CORDS turns over 50 houses to Bukidnon town

NEW HOUSES FOR BUKIDNON TOWN. Communication Secretary Martin Andanar (left), Cabinet representative for CORDS-Northern Mindanao, leads the turnover of 50 houses to residents of Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan town in Bukidnon province on Friday (June 28, 2019). The turnover of the houses marked the start of a new program to counter insurgency by addressing poverty. (Photo courtesy of PCOO via PNA)

(PNA Photo)

(PNA Photo)

MANILA — A new civilian counter-insurgency program to address poverty was launched on Friday with the turnover of 50 houses to residents of Cabanglasan town in Bukidnon province.

The Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) 10 (Northern Mindanao) chose Cabanglasan for the launch of its program, “Convergence Areas for Peace and Development” (CAPDev), as the town was once infested with members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Communication Secretary Martin Andanar, the Cabinet representative for CORDS-10, together with regional stakeholders, led the turnover ceremony in Barangay Iba.

“I want to extend the promise of President Rodrigo Duterte of bringing the projects and assistance (of the government) to your barangay and to all other barangays across the Philippines that would lead us to progress,” Andanar said during the ribbon-cutting rite.

The PHP4.2 million housing project was co-funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government of Cabanglasan.

In October 2018, some 117 communist rebels and members of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ front organizations from Cabanglasan surrendered to the government after they were enlightened by army community support teams. As victims of communist deceptions and agitation, they were prioritized for humanitarian assistance through the enhanced comprehensive local integration program (E-Clip).

“While the concept of convergence is not new, what was obviously lacking in the past is institutionalization. Now, we are doing it the right way,” Andanar said.

He said that CAPDev heeds President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to prioritize the delivery of basic services and social development packages to vulnerable communities in conflict-affected, geographically isolated, and disadvantaged areas, while facilitating social inclusivity and ensuring the participation of all sectors.

“CAPDev stresses that all of us here have a stake in building peaceful and resilient communities, even as it recognizes the primary responsibility of the local government unit in pushing forward this agenda,” he said, noting that the target communities are both duty-bearers and claim-holders of peace and development.

Meanwhile, Andanar expressed confidence in the effective roll-out and implementation of the program.

CAPDev operationalizes the President’s Executive Order 70, which paved the way for the establishment of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

CORDS-10 was the first to launch such a program since Duterte designated representatives for CORDS. Under the initiative, Cabinet members may be assigned to discharge their functions, duties, and responsibilities to a particular region in addition to their regular duties.