PALO, LEYTE – The DILG 08 centered on its mission to promote peace and order for the Eastern Visayas Region during the conduct of the Pagtibhong: Harnessing Public-Private Sector Convergence for Peace and Development in RCSP Areas in Eastern Visayas on October 25, 2022 at the Oriental Leyte Resort and Hotel, Palo, Leyte.

The said activity intended to reach interested funding partners for the Support to Barangay Development Program 2022 Defunded Projects and 2023 BDP priority PPAs of the SBDP recipient Barangays. Moreover, the event also aimed to identify the top two priority projects of each SBDP-recipient barangay, present and evaluate the needed funding requirements for the projects of each SBDP-recipient barangays, harness the commitment of higher LGUs, NGAs and private groups to respond to the needs of SBDP LGUs, and expand and strengthen partnerships with other national agencies, as well as National, and Local non-government organizations.

DILG Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe highlighted that the Local Government Units needed to lead on the efforts to fight insurgency. He added that to stop insurgency, the communities need to feel the presence of the government, with their basic services satisfied and delivered to the farthest places and the geographically disadvantaged areas.

The highlights of the activity included the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the CUCPD Youth Empowerment for Peace and Development, Overview of the GIS Map, Pitching Session, Summary of Agreements, Sharing of Commitments / Ways Forward, and the Ceremonial Signing of the Commitment Wall.

Present during the activity were Atty. Darwin N. Bibar, DILG Assistant Regional Director, Rudith A. Roca, LGCDD Chief, Engr. Jesus Jeremy D. Bagares, PDMU Head, Local Chief Executives, as well as the DILG personnel from the Regional and Field Offices.

Other agencies present in the said activity included the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), represented by their Regional Director, Lord Byron P. Torrecarion, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), represented by their Regional Director, Eustacio V. Bacabac, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), represented by Bimbo L. Tan, Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Tacloban-Leyte Chapter, Tingog Partylist, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 08, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),  the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 08) and the Department of Agriculture (DA). (LGCDD | G. Canillas)