• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Forty-three more barangays in Negros Occidental, have been declared as insurgency free, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed yesterday.
Lacson said each insurgency-free barangay is proposed to receive P10 million worth of infrastructure projects under the Support to Barangay Development Program of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
The proposed budget for infrastructure projects in the 43 barangays totals P430 million.
The SBDP is a program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), part of the government’s whole-of-nation approach in fighting insurgency in the countryside.
The 43 barangays declared as insurgency free were the barangays of Canmoros, Bagroy, Enclaro, and Paglaum in Binalbagan, Lalong in Calatrava, Caningay in Candoni, Lumbia in Cauayan, Alicante and Batea in EB Magalona;
The barangays of Cambaog, Gargato, and Nanunga in Hinigaran, villages of Alim, Bacuyangan, Talagacay, and Alim in Hinobaan, Cansalongon, Guintubhan, Lima-Lima, and Rumirang in Isabela, La Granja in La Carlota;
Barangays 7 and Crossing Magallon in Moises Padilla, villages of Alegria, Minoyan, and Santa Rosa in Murcia; Bulanon, Divina Colonia, and Rafaela Barrera in Sagay City; Pandanon and Pinowayan in Salvador Benedicto; Prosperidad and Rizal in San Carlos City; Bagtic, E. Lopez, and Guimbalaon in Silay City;
Barangay Cayhagan in Sipalay City; Katilingban and San Fernando in Talisay City; as well as Bagumbayan, Bayabas, Pacol, Palaka, and Paloma in Valladolid.
When SBDP was implemented several years ago, an insurgency free barangay was entitled to receive P20 million worth of infra projects.
The amount was reduced to P2.5 million in 2023 due to lack of budget.
However, starting next year, Lacson said it will be increased to P10 million, after the National Tax Allocation of local government units was increased by the national government.
Negros Island was recommended to be placed under a status of Stable Internal Peace and Security, following the dismantling of five existing New People’s Army guerilla fronts, including its mass based organizations, which is expected by the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division to be declared soon by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The current direction of the Philippine Army, according to Lacson, the chairperson of the Provincial Task Force ELCAC, is heading towards external security, with the civilian government and police to address the threats of rebel remnants and issues, with regards to the root cause of the insurgency problem.
But he added that the Philippine Army will not leave Negros Island.*
