Samar governor seeks military help as NPAs threaten infra project contractors

GOVERNOR Sharee Ann Tan-Delos Santos of Samar province has sought security support from the military in areas where national governmentfunded infrastructure projects are being threatened by armed communist group New People’s Army (NPA). “We want the military and the police authorities as much as possible to be very visible in areas where the PAMANA projects are implemented. Maybe the families near the areas be part (also) in taking care and (providing) security to the areas,” Ms. Delos Santos said during the Regional Development Council, Infrastructure and Utilities Development meeting held this week. Several road projects in the province are ongoing under the PAMANA, or the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanang program (PAMANA). The governor said she has received reports of the NPA extorting money from the contractors and harassing the construction workers. Imee Calagos Bonifacio, Eastern Visayas regional manager of PAMANA, also revealed at the meeting that the NPA rebels have been asking for at least 10% of the total amount of the projects, as revolutionary tax. The government earmarked about P50 million for projects that would benefit conflict-afflicted areas in the entire Samar Island to help address the root causes of insurgency. The three Samar provinces — Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar — are considered among the most NPAvulnerable areas. —