in order to have sustainable peace, not only will these terrorist groups will have to be dealt with force in order to neutralize them and cut off whatever support they are receiving, but also address their needs by providing them with accessible and reliable basic services.

Dino said that since the start of the Duterte administration, the Gobyerno Serbisyo, which is now called Serbisyong Malasakit, was launched by OPAV bringing the government's frontline services closest to the people, especially the poorest of the poor.

It played a vital role in creating a close partnership between OPAV and other national government agencies and LGUs streamlining the delivery of basic services through a one-stop shop.

Dino added that as one of the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development for Security (CORDS), who serve as President Rodrigo Duterte's alter egos in the region, he wanted the RTF-ELCAC 7 to identify all factors contributing to the continued existence of these communist terrorist groups, and develop action plans and programs that will directly address them, giving priority to the areas in Negros Oriental that have been identified by our intelligence offices to still be infested with these armed insurgents.

These programs, he said, should be easily implementable and administratively feasible to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness, and that the impact of these programs will not only be felt by prospective surrenderees but by the entire region.

"We will take the government services to them, such as the serbisyong malasakit and all the programs that our 12 lines of efforts will come up with today and identify plans and projects in the long term to develop these areas for inclusive growth," he said.

Dino added that his office will be there to see to it that this administration’s plans and projects will see the light of day, so that the people will be able to enjoy the change they have long been hoping for.

"There is no stopping President Duterte and his administration’s thrust towards giving its citizens what is due them. Together we will build a nation of sustainable peace, real and tangible development, and happy and comfortable lives for all.  It is time to make the Philippines a great nation, it is time to make the Philippines number one," Dino said. — GAN (FREEMAN)