The Provincial Government of Davao Oriental has joined the Transformational Program Planning-Workshop initiated by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) on March 7-8, 2023 in Davao City as part of the ongoing efforts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF- ELCAC) to promote the Localized Peace Engagements for former rebels.
A roadmap development and program creation for the implementation of various transformation initiatives for former rebels, their families, and the communities in key areas are the goals of the two-day Provincial-level Action Planning and Workshop. These rehabilitation programs for former rebels will emphasize the steps they and their families must take before they reintegrate into their communities.
Accordingly, this effort shall work with a “conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting, whole-of-nation approach.” The provincial government will collaborate with national and regional government agencies, civil society organizations, and local government units to advance and carry out the identified transformative programs.
Davao Oriental heads of office and their representatives, as well as significant figures from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), participated in the aforementioned activity.
Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, demonstrating her dedication to the ongoing efforts to maintain the peace achieved in Davao Oriental, graced the OPAPRU-initiated Provincial-level Action Planning and Workshop.
In her message, she extended her gratitude to those who spearheaded the Localized Peace Engagements planning and workshop for Davao Oriental, as this will continue to pave the road for maintaining the peace advances the province is currently enjoying.
Davao Oriental Peace Situation
Since Davao Oriental was declared “insurgency-free” last year, there has been zero communist terrorist-related monitored activities, according to Brigadier General Oliver Maquiling, Brigade Commander of the 701st Brigade. Successful efforts have also been made to clear out and disperse the remaining members of these armed organizations in the afflicted areas, even reaching the furthest-flung barangays and sitios.
Maquiling also cited that all former rebels who surrendered to the provincial government had received 100% support and assistance for their successful reintegration into their communities and that other exploitable concerns had been satisfactorily resolved. Moreover, ongoing activities for law enforcement and development support are continuing, including security patrols, focused military operations, and random and scheduled checkpoints.
He added that a significant information campaign had been a potent instrument in battling and countering propaganda activities. They have consistently enriched youth leadership gatherings, IP peace forums and dialogues, and information education campaign symposia. ʙʏ ꜰʀᴀɴᴄɪꜱ ᴊᴀʏ ʙᴜᴛᴜʟᴀɴ | ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏꜱ ʙʏ ᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴏʟɪᴠᴇʀ ᴀʟᴠɪᴛᴇ
