NTF-ELCAC highlights RTF dev’t efforts to achieve its peace, security in Central Visayas

MINERVA BC NEWMAN 

CEBU CITY – The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) showcased the peace and development initiatives and accomplishments of the Regional Task Force (RTF)-Central Visayas to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) during his visit in Cebu to attend the joint NTF-ELCAC and RTF meeting today, March 31 in Lapulapu City.

NTF-ELCAC vice chair, Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., in a statement released today said that Central Visayas’ peace and security development efforts were managed through the conscious and harmonized coordination of civilian agencies and security sector in the region.

Esperon said that the improved peace and order situation in Central Visayas were achieved through joint efforts of our security officials, regional and national line agencies and local chief executives.

“I am proud to report that in the Central Visayas Region, one guerilla front (GF) was dismantled while two remaining GFs are now significantly weakened. The remaining GFs will soon be dismantled,” Esperon added.

Esperon, in his report highlighted the Barangay Development Program (BDP) as the administration’s lead program of bringing peace and development to conflict-affected and conflict-prone communities. 

He bared that BDP-Central Visayas has endorsed 86 barangays; 39 in Bohol, eight in Cebu and 39 in Negros Oriental as the beneficiaries of the program.  These barangays have now been cleared from the influence of the communist/terrorists’ group (CTG) in 2021.

Some 273 infrastructure and non-infra projects from various agencies are lined up for implementation in 2022 for the BDP beneficiaries in the region, Esperon added.  These various projects were presented to Duterte and were turned over to the local government units during today’s event.

As part of President Duterte’s commitment to bring change and progress in the country, he is going on a series of presidential visits in the regions to see for himself the legacy of his administration that can be referred to as “Tahimik at Maunlad na Pamayanan (TAMANG Pamayanan).

President Duterte’s visit in Cebu today included a site tour of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) and held dialogs with local leaders and other shareholders. (Photos: Google Images)