FINISHED PROJECT. This health center facility is one of the four barangay development projects turned over by the provincial government of Davao de Oro to Barangay Golden Valley, Mabini, Davao de Oro, Tuesday (May 31, 2022). Also turned over are two farm-to-market roads and a water system. (Photo courtesy of Serbisyo Oro Mismo Facebook Page)
DAVAO CITY – The Davao de Oro provincial government turned over Tuesday four completed Barangay Development Projects (BDP) to an insurgency-free barangay in the area.
In a statement, the provincial government said Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy led the turnover of two farm-to-market roads (FMR), a barangay health center, and a water system to Barangay Golden Valley in Mabini town.
Last year, the province received PHP1.3 billion from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) intended for the BDP, PHP20 million of which was earmarked for each of the 65 barangays that were cleared of communist insurgency.
A hallmark program of the NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of bringing development to former conflict-prone communities, the BDP forms part of the government’s whole-of-nation approach in fighting the rebellion waged by the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the countryside.
The program aims to eradicate the root causes of the insurgency, poverty, disease, lack of education and opportunities, and social injustice in remote communities across the country identified to have been influenced by the communist ideology.
“This aims to help residents have accessible roads for easy transport of agricultural goods and services, free healthcare services, and clean access to drinking water,” the governor said.
In 2021, the BDP targeted to rehabilitate and develop 822 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas formerly influenced by the CPP-NPA-NDF in many parts of the country.
This year, 1,406 barangays have been identified to benefit from the program.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparate part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA)
