NegOr hold community gab to address insurgency causes

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Around 500 persons from 15 villages in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental attended a dialogue between the government and the community last Tuesday to address the underlying causes of insurgency in the province, according to a press release from the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde).

The dialogue dubbed “Dagyawan sa Barangay: Talakayan ng Mamayan” was initiated by the Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NORTF-ELCAC) led by Governor Roel Degamo, in cooperation with the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) held at the city’s gymnasium.

Among the participants were those who belonged to the areas identified to be affected by the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Representatives from the national and local government officials were present during the talk to respond to the issues and concerns of the people.

Lieutenant Colonel Randy Pagunuran, commander of the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB), who spoke with the locals, enlightened them about the rationale for the creation of the task force and how the government will be able to deliver the services to their communities.

The local government of Negros Oriental formed a task force last July to address insurgency problem after series of killings in the province two months ago.

The following day, basic services such as distribution of livestock, seedlings and farm materials, selling of NFA rice, birth and marriage certificates registration, issuance of Social Security System (SSS) number, medical and dental consultations, licensing, postal ID issuance, and job hiring, among others were provided to the community as part of the Caravan of Basic Services set to bring government frontline services to the people in the remote barangays, particularly in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City.

Degamo, along with Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, 303rd IBde commander, and representatives of other government agencies led the caravan yesterday.