94 more villages in Caraga to receive aid under RCSP
BUTUAN CITY --
Ninety-four (94) more barangays in Caraga Region will now be included in the
implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP), Cabinet
Secretary and the region’s Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and
Security (CORDS) Karlo Nograles said Thursday, September 30.
In his keynote speech during the regional launching
of the Duterte Legacy Campaign - Barangayanihan Caravan held in Cabadbaran
City, CabSec. Nograles said an addition of 94 conflict-affected and
geographically-isolated barangays will now be included in the implementation of
the RCSP in 2022.
“Our endeavor to address local communist armed
conflict in the region in order to improve the lives of all Caraganons,
especially those threatened by the Communist Terrorist Groups, will not stop
amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the regional CORDS
said.
The newly added barangays will undergo the same
RCSP activities that the initial RCSP priority barangays underwent which include
conduct of Serbisyo Caravans, convergence meetings, workshops on
crafting/enhancing their BDPs, and capacity development activities for the
Barangay Based Institutions, among others.
Meanwhile, CabSec. Nograles is ‘happy’ to report
that all local chief executives of barangays who are part of the Barangay
Development Program (BDP) beneficiaries have expressed support and recognition
of the accomplishments of the BDP in uplifting their communities’ living
conditions and in improving their areas.
As of September 2021, of the 357 Barangay
Development Projects (BDP) of the initial list of 191 priority barangays, 133
projects or 37.25% have been approved and are ready for procurement
preparation; 185 projects or 51.82% are now under the procurement process which
includes posting, pre-bid conferences, and opening of bids.The construction of
39 projects is now ongoing, the CORDS reported.
He also noted that a series of peace dialogues and
service caravans were also conducted in far-flung communities and interventions
to address the socio-economic condition in these geographically-isolated and
disadvantaged areas were also continued which have provided holistic
opportunities for residents of these areas.
For this, he cites the successful law enforcement
operations and the collaborative efforts of all the Caraga Regional Task Force
to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) members and the joint
mechanism of the Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order
Council, which yielded encouraging improvements with a dramatic increase of
rebel surrenderees resulting to a reduction of insurgency-related crimes in the
region.
“The issue of insurgency has been one of the
stumbling blocks for attaining sustainable peace and development in Caraga.
[But] with all the accomplishments gained two years since its creation, the
Task Force is well prepared to sustain the momentum. And soon enough, we will
finally attain lasting peace and prosperity in the region,” the cabinet
secretary said. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
