MEMBERS of the regional task force to end local communist armed conflict helped the much-needed services to remote, conflict-affected areas villages in barangay Lantud, Talakag, Bukidnon, a report said Tuesday.
This after northern Mindanao agricultural department delivered its agri interventions and commitments worth P1.9 million in support to the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC).
4th Infantry Division public affairs chief Captain Al Anthony Pueblas said agri services were the appropriate interventions must be implemented to end local insurgency in the said conflict-affected villages.
Pueblas said the government funds will be earmarked for the implementation of programs intended to counter insurgency in the country by the RTF-ELCAC.
He also said the establishment of ELCAC addresses the issues of the farmers. Together with the Department of Agriculture, National Economic Development Authority, National Irrigation Administration, and the local government units.
“ It will reduces the chances of communist exploitation to zero,” Pueblas said.
In a report, Bukidnon farmers continue to face a myriad of challenges, which include the serious threat posed by communist insurgents.
It said that the members of the communist movement or communist terror group (CTG) are infiltrating about 2,379 villages nationwide, according to Pueblas.
Launched recently in barangay Lantud, Talakag municipality, PRLEC is composed of the different line agencies that responded to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's Executive Order No. 70 (EO), instituting the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict.
“The agri-interventions are in response to the needs of the IP community based on the validation and assessment conducted by DA,” said DA-10 regional technical director for operations Carlota S. Madriaga.
Sultan Abdul Amoran, Indigenous Peoples (IP) leader of the Maranao-Higaonon tribe received the Agri interventions comprising hybrid corn seeds; lowland and inbred rice seeds; garden tools; and organic fertilizer worth P425,700.
Moreover, Madriaga handed the certificate of commitment to Sultan Amoran amounting to P573,000 which include livestock animals (carabao, goat, cattle), poultry and duck, upland rice seeds, cacao, coffee and fruit trees seedlings.
“Kung unsay itabang sa gobyerno nato, kita maningkamot unsay matabang pud nato. When our government has helped us, we should also help the government in whatever way we can,” Sultan Amoran said.
403rd Brigade commander Col. Ferdinand T. Barandon received the certificate of commitment as additional support to civil-military operations amounting to P649,840.
Commitment contains livestock animals (cattle heifer, bull, native pigs, sheep), free range chicken, inorganic fertilizer, cracked corn and open-pollinated variety corn seeds.
Likely, the 8th Infantry Battalion received the certificate of commitment amounting to P264,000 comprising livestock animals (cattle heifer, bull, native pigs, sheep) and free range chicken.
“Communities will benefit from these interventions. Kami ay magiging instrumento lang para maihatid sa inyo ang serbisyo. Ito’y hindi para sa amin, para po ito sa inyo,” Col. Barandon said. (Ben Balce with a report from Recthie Tolinero)
