The 74 insurgency-cleared barangays in Western Visayas are getting P1.48 billion in development assistance, the Department of Budget and Management said.
The DBM, through a local budget circular dated Jan. 20 this year, has issued guidelines on the release and utilization of the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict for identified 26 Negros Occidental barangays as recipients.
Funds for the LGSP-SBDP are integrated in the 2021 General Appropriations Act or Republic Act No. 11518.
Of the P1.48 billion development funds, Negros Occidental will receive P520 million for its 26 insurgency-cleared villages, the DBM circular said.
Maj. Cenon Pancito, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division spokesman, said that the Barangay Development Program is the government flagship undertaking to end the local armed communist conflict by addressing the root causes of insurgency.
Pancito added that the BDP is an offshoot of the efforts of 3rd ID Community Support Program Teams to clear CPP-NPA presence, threats and infiltration, which was conceived through multi-sectoral consultations with communities in Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.
Selection of barangay recipients and their corresponding programs and projects went through stringent vetting from national agencies.
The 74 Western Visayas villages were among 822 barangays all over the country declared as insurgency-free from 2016 to 2019 under the LGSF-SBDP.
With the barangay development funds already made available by the DBM, Pancito said it is a manifestation that the government is true with its promise to alleviate the living condition of every Filipino residing in remote barangays.
While the funds will be coursed through their respective local government units, Pancito said that the 3rd ID will ensure that projects to be implemented are those previously identified as high impact.
Each of the 26 insurgency-cleared barangays is entitled to receive P20 million worth of projects, such as farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation system, health stations, rural electrification; reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair, and other similar projects in connection with the occurrence of natural or human-induced calamities, epidemics, crises resulting from armed conflicts, insurgency, terrorism, and other catastrophes; housing; COVID-19 vaccination, immunization and other health related projects; agricultural, livelihood and technical vocational trainings/ projects, the DBM circular also said.
The barangays recipients in Negros Occidental are Alimango, Binagyuhan, Buenavista, Dian-ay, Japitan, Langub, Libertad, Mabini, Malasibog, Paitan, Pinapugasan, Rizal, Udtungan and Washington, all in Escalante City: Canlusong in E.B. Magalona; Gawahon and Estado in Victorias City; Caduha-an in Cadiz City; Banago in Bacolod City; Carabalan in Himamaylan City; San Pablo in Manapla; as well as Bulwangan, Codcod, Guadalupe, Quezon and Nataban in San Carlos City. – GB
