The Provincial Government of Samar conducted a Consultation Meeting with the Peace Builders of Samar recently at the Abanador Hall, Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City.
The consultation meeting was called forth as an affirmation to the commitment of the province in ending insurgency and providing a better future to those who have left the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs).
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan led the consultation together with the department heads of the PLGU offices, heads and representatives from national government agencies, members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, and members of the Provincial Task Force ELCAC.
They shared an avenue with former rebels, now called peace builders, where both parties raised their concerns, and came up with solutions on said issues.
“We are here to listen to your concerns so we will know what really needs to be done and the processes that we need to go through, to finally achieve what we are hoping for,” Tan said.
“We have prepared programs under the Peace and Prosperity Roadmap.”
“We have prepared programs under the Peace and Prosperity Roadmap. It is not solely focused on road network projects but also addresses the social determinants which usually causes social injustices. Whatever issues that the province can work on, we will solve it. Those concerns that we cannot address at the local level, we will forward it to the national government,” the lady governor added.
MGen. Camilo Ligayo, Commanding General of the 8ID, Philippine Army, on the other hand, shared that he is happy to that everyone has the common goal of ending insurgency.
“Our peace builders play an important role in the campaign against insurgency.”
“Our peace builders play an important role in the campaign against insurgency.” Ligayo stressed.
He also highlighted the progress of the efforts of the peace builders,
“The good thing is that you have now organized a federation of peace builders. This will make it easier for the province, and that of national government agencies to deliver their support and programs,” Ligayo added.
Meanwhile, the PLGU partnered with former Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Marivel Sacendoncillo wherein the latter facilitated the solution-seeking session.
A total of 663 former rebels already surrendered since the start of the implementation of the ELCAC programs in the Province of Samar.
