The provincial government of Davao Oriental is bent on ending local communist armed conflict this year even as it pegs its development focus on tourism and on agriculture given these economic strengths of the province.
Guesting at the Network Briefing anchored by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, Davao Oriental Provincial Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said his constituents have been feeling relative peace as an offshoot to long-time focus on peace and development.
Having been dreaming of sustained peace in Davao Oriental, he said “we are now feeling the peace in Davao Oriental, the fact that some local tourists are finding their way to Davao Oriental”.
“Kung baga nasa finishing stage na po tayo and we are targeting that in the Province of Davao Oriental that this year, matapos natin ang isyung insurgency dito sa Davao Oriental. ” he said responding to query ofMati City-based media practitioner Neela Duallo who partnered with Secretary Andanar during today’s (Jan. 29) episode of Network Briefing.
He conveyed gratitude to the national government for having granted and funneled funding to barangays “making people feel that the government is serious in giving help for the welfare of the people especially in conflict-affected areas”.
To continue the peace and development thrust of his predecessor, Dayanghirang rolled out the Nagkakaisang Lingkod Bayan at the start of his administration in 2016, going farther from barangay levels to the villages or the so-called geographically isolated and depressed barangays (GIDAs).
Meanwhile, Dayanghirang wants to make sure that projects under the Barangay Development Program funded under the ELCAC thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte, should reach the intended recipients by conducting a planning workshop.
“Importante po na mabigyan ng tulong pangkabuhayan ang ating mga kababayan upang h’wag na nilang maisipan na sumali pa sa mga New People’s Army.” he said.
The recently conducted planning workshop led to identification of primary needs of grassroots communities such as connectivity roads from town proper to far-flung villages; water system, and livelihood projects.
Dayanghirang called on his constituents to follow government policies implemented in the midst of the pandemic and “never to support the new people’s army for us to attain sustained peace for the entire province.” (PIA XI Jeanevive Duron Abangan)