SAN JOSE, Antique – The Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) under Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara lauded this province for being first in Panay Island to create a provincial task force to end local communist armed conflict (PTF-ELCAC).
The PTF-ELCAC was created through an Executive Order (EO) and joint resolution passed during the conduct of Antique joint peace and order council (PPOC), peace development council (PDC) and provincial antidrug abuse council meeting here on Thursday.
Antique governor Rhohora Cadiao led the signing of Executive Order No. 119 creating PTF-ELCAC. The PPOC and PDC’s joint resolution adopting the said task force plan was immediately approved by the members during the said activity.
The PTF-ELCAC is tasked to ensure inter-agency convergence in the implementation of the “Whole of Nation Approach” framework in the conflict-affected and vulnerable areas.
The task force composed of 12 clusters will be replicated in the municipal and barangay levels.
Batara, Commanding Officer of the 61IB, said the creation of Antique PTF-ELCAC was a significant result of the convergent efforts not only of the members of the council but also the initiative of the locals who have been longing for genuine peace, security and development.
“We attributed the successful creation of the PTF-ELCAC to the sterling leadership of Local Chief Executives, support of Local Government Units, security sector, stakeholders and the people of Antique who motivated the council to pass and approve the EO and resolution creating the anti-insurgency task force,” Batara added./PN
