After the launching of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70 or Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Barangay Mahayag, Banaybanay on November 18, the provincial government brought the services down to one of the barangay’s covered sitios – Sitio Maragdao.

This activity on December 2, 2020 marked the start of the implementation of various government interventions and development programs under the government’s Executive Order 70 under “Oplan Mahayag” which aims to positively touch and improve the lives of the people especially those who are in the hinterland areas not usually reached by the government.

Through Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang’s Executive Order 13, top officials and workers of the provincial government of Davao Oriental constantly visits far-flung areas to bring basic essential services to the highly marginalized population in the province who has been left behind by the economic development in the economic centers in the province.

This effort is anchored to the goal of sustainable peace and order in the province, says the Vice Chair of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, Mr. Ednar Dayanghirang, adding that when government interventions are brought to the grassroots, it will help combat the long-running Communist insurgency.

The 701st Brigade of the Philippine Army, the 18th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police joined forces to give free services such as free circumcision to young boys, and free haircut. The provincial clinic and the Barangay Mahayag health workers also worked together to provide free medical services to the people of the said sitio.

Prioritizing the “neglected” areas is the main goal of the provincial and the national government as the people in hinterland areas are more vulnerable to the influence of the Communist insurgents. |By Shaye Dacles | Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan