15 priority barangays in Caraga gain support from RTF-ELCAC, NGAs
By Renelle L. Escuadro
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga convened the members of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), cabinet officers of the regional development (CORDS), national line agencies (NGAs) on December 6 in Butuan City for the strengthening of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).
For this year, the said program decided to provide support to 15 barangays in Caraga comprising nine from the province of Surigao del Sur, three from Surigao del Norte and three from Agusan del Sur.
Under the RCSP, the 3rd quarter of this year and onwards focus on implementation of critical infrastructure projects and implementation of soft/non-infrastructure projects.
According to Assistant Regional Director of DILG - Caraga, Engr. Donald Seronay, for 2024 P10 million fund was already allocated to RCSP to kick off for next year.
“We have already sustained the success of the RCSP since many barangays in the region already benefited from the programs and projects that we implemented in the previous years, “shared Engr. Donald Seronay.
“As we continue to cultivate peace and development in these priority barangays, our activity today will allow the 15 barangays to seek support especially from the NGAs to consider and include their proposed PPAs to the NGAs priorities to better address their needs and improve these areas, “Engr. Seronay added.
In addition, Annabelle Yanzon, LGCDD chief of DILG Caraga appealed to the participants stating, "We are inviting the national line agencies and partners to help these 15 priority barangays to come up with a streamlined implementation of the PPAs, as this calls for a whole-of-nation approach."
The convergence meeting highlighted the World CafΓ© wherein the 15 punong barangays were given an opportunity to lobby their proposed PPAs to the NGAs and participants, such as in the province of Agusan del Sur with PPA on livelihood received a commitment from the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) with recommendation to the punong barangay to complete the necessary requirements for timely PPA implementation.
The Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) is a program spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government that aims to address the issues identified by the communities through the provision of government projects while ensuring sustainable development and the promotion of peace. (RLE/PIA-Caraga)
