TAGUM CITY – The provincial government of Davao del Norte is now the host for the ELCAC operation center of the region.
Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, who chairs the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) said that the establishment of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) is an important facet in the full implementation of the EO-70 which spells out the Whole-of-Nation Approach to end insurgency in the country.
Dayanghirang said Davao del Norte Governor Edwin I. Jubahib has offered a space in the provincial complex to house the operation center which opened last Friday November 15.
Jubahib said offering the space within the complex which housed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) is his way of supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign to end insurgency.
“Geographically, Tagum City is the center of Davao region, so to provide better access as our way of supporting the President we offer the training center of PDRRMO for the operational center, we transferred the training center to the provincial complex,” Jubahib said.
Moreover, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Alex Roldan discussed with the RPOC members the importance of having an operation center, which will house the different agencies involved in the full implementation of RTF-ELCAC with its twelve clusters.
The operation center is needed according to Director Roldan, as the region is gearing towards a unified full implementation of the anti-insurgency program as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“All programs must be aligned with the goal of ending the Communist armed conflict, as we are serious in our approach and we are united in this endeavor,” Dayanghirang stressed.
The Davao City government through Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also pledged to share P1-million for the operation center while other provinces will share P200,000.00 each to complete the projected P2-million operational cost.
The center shall be equipped with communication facilities, trained personnel to run the operations, according to the statement of Colonel Jacob Thaddeus Obligado of the 10th Infantry Division.
The center shall operate 24/7, which will be aimed at enhancing coordination and collaboration among the stakeholders, as it will serve as the operations arm of the National Task Force Executive Committee which monitors the program implementation and activities at the regional and sub-regional levels.
Obligado said that a strong convergence, particularly the efforts of the Local Government Units will result to a very effective approach. As it is now, Obligado emphasized 80 percent of those NPA members who surrendered were facilitated by the LGUs, adding that, “enemy recruitment is now close to zero in Davao Region”.
Compostela Valley Governor Jayvee Tyrone Uy who is also the chairperson of the Regional Development Council thanks Jubahib’s generosity “We are grateful that Kuya Edwin (Jubahib) who voluntarily offered the space and he immediately act prepared the center.”
The center will be restricted to the public because all as confidential documents relative to the government’s campaign will be kept in the the facility.-ezc with report from Karen Deloso
