BY GILBERY P. BAYORAN
Eight insurgency-affected barangays of Isabela in Negros Occidental are recipients of P160 million worth infrastructure projects, funded under the Barangay Development Program of the Task Force ELCAC (Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict).
Mayor Irene Montilla yesterday said that each of the recipient-barangays composed of the hinterland barangays of Makilignit, Libas, Sebucawan, Sikatuna, Riverside, San Agustin, Cabcab and Mansablay, all in Isabela, got P20 million each for use in the construction of infrastructure projects in their respective areas.
Five hinterland barangays of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, which was declared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as insurgency-free, also received a total of P100 million worth of infrastructure projects.
Montilla said the eight Isabela hinterland barangays initially received P4 million each in the first quarter of this year, with another P5 million in the second quarter and the remaining P11 million will be released in the fourth quarter of 2022.
A portion of the P4 million that barangays received were used in the construction of farm to market roads, while others utilized it for solar lighting, which is importance to maintenance of peace and order, a priority of her administration, she added.
Montilla also said that certain areas of the eight insurgency-affected barangays of Isabela have already been declared by the 62nd Infantry Battalion as insurgency-free.
The 62IB headquarters is located in Brgy. Libas, Isabela, Negros Occidental.
The Barangay Development Program (BDP) is the hallmark program of the NTF-ELCAC established with the end goal of bringing development to formerly conflict-ridden communities.
The BDP has been directed by President Rodrigo Duterte to sustain the rehabilitation and development of 822 barangays in the country formerly established as guerilla fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF.*
