Improving CARAGA’s road network, vital to defeating communist insurgency – President Duterte
President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday vowed to help Surigao del Sur improve its
infrastructures particularly barangay roads to defeat communist insurgency in
the region.
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President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte listens to Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando
Joselito Bautista giving an update on their agency's response and relief
efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Auring during a meeting with
members of his Cabinet and local government officials of Surigao del Sur at the
Villa Maria Luisa Hotel in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur on February 23, 2021.
KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
The
President said he backed Surigao del Sur’s initiative to improve its barangay
roads, noting it is vital in the administration’s counter-insurgency campaign.
“I need the barangay roads to improve the
insurgency problem sa lahat. Dito lalo na sa Mindanao,” President Duterte said.
“The pinakamalakas is sa CARAGA, sa Eastern Visayas. Ang CARAGA ang pinakasakit
sa ulo.”
The
President noted that he is paying special attention to the region’s insurgency
problem and has requested the agrarian reform department to speed up land
distribution to qualified beneficiaries particularly idle state-owned lands.
“Kaya si Castriciones, sabi ko, ang land
reform kasi niya it covers only the --- iyong mga hindi nga agricultural eh.
Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Ibigay na ninyo ‘yong lupa. Lahat nang makita mo sa
gobyerno, ibigay ninyo sa tao,’” he said.
“Wala naman ‘yang... Naka-ano lang ‘yan diyan,
hindi naman nagagamit. It’s not being utilized for productivity.”
A
local public works official, who was present during the situation briefing,
assured the President that the DPWH would coordinate with Surigao del Sur
government to rehabilitate its road network.
For
his part, the President has assuref that there are enough resources from the
national government to address the request of the local officials.
“So hindi naman masyadong mahirap talaga ang
gobyerno. Sabi lang ng iba. It’s just a matter of communication. At saka kung
may pera, I can buy one, two,” the President said. “Hindi naman masyadong mahal
‘yan. It would not make us poor. I can buy one, two, three equipment.”
The
President, however, told the officials that once the national government has
provided them with equipment, these must remain in the province and should not
be used or transferred to other locations.
PND
