Mayor Sara seeks better coordination between security forces, gov’t contractors

DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio does not want a repeat of last week’s burning of heavy equipment at different construction sites here.

As such, Duterte has asked government contractors with projects within the jurisdiction of the city to coordinate with security forces so that work in these undertakings will not be impeded.

Duterte said she is calling for a series of meetings between the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), as well as other forces such as the Task Force Davao, with contractors from agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Suspected rebels torched heavy equipment of contractors in a bypass road project in the second district aimed at providing a faster and more direct access to areas such as Paquibato District, which is located around two to three hours away from this city's downtown area.

The New People's Army (NPA) has not yet owned up to the attacks, which happened days before President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the government peace panel to give talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) another chance.

Meanwhile, Duterte said the city has identified at least five government projects that could be implemented in the local level that are located far-flung areas identified as NPA-infested, including Paquibato district.

The city government is drafting an amendment to Mayor Duterte's earlier executive order, renaming the city's would-be local peace panel into a consultative group that would speak with locals in the far-fllung areas.