CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)— Prioritizing conflict-affected and poverty-stricken areas, Communications Sec. and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS)-10 Martin Andanar said the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC)-10 marked a substantial reduction of poverty rate in the region from 32.3 percent among families in 2015 to 17.3 percent in 2018.
“The coming together of stakeholders, and the transformation into peaceful and productive communities were made possible with the implementation of CAPDev (Convergence Areas for Peace and Development), our enabling umbrella program that has been institutionalized at all levels of governance,” Andanar said during the Joint NTF-ELCAC and RTF-ELCAC-10 Meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, March 5.
The secretary also highlighted the Barangay Development Program, which he cites as a way to revisit and reorient one’s self on who and where the enemies operate; and recognize the fundamental tenets of good governance, citizen participation, and synchronized action by all sectors, not in combat, but in conviction to achieve the marching order of the President.
For his part, National Security Adviser Sec. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. thanked the secretaries, LGU officials and national agencies as they continued to manifest their commitment to end the local communist armed conflict.
He said the government is very proud of the Regional Task Force Region 10 under Andanar for accomplishing a lot for the region.
“We start this to collectively battle the pandemic, to ensure peace and safety for our people in northern Mindanao and Mindanao as a whole,” Esperon said.
Assuring Esperon of the continued support for the President’s goal on ending local communist armed conflict, Andanar said, “The work continues and must be pursued with greater commitment and passion as the deadline set by President Rodrigo Duterte to ELCAC is by 2022, meaning less than two years from now or to be exact around 480 calendar days.” (RTP/PIA10)
