PPOC endorses P.5B projects to

protect conflict-affected areas

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)— The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), endorsed a proposed half a billion peso funding for development projects in 24 barangays of 12 Bohol towns to re-establish government presence and protect conflict-affected barangays through the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ community support program (CSP).

PPOC Chair Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado led the council, which included public sector representatives from the Regional Development Council in streamlining and simplifying the budget proposals to increase its chances of getting the necessary funds via the government’s legislated budget for community development.

Now renamed Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) by allowing a whole of nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, the program now enrols national government and private sector support to community driven and community identified priority programs and projects.

Identified by the barangay and municipal governments in planning workshops supervised by the Department of Interior and Local Government operations officers, the development projects entail critical infrastructure that would open geographically isolate and disadvantaged areas to frontline government services using critical infrastructure,” according to DILG ELCAC Focal person Lorenzo Torero.

Eligible for these funds, should the PPOC endorsement find traction with the National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflicts (NTF-ELCAC), Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Government Agencies, conflict affected GIDA barangays can have their planned projects funded by 2026 General Appropriations Act and the appropriations from the NGA programs and Projects as well as the local development funds.

The said projects are for Barangay Tabuan in Antequera, Boyog Norte in Balilihan, Behind the Clouds, Cambacay in Batuan, Campagao and Dagohoy in Bilar, Cabayugan, Cabudburan, Sohoton and Sampoangon in Calape, Alegria and La Victoria In Carmen, Triple Union in Catigbian.

Genomoan, Bongco, Cantam-is Baslay and Cantam-is Bago in Loon, Tinibgan in Maribojoc, Cabasacan in Sagbayan, Abehilan in San Isidro, Bayawahan, Calingaan, Calinginan Sur and Calinginan Norte in Sevilla.

“These areas which were formerly held by the grip of the armed communist terrorists, through their Barangay Development Councils, and guided by the local government operations officers now decide for themselves to reject the influence of the armed struggle and actively take part in planning for their areas,” shared Bohol DILG provincial Director Jerome Gonzales, at the side lines of the joint council meeting.

The RCSP is designed to empower people to take part in local governance, enhance local development plans and provides of the needed government services and interventions, Torero added.

From these community driven plans and proposals, their respective Municipal Development Councils and Peace and Order Council already endorsed these projects to the PPOC, who in turn are expected to endorse such for national funding. (PIABohol)

CONVERGENCE CHAMPIONS. Since the leadership of then gov Erico Aumentado to his son Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Bohol has slid into the template of convergence of resources, something which is now succinctly expressed in the whole of nation approach in rural development, which Aumentado and his led councils now intend to do to develop more GIDAs here. Here, with Aumentado is DILG Bohol Provincial director Jerome Gonzales and Administrator Asteria Caberte. (PIABohol)

ELCAC FOCAL. DILG’s Lorenzo Torero, who is the ELCAC-RCSP focal person presents to the council the half a billion projects identified by the communities for implementation, which can elevate economic status of the barangays and further driving away the remnants of the communist terrorists. (PIABohol)