DAGYAWAN SA BARANGAY. Barangay officials in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental talk about issues and concerns during consultations on Tuesday (September 10, 2019). The Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF-ELCAC), in cooperation with the Office of the Presidential Adviser of the Visayas, is holding a two-day activity that will end on Wednesday. (Photo by Juancho Gallarde)
DUMAGUETE CITY -- At least 10 barangays in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental have been identified as priority areas for the implementation of various projects in line with the government’s campaign to end local Communist insurgency in the province.
The villages of Trinidad, Binobohan, Tacpao, Sandayao, Humayhumay, Poblacion, Imelda, Planas, Malusay, and Hinakpan were prioritized following consultations during Tuesday’s “Dagyawan sa Barangay: Talakayan sa Mamayan” held at the Guihulngan gymnasium.
The consultations were part of the two-day activities of the Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF-ELCAC) which will end on Wednesday.
The “Dagyawan” is a consultation held among government agencies and the people to identify the needs, problems, issues, and concerns at the grassroots.
On Wednesday, the NOTF-ELCAC, in cooperation with the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) will lead some 16 national government agencies in the “Gobyerno Serbisyo Para sa Bayan”, now called “Serbisyong Malasakit” caravan to provide basic services in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan.
In an interview, Regional Director Leocadio Trovela of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) underscored the important role of the city or municipal government in sustaining the efforts of government in delivering the basic services to the people.
“We at the national government and the provincial government will support the (Guihulngan) city government to realize the delivery of these services. This is not just a one-time event but a series of activities where we can show extensive collaboration among government agencies to address the issues and problems of the people,” he said.
During the “Talakayan”, the most common problems or issues raised was the lack of access, especially farm-to-market roads, as villagers can hardly bring their produce to the lowlands or markets.
Water supply, health services, and employment were also among those tackled during the consultations.
OPAV Assistant Secretary Anthony Gerard "Jonji" Gonzales, whose message was read by Lawyer Lisandro Maraon, assured that government services such as issuance of birth certificate, financial assistance to farmers from the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Coconut Authority, distribution of fish fingerlings by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and dental and medical services, are among the basic services being offered to the people.
He said that 40 Malasakit Centers have already been established while 41 more are being initiated.
Governor Roel Degamo, who chairs the NOTF-ELCAC, reiterated that peace cannot be achieved "by bullets alone". "So it is imperative that government work together as one, under the whole of nation approach of President Rodrigo Duterte, to end the Communist insurgency and to attain inclusive peace and sustainable development,” he said (PNA)
