ILOILO City – The national government agencies and the local government units here will focus their initiatives towards the “Whole of Nation Approach” in delivering basic services to address local insurgency, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Iloilo.
DILG-Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay said the agency is set to meet local chief executives (LCEs) of the six insurgency-affected municipalities in the province to strengthen their efforts to end local armed conflict through the “Whole of Nation Approach.”
Sumagaysay added LCEs with the chiefs of police and municipal local government operations officers of the municipalities will be briefed on Executive Order No. 70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte that called for the “Whole of Nation” approach to end communist insurgency and the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
According to the Philippine Army, the six municipalities under the influence of insurgents in the province are Alimodian, Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, Maasin, and Tubungan.
It said 13 barangays, in six towns were insurgency affected. Five of the barangays were categorized as influenced and eight barangays were considered less influenced.
Influenced barangays are Lico of Alimodian town; Caratagan of Calinog; Atimonan of Janiuay; Trangka of Maasin; and Boloc of Tubungan.
Meanwhile, the less influenced barangays are Aglonok, Supanga, Marandig, Guinbunyogan of Calinog; Canauilla of Janiuay; and Cabatangan, Jayubo and Bagongbong of Lambunao.
Sumagaysay said the Iloilo Provincial Task Force-ELCAC was already formed through a Joint Resolution of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and the Provincial Development Council.
She said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., chairperson of the PTF-ELCAC, wanted the task force to roll out activities starting this year that will ensure the delivery of government services to the said villages.(With PIA-Iloilo/PN)
