Paquibato holds promise once cleared of rebels

THE Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division sees Paquibato District, Davao City, as a potential place for development where people can live a good life free from armed conflict.

Army's 10th Infantry Division commander Major General Noel Clement issued such statement following the Serbisyo Caravan of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies (Arena) in Davao Region in the area last week.

The Arena Serbisyo Caravan is an aggrupation of the regional directors/heads of the national government agencies in the region that aims to enhance managerial capacity, promote welfare and balance human development, and uphold good governance and integrity in public service.

Clement said, the association’s serbisyo caravan is an outreach program that provides government services to the remote, depressed and conflictaffected area in the region, with corresponding numbers of beneficiaries.

Clement said with the serbisyo caravan being implemented in Paquibato District marked the end of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) influence in the area. He added that this is good for Paquibato.

He recalled that back in the 80s, Barangay Colosas and its neighboring sitios in Paquibato were the resting place of rebels and they have organized

a solid mass base capitalizing on military abuses and poor government services.

But now that government services are delivered through the caravan, the army, government and stakeholders have broken a "wall of deception" constructed in the minds of the people by the NPA.

Clement said as soldiers gain foothold in advancing military objectives in Paquibato, the local government and other agencies were able to deliver the needed services for people. He added that they are happy to be part of the caravan. ICT