PRRD approves plan to bring peace, security to conflict areas

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally at the Kaamulan Park in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on April 13, 2019. JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved a national plan, which integrates and harmonize the various efforts of the entire government and all sectors of society in delivering goods and services, as well as in providing for peace and security, especially in conflict-affected areas, Malacañang confirmed Tuesday.

In a briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte pushed for a whole-of-nation approach to attain peace during the meeting of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) held in Malacañang.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte today rallied all instrumentalities of government, the private sector and the entire Filipino nation to actively work together in a whole-of-the-nation movement to address violent conflicts, as well as build a culture of peace and development throughout the country,” he said.

Panelo, also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, clarified that the initiative is centered more on bringing peace and development to conflict-affected areas than on defeating communist insurgency.

“The members of the Cabinet and other heads of agencies who were present at the meeting agreed that the Whole-of-Nation Movement is not directed at defeating the communist insurgency, rather to demonstrate genuine good governance for the betterment of the lives of the people,” he said.

Panelo said the President will assign his Cabinet members to oversee the peace and development efforts in all regions of the country.

“The designated Cabinet officer for the region will be supported by a unified, an integrated Regional Development Council or RDC and Regional Peace and Order Council or RPOC,” he added.

Panelo said the fast-tracked implementation of the national Wi-fi and 911 projects in all barangays (villages) nationwide is also one of the initiatives to be pursued by the NTFELCAC.

The NTFELCAC was created by virtue of Executive Order 70 issued on Dec. 4, 2018 “to provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the Whole-of-Nation Approach to aid in the realization of the collective aspirations for inclusive and sustainable peace.

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