Baguio City — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has assured that infrastructure projects in Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) –affected areas will push through despite the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as part of the development initiatives to address the communist insurgency in the region.
Cordillera DILG Regional Director. Marlo Iringan revealed that a total of P20.7 million was earmarked for the implementation of programs intended to counter insurgency in the region under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) Assistance to Municipalities (AM) and Sagana At Ligtas Na Tubig Para Sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) of DILG.
He explained that the implementation of these projects is in line with Executive Order No. 70 that was signed by the President to create a national peace framework and to institutionalize the “whole-of-nation approach” to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace, carefully getting to the root causes of conflicts in the country.
Of the P20.7 million fund, P4 million was allotted for two potable water system being implemented at Barangays Western and Lower Uma, Lubuagan, Kalinga, and P9.9 million for the completion of the evacuation center in Barangay Guina-ang, Pasil, Kalinga.
In Mountain Province, P1.4 million was earmarked for the construction of Forek footbridge in Barangay Mainit, Bontoc, and P5.4 million for the improvement of the Local Access Road in Barangay Mainit, Bontoc.
In 2019, Binablayan-Wangwang road located in Barangay Wangwang and Binablayan, Tinoc, Ifugao was rehabilitated and its drainage system upgraded to P4 million.
“Infrastructure projects would improve logistics and linkages of production areas to the domestic and export markets and will ensure food security and convert farming areas in the region into resilient communities,” Iringan said.
The development of the farm-to-market road is a great help to farmers as it will significantly improve the transfer of goods and services to the province’s far-flung areas.
He said that the goal of the government is to alleviate poverty, develop agribusinesses, generate employment, promote peace and order, as well as to improve the quality of life through the provision of rural infrastructure especially in CTG-affected barangays.
“Rest assured that DILG Cordillera will continue to provide better services to all and make the government more visible and felt by the people,” Iringan added. (Joe Manzano/Roxanne Marcos)