CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 7 (PIA) - The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC)-10 will pursue its peace and development efforts in Northern Mindanao, as it lays down various programs, projects, activities (PPAs) to be implemented by member-agencies in today's, Dec. 7, meeting.

In the RTF-ELCAC-10 cum Northern Mindanao Regional Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa committee meeting presided over by the Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar, he underscored the importance of working together and moving forward amid COVID-19 pandemic.

On the other hand, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-10 Regional Director Mylak Faye Aurora B. Carino presented the Northern Mindanao Regional Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Action Plan that ensures a balanced regional development, equitable distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities through policies and programs that would boost countryside development and inclusive growth, provide adequate social services and promote full employment as well as industrialization and improved quality of life in rural areas.

In region 10, the pilot area for BP2 is Kauswagan town in Lanao del Norte.

Meanwhile, the local government units (LGUs) with proposed resettlement sites for BP2 include Cagayan de Oro City with six hectares, Gingoog City 20 hectares, El Salvador City six hectares Iligan City with 41 hectares with proposed Abaca plantation vegetable farm, Tangub City and Lanao del Norte.

Secretary Andanar together with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 Regional Director Arnel Agabe turned-over to five former rebels from Misamis Oriental firearms renumeration amounting to P180,000 and P90,000 and livelihood assistance worth P50,000 under the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP.

Director Agabe said many lives had already been changed due to the programs initiated by the government particularly the former rebels. "DILG has so far distributed more than P12 million for ECLIP to more than 200 former rebels in the region," he stressed.

Meanwhile, 4th Infantry Division commander MGen Andres Centino shared that through Executive Order 70 (EO 70) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, there is now focused targeting through identification of focus areas such as the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and conflict-affected/ conflict vulnerable areas, and convergence of all government agencies from security to livelihood and infrastructures.

To achieve sustainable peace and inclusive development as well as conflict-resilient communities, Centino said, this can only be done by effectively addressing peace building needs, adopting intuitional efficiency and accountability as well as improving, developing and protecting conflict-affected areas. (JMORucat/PIA10)