The Nueva Ecija Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) led by Governor Aurelio M. Umali, in partnership with the National and Regional Task Force – ELCAC, conducted the Provincial Task Force Levelling Sessions to Barangays in Nueva Ecija on June 09, 2021 via Zoom Platform.
The main objective of the activity is to cascade down to the grassroots level the fullest understanding of the Executive Order No. 70 framework and the Knowing The Enemy (KTE) Framework and provide the experience for a Joint Planning and Alignment of Strategies across Task Forces.
Dr. Abraham A. Pascua, Executive Assistant and Consultant to the Governor on Local Government and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, representing Governor Umali, mentioned that the Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija through the Governor, had made its valuable contributions and fair share in the desire of the National Government to end local communist armed conflict and ensure lasting peace in the country. He also presented some of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Projects - parallel projects of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) in the areas in Nueva Ecija that may have experienced insurgency. Projects such as Water Supply System in Barangay Labi, Bongabon and Sitio Botolan, Burgos, Carranglan were reiterated, among others. According to him, the proportion of projects mentioned may be mere as compared to others, but Gov. Umali believes that with the help of these projects, the Novo Ecijanos will be able to see the serious efforts and actions of the National Government to end the local communist insurgency and achieve lasting peace in our country.
One of the highlights of the activity were the presentations of PTF-ELCAC Significant Accomplishments unveiled by DILG Nueva Ecija as presented by LGOO V Kimberly B. Ruiz and partner agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) represented by Provincial Planning Officer Honeylen Fernandez and Ms. Jona Mae Vinculado as the representative from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Fr. Arnold M. Abelardo, CSO representative of PTF-ELCAC from Ako Ang Saklay Inc., conducted the synthesis of the program. He mentioned some of the livelihood projects provided by the Provincial Task Force of Nueva Ecija in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines - 703rd Infantry Battalion and the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office for the rebel returnees in the province. He emphasized that such valuable and significant initiatives are deeply rooted from the love for our community, love for our creator and not from the defiance of the rebellions. He also accentuated social justice as the work of the government and the people. “Pagdating sa pagtulong sa mga mahihirap ang kulay na ating nakikita ay kulay ng Pilipino na may pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit sa isa’t-isa. Napaka importante po na ang ating mga LGUs, AFP, PNP, DILG and of course with the support and help of other agencies like DTI and TESDA, we believe here in Nueva Ecija, the Provincial Task Force, na darating yung araw [na] mas magiging maliwanag sa ating mga ka-probinsya that the way of peace is the best way… not just the absence of noise or war, nandiyan din yung human development.”
