Declared Insurgency free and Stable peace and security, the whole Region 9, after the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict-9 (RTF-ELCAC9), during the 10th regular meeting, on June 14, 202 2, in 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division, Philippine Army in Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sure.
Sec. Rolando Joselito Bautista, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Western Mindanao led the meeting and implemented the resolution.
While being presented by Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, Commander of the 102nd Infantry (IGSOON) Brigade, the update on the campaign against Communist Terrorist Groups (CTG) in the region, as well as the current situation of the entire Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee, the CTG said action on the Zamboanga Peninsula.
According to Brigadier Gen Nicolas, “The coordinated efforts of RTF-ELCAC9 from 2019 until now have resulted in the clearing of all affected CTG barangays and the breakup of six (6) Guerilla Front, two (2) vertical forces.” WMRPC’s Regional Operational Command; and the Regional Urban Committee,”
He added, the elimination of barangays eventually resulted in budget allocation and implementation of the Support to Barangay Development Program to 86 beneficiary barangays worth PHP20Million per barangay.
“Hoping like Brig. Gen. Nicolas, whose declaration of the region as insurgency-free, would encourage investors to invest in this resource and those who will initiate economic development of the Zamboanga Peninsula,”
More message by Brigadier Gen. Nicolas, “Government’s efforts should not and should not end here, the bigger challenge in the endeavor is how the whole Zamboanga Peninsula to sustain all that we have done and have” ask. The real enemy is not the people victimized by ideology, but the roots that cause the insurgency, which we must address, not individually but as a united nation standing against violent extremes remism, radicalism and terrorism,”.
Brig. Gen. Nicolas also received Certificate of Appreciation from CORDS9 recognizing 102Bde’s significant and valuable contribution to RTF-ELCAC9 in highlighting the achievements of the government’s peace and development initiatives. passed the Whole-of-Nation Approach.
According to Dir. Paisal Abutazil, Regional Director, Department of Interior and Local Government 9, additional 39 barangays for 2022 will receive SBDP support worth PHP4Million per barangay. (Nena Garcia)
(Source: Dipolog Balita Express Facebook page)