BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 22 (PIA) – The Negros Oriental Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) held an emergency meeting recently to discuss on the council's request for the reversion of the P2M for the implementation of forest protection programs, purchase of rice for Bantay Lasang and operation and maintenance of Provincial Peace and Order Council.
The amount of P1,032M is requested for the hiring of Bantay Gubat and another amount of P832,000 for the purchase of rice for Bantay Gubat and P200,000 to augment the operation and maintenance of the Provincial Peace and Order Council.
The request which was certified by the Provincial Accountant that funds are available for this purpose had been submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for approval.
In the same meeting, Captain Erwin Glenn Romero of the 302 IB, AFP bared that the peace and security condition in the province of Negros Oriental has greatly improved and is now ready and conducive for development.
Per assessment of the Philippine Army the province is enjoying relative peace as insurgency situation is manageable and is continuously being addressed by the security forces in the province.
Although some hinterland barangays are still affected by the presence of New People’s Army (NPAs), they don't pose a threat to the security situation because they are no longer capable of conducting tactical offensive moves against the government troops, Romero said.
The active participation of government agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs) have efficiently addressed the core issues being exploited by the NPAs particularly agrarian related problems, the military added.
With the support and active involvement of all the stakeholders, the Philippine Army is confident that Negros Oriental will become an insurgency free province in the near future. (mbcn/lpp/PIA7-Negros Oriental)