TARRAGONA, DAVAO ORIENTAL — In the continuous effort to end the local Communist armed conflict here, the provincial government has recently launched the localized implementation of the President’s Executive Order 70 in the province’s third priority barangay — Barangay Tubaon in the municipality of Tarragona.
Dubbed as “Oplan Tubaon”, the launching held in Sitio Batobato, Barangay Tubaon on October 15, 2020, formally marks the beginning of the implementation of the series of long-term interventions that the government is set to pour into the village.
More than 50 representatives from various provincial government departments and national line agencies participated during the launch. Each agency poured immediate interventions, offered services, and distributed goods to the residents.
Among the highlight services was the “Operation Tuli” facilitated by the medical team from the Philippine Army’s 701st Infantry Brigade. More than 50 young boys aged 6-12 years old benefited from the free service.
Free medical check-up and free medicines were offered by the Municipal Health Office of Tarragona together with the Provincial Capitol Clinic and Provincial Health Office while the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and Provincial Persons with Disability Affairs Office delivered social services to senior citizens, sports equipment for the youth, assistive devices for Persons with Disability, and family food packs.
The Provincial Agriculture Office distributed seedlings, vegetable seeds, and other farm inputs for the farmers while the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office distributed live native chicken to selected livestock raisers. Both offices are set to conduct a series of orientations and training for local farmers.
Meanwhile, Philhealth distributed free health insurance to the residents. The Department of Agrarian Reform led the distribution of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award to beneficiaries.
On the other hand, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) announced that it is set to conduct trainings on masonry NC II and Shield Metal Arc Welding NC I with allowances and starter kits. The agency is also set to request a portable welding machine from its central office for the trainees.
Sets of other programs that the village will expect in the coming weeks is the Law Enforcement and Territorial Defense Orientation and Community Responders Course of the “Bagani Training” through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office together with its security counterparts from the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
A three-day Indigenous Peoples Youth Leadership Summit to be facilitated by the New Leaders for Development Youth and Youth for Peace Movement Davao Oriental will be held to educate the youth on the pressing societal issues involving their sector. The summit also aims to organize the youth movement who will serve as the force multipliers of the government’s campaign against communist armed conflict.
Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, who localized the national program down to the local level through his Executive Order 13, said the program is an expression of the provincial government’s dedication to long-lasting peace and sustainable development.
“Insurgency halts our province’s economic development,” he said, citing that the province’s potentials in tourism and investments are at risk due to threats of violence perpetrated by the communist rebel group New People’s Army (NPA).
“Let’s unite and work together with the government for meaningful programs. All our aspirations for our communities can easily be achieved if you help the government by withdrawing your support from the NPA and convince those whom you know are still involved in the movement to surrender to the government,” Gov. Dayanghirang said.
Amidst all these interventions, Gov. Dayanghirang appealed to the residents to give their full support to the government’s efforts in sowing peace and development in their community.
Barangay Tubaon is the third barangay in the province where the ELCAC program was launched. It followed the same program launched at Barangay Marayag and Barangay Maragats in Lupon town where scores of projects have also been implemented.
Barangay Tubaon, one of the top 10 priority barangays for peace and development projects, was once a hotbed of armed conflict and once a beehive of NPA mass supporters. By Van Jorain O. Rufin/ Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
