• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Forty-three more barangays in Negros Occidental have been declared as insurgency-free, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday.
With this development, Lacson said each barangay is being proposed to receive P10 million worth of infrastructure projects under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The proposed budget for infrastructure projects in the 43 barangays totaled P430 million.
The SBDP is part of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) program, the government’s whole-of-nation approach to fighting insurgency in the countryside.
The 43 barangays declared as insurgency-free are Canmoros, Bagroy, Enclaro and Paglaum in Binalbagan; Lalong in Calatrava; Caningay in Candoni; Lumbia in Cauayan; Alicante and Batea in E.B. Magalona; Cambaog, Gargato and Nanunga in Hinigaran; Bacuyangan, Talagacay and Alim in Hinobaan; Cansalongon, Guintubhan, Lima Lima and Rumirang in Isabela.
Others are La Granja in La Carlota City; Barangay 7 and Crossing Magallon in Moises Padilla; Alegria, Minoyan and Santa Rosa in Murcia; Bulanon, Divina Colonia and Rafaela Barrera in Sagay City; Pandanon and Pinowayan in Don Salvador Benedicto; Prosperidad and Rizal in San Carlos City; Bagtic, E. Lopez and Guimbalaon in Silay City; Cayhagan in Sipalay City; Katilingban and San Fernando in Talisay City; and Bagumbayan, Bayabas, Pacol, Palaka and Paloma in Valladolid.
When the SBDP was implemented several years ago, an insurgency-free barangay was entitled to receive P20 million worth of infra projects, but the amount was reduced to P2.5 million in 2023 due to lack of budget.
Starting next year, Lacson said it will be increased to P10 million, after the National Tax Allocation of local government units have been increased by the national government.
Negros Island has been recommended to be placed in a status of stable internal peace and security, following the dismantling of five New People’s Army guerilla fronts, including its mass based organizations.
The direction now of the Philippine Army, said Lacson, who is the chairperson of the Provincial Task Force ELCAC, is heading towards external security.
The civilian government and the police would now address the threats of rebel remnants and issues, with regards to root cause of insurgency problem.
Still, the Philippine Army will not leave Negros Island, he added. | GB
