Second Ugnayan sa Barangay in La Paz, Agusan del Sur conducted

by LGOO III Ednon John E. Aparicio

On August 25 to 26, 2021, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Agusan del Sur, in partnership with the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) of the Municipality of La Paz, Agusan del Sur, conducted Ugnayan sa Barangay Langasian, the second of the three Ugnayan sa Barangay activities in the municipality for the year 2021.

It was attended by the Barangay Council of Langasian, La Paz, Agusan del Sur headed by Punong Barangay Jonathan Sergio, alongside sectoral representatives from the senior citizens, women’s, youth, academe, religious, indigenous peoples, and farmers and fisherfolks sectors.

The activity was facilitated by MLGOO Sherwin C. Obien and LGOO III Ednon John E. Aparicio. They were assisted by Engr. III Eldrin Patiño, PEAO II Demelyn Boniza, Engr. Edmar Gellamucho from the Municipal Planning and Development Office, Engr. Kenneth Maglente from the Municipal Engineering Office, and Mr. Jeffrey Bat-o from National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

During the two-day community consultation cum workshop, the sectoral representatives of the barangay were able to draw out the prevalent issues that hamper their attainment of lasting peace and sustainable development. Consequently, they were able to identify the solutions they need to address such issues.

“Sa una wala kita magdahum nga matukod ang hanging bridge padulong sa atong barangay apan karon mao na kini atong ginaagihan pasulod ug pagawas sa atong barangay. Mao karon ato na usab handumon nga matukod ang konkreto nga tulay nga pwede maagihan ug four-wheels aron dili na kita maglisud pagbaligya sa atong produkto sa población, ug aron mas madali nalang madawat and serbisyo sa gobyerno.” [Back then we did not expect a hanging bridge to be built, but today, we are using it to go in and out of our barangay. That is why, we shall dream anew for a concrete bridge to be built where four-wheeled vehicles can pass so that our produce can be sold to the market. Also, we can expect that government services will be easily accessed.], said the enthusiastic Punong Barangay Sergio during the activity.

Ugnayan sa Barangay is part of Phase 2 (Access) of the five-phase Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) work plan – the national government’s whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict especially in the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) affected barangays in the country.