BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) is pushing for development funds for the additional insurgency-cleared villages in 18 local government units (LGUs) in the province next year.
As of Friday, 43 more barangays are considered free from the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), whose five guerrilla fronts in Negros Island have already been dismantled since last year.
Under the Support to the Barangay Development Program (SBDP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), each village is proposed to receive PHP10 million for infrastructure projects for inclusion in the 2025 National Expenditure Program, which shall serve as the basis of the General Appropriations Act.
“The consolidated priority projects proposed by the 43 beneficiary barangays were submitted to the DILG Region 6, which they have endorsed to the National Secretariat of the National TF-ELCAC,” the DILG-Negros Occidental said in a report during the PTF-ELCAC first semester meeting on Thursday.
There are 66 total proposed projects, including 41 farm-to-market roads, 18 electrification projects, four health centers, and three school buildings.
The SBDP is a hallmark program of NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of bringing development to former conflict-prone communities.
In Negros Occidental, the latest insurgency-cleared barangays 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; and Bacuyangan, Talagacay, and Alim in Hinobaan.
Also included are Cansalongon, Guintubhan, Lima-Lima, and Rumirang in Isabela; La Granja in La Carlota City; Barangay 7 and Crossing Magallon in Moises Padilla; Alegria, Minoyan, and Santa Rosa in Murcia; and Bulanon, Divina Colonia, and Rafaela Barrera in Sagay City.
The rest are 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. (PNA)
