NTF-ELCAC vital in govt. peace efforts

CEBU CITY – Localized peace dialogues organized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) are a big boost in gaining the people’s trust in the government, said Army Lt. General Benedict Arevalo, chief of the Visayas Command.

Arevalo said the task the decades-old insurgency force empowers citizens problem. He even to take the lead to pursue cited that through the their community’s peace localized peace dialogues and development. of NTF-ELCAC, over 200

“Much of what we communist rebels surrendered have accomplished is attributed last year. to the Task Force He said just recently, through its peace dialogue over a dozen members mechanism, community of the New People’s Army development also returned to the fold of initiatives, and local government the law and yielded eight empowerment firearms. endeavors,” he said. The government’s Enhanced

Arevalo underscored Comprehensive the need for a platform Localized Integration Program for the whole-of-government also greatly helped approach in solving former rebels to smoothly transition and reintegrate into mainstream society, according to Arevalo.

He said the 562 Barangay Development Program - an initiative spearheaded by the local government units in the country to promote development in the grassroots level - in the former Npa-infested communities in the entire Visayas region intends to bring sustainable development programs to conflict-prone and conflict-affected communities.

One of goals of the Development the main Barangay Program is to improve the quality of life for residents in conflict-prone and conflict-affected barangays by implementing various projects and programs. (John Rey Saavedra and Cebu Examiner)

Army Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo (left), chief of the Visayas Command, and his deputy commander