NegOcc Okays P50M peace fund

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The provincial government of Negros Occidental is funding P50 million worth of projects, programs and activities to support its peace and order program this year.

This, as the government declared an “all-out war” against the New People’s Army, following termination of peace talks with communist rebels.

The fund was approved last Wednesday during the regular session of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan, as endorsed by the Provincial Peace and Order Council.

Of the P50 million peace and order fund, P14 million has been earmarked to support intelligence operations, payment of rewards, and purchase of information, and P3 million for miscellaneous expenses in support and peace and order program, including purchase of  supplies and communication, fuel and maintenance of vehicles, which are all under the Office of the Governor.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office is getting P5 million in support of its anti-criminality campaign.

The sanggunian also authorized the release of confidential fund for the first quarter and succeeding quarters of 2017, with a total amount of P14 million to be taken from the allocation of the Office of the Governor.

The motion was sponsored by Board Member Jose Maria Alonso, vice chairperson of the SP Committee on Peace and Order.

The remaining P50 million of the fund will be used to support former rebels’ rehabilitation and hospitalization coverage, the Negros First Army Wellness Farm, winning the peace projects, anti-criminality campaign, food supplies to affected families in peace and development areas, among others.

Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police lauded the provincial government for its all-out support to the peace and order campaign.

Last year,  Negros Occidental was declared as peaceful and ready for further development by the PPOC, as concurred by the AFP and PNP. — (FREEMAN)