Andanar expects effective program
implementation vs. insurgency
By Ruth
Abbey Gita-Carlos
 |
| ANTI-INSURGENCY
INITIATIVES. Presidential Communications
Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, during the launch of the
City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Cagayan de Oro City on
Friday (Feb. 7, 2020), says he remains optimistic that the government can
deliver its promise to bring peace and development to the country through its
anti-insurgency programs. He expressed confidence that local government units’
participation would help the national government boost its fight against
insurgency. (Photo courtesy of PCOO) |
MANILA -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary
Martin Andanar on Friday expressed confidence that the government would be able
to effectively implement policies and programs that aim to put an end to
insurgency in the country.
During
the launch of the City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict
(CTF-ELCAC) in Cagayan de Oro City, Andanar was elated that local government
offices in Northern Mindanao are ready to participate in the national
government’s integrated approach to addressing insurgency in the region.
He said
the Convergence Areas for Peace and Development (CAPDev), the enabling program
to operationalize Executive Order (EO) 70, would help deliver the government’s
promise to attain “inclusive and sustainable” peace in the country.
“It is
my hope that we can effectively roll out and implement CAPDev in all the
region’s focus areas, continue to work together for our expected results, and
fulfill our shared agenda of inclusive and sustainable peace and development in
Northern Mindanao,” said
Andanar,
who also leads the National Task Force (NTF) ELCAC’s communications team.
Signed
by President Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 4, 2018, EO 70 creates the NTF-ELCAC and
orders local peace bodies to hold negotiations with communist insurgents in
their respective localities.
The
CAPDev, on the other hand, is a program that seeks to address the root causes
of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflicts
and threats.
The
CAPDev program also promotes the establishment of durable peace and development
and empowers communities in priority areas through peace-building and
reconciliation, good governance and institution building, and socio-economic
transformation.
Andanar,
who is also designated as Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) Cabinet Officer for
Regional Development and Security, likewise lauded Cagayan de Oro City’s local
government offices for its “whole-of-nation” approach to insurgency problems.
He noted
that participants have a stake in building “peaceful and resilient”
communities.
“Hence,
I am congratulating the city government of Cagayan de Oro, led by Mayor Oca
Moreno, and Barangay Tignapoloan, Barangay Mambu-aya, and Barangay Tuburan, for
working together to make sustainable peace possible,” Andanar said.
During
the event, about 32 adult learners who have recently completed the Department
of Education’s 800-hour literacy program for former communist rebels and their
families were also recognized.
The
local government department’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program
(E-CLIP) also highlighted the distribution of checks to former rebels for
firearms remuneration.
Benefits
under the E-CLIP include cash assistance, education, livelihood training,
housing, and employment assistance, as well as loan processing for business
capital.
Andanar
said the government is on the right track for peace and development in the
country.
“I am grateful (for) the valuable support of our national government agencies, the security sector, the private sector, and other peace and development partners. Such unity of purpose gives us a sense of hope that we can finally do things right,” he said. (PNA)
