Intensified efforts for peace and development

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 23 — Recognizing the crucial role of local government units (LGUs) in attaining the overall goal of peace and development, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10, through the Project Development Management Unit (PDMU), facilitated a regional dialogue among local chief executives (LCEs) for the implementation of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) – Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP.

The activity aimed to discuss the implementation status of the SBDP relative to the performance of each implementing LGUs and further agree on strategies to expedite the implementation of the projects that would benefit their respective localities.

“It is our mission to obtain inclusive and sustainable peace through intensified development of our programs and projects in communities that were once threatened and vulnerable to insurgency. Hence, we have initiated this dialogue to monitor and expedite such processes for the benefit of the greater community,” DILG 10 Regional Director Wilhem M. Suyko said.

He also encouraged the LGUs to prioritize and mobilize their resources in making the government’s presence consistently felt, especially to far-flung areas.

After an in-depth discussion on the project statuses, DILG 10 Assistant Regional Director Yvette Tolentino-Sunga, facilitated the open forum which served as a platform to all concerned LCEs to raise their concerns on the program implementation, and further address and formulate the applicable strategies and catch-up plans needed to resolve such issues.

Closing the gaps through good governance

DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo L. Iringan, graced the event and emphasized the crucial role of LGUs in ensuring and promoting peace and development.

“We cannot fight insurgency with bullets and guns alone but through good governance — recognizing the need for effective localization and convergence of efforts to address development concerns such as peace and security in conflict-vulnerable areas,” Iringan said.

He also stressed that the government cannot resolve the communist insurgency by itself and needs the full support of all stakeholders especially in the implementation of the Department’s programs.

The activity also affirmed that constant dialogues and interfacing activities between partners are extremely important in pursuing excellence in local governance.

Representatives from the Office of Project Development Services (OPDS), LCEs, LGU officials and representatives, DILG 10 Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Iligan City Provincial/ City Directors, City/Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (C/MLGOOs), cluster heads, DILG 10 field officers, Engineers, and personnel deliberately attended the activity. 

The SBDP is evidence of the national government’s commitment to bring sustainable development to far-flung areas that were once affected and infiltrated by communist-terrorist groups.

It is also a legacy that the peace and order in which the Filipinos are longing for shall finally be realized. (𝙊𝙍𝘿 𝙋𝘿𝙈𝙐/ 𝙋. 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙖)