In a Consultative Meeting on the Strategic Direction to End Local Armed Conflict in Eastern Visayas held on April 11 at the Police Regional Office 8 Multi-Purpose Hall, at Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo, Leyte, Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres, Jr., Executive Director of the National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Secretariat, commended the regional task force as he emphasized the need to continue the projects for EO 70 as reflective of the aspirations of the people.

On the other hand, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez, Chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council – Eastern Visayas (RPOC-EV) and JRTF8-ELCAC Co-Vice-Chairperson, in his closing message lauded the JRTF8-ELCAC, due to the “very good results” drawn out from the consultative meeting.

He likewise encouraged everyone to provide the best services to help end the insurgency in the region while strictly observing the highest legal and moral standards.

The activity which was jointly chaired by Usec. Torres of the NTF ELCAC, RPOC Chair Romualdez as well as Major Gen. Camilo Z. Ligayo,JRTF8-ELCAC-TWG Chairperson, aimed to discuss the collaborative efforts of the RTF clusters in implementing EO70 in the region.

The activity was attended by the heads and members of the NTF-ELCAC, JRTF8-ELCAC, City mayors and provincial presidents of the League of Municipalities in Region 8.

The discussion centered on the updates and successes in strengthening the counterinsurgency efforts of the JRTF-ELCAC and NTF-ELCAC through a whole-of-nation approach, as the lead agency of each cluster was able to present the group’s accomplishments for the first quarter of 2023, challenges in implementing projects, as well as their plans and the ways forward.

Meanwhile on behalf of Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe who is the Vice-Chairperson for Civilian Government of the JRTF8-ELCAC, DILG 8 LGMED Assistant Chief Adrian Colasito presented updates of the implementation of the agency’s peace-related programs which include Local Government Empowerment (LGE), Basic Services (BS), Sectoral Unification, Capacity Building, Empowerment and Mobilization (SUCBEM) Clusters, Communicating for Perpetual End to Extreme Violence and Forming Alliance Towards Positive Peace and Enriched Communities (C4PEACE), and Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP).

During the activity, RD Agabe highlighted the increase in the budget for SBDP from 4 Million pesos in 2022 to 6.6M pesos per barangay in 2023, emphasizing that this increase will help in the full implementation of the program.

During the open forum, member-agencies of JRTF8 and even persons rescued from the Communist-Terrorist Group raised issues, concerns, and clarifications about the accomplishments. Thereafter, recommendations were made with the guidance of the chairperson.