LGUs expected to focus more on poverty alleviation

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the declaration of Cebu as an insurgency-free province, the fight continues but will now focus on viable solutions to problems on poverty and on improving the delivery of basic services to people zeroing in on the barangays.

Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy Partylist Rep. Pastor Alcover, Jr. said that the biggest challenge of the government now is to address that problem which may threaten peace and order again.

According to Alcover, rebels may again take advantage and convince people to join them and uphold their cause if they observe that the people continue to harbor ill feelings toward the government.

Improvement in the delivery of basic services, beginning at the barangay level, should be taken by local government officials as their priority.

“Basta man god makita sa mga walhon nga ang usa ka tawo naa sa iyang kalisod ug adunay problema batok sa gobyerno, mao ni dayon ang ilang kombinsihon nga paubanon sa ilang kawsa,” Alcover said.

He vowed that ANAD will continue helping the government in its campaign to educate the people on the evils of communism.

Last week, ANAD presented a plaque of appreciation to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for her all-out but non-violent war against communist rebels, making Cebu an insurgency-free province.

Alcover, together with the officers and members of the group as well as the Cebu Association of Media Practitioners, Inc. of which he is also the incumbent president, presented the plaque to the governor in ceremonies marking the 22nd anniversary of the 78th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Barangay Nangka, Balamban town.

In her speech prior to the presentation of the plaque, Garcia vowed to continue supporting the military and the police in their campaign against lawlessness by giving them logistical assistance and materials or equipment.

Alcover lauded the governor for the courage in fighting local communists via non-violent methods by asking them to surrender themselves and their firearms and by giving seed capital for small-scale business ventures as rebels return to mainstream society and lead normal lives again.

The Regional Peace and Order Council-7 also lauded the strong cooperation among the military and the civilians in addressing the problem of insurgency here in the province. — Jose P. Sollano/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)