Fifty-eight-million-peso-worth of infrastructure projects for four barangays in various insurgency-affected municipalities in the Province of Surigao del Sur under the Local Government Support Fund – Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP) of the Duterte administration have been inaugurated and turned over to the beneficiary communities in a series of ceremonies held on February 22 and 23, 2022.

A school building worth 2 million pesos and a farm-to-market road worth 18 million pesos in Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, a local access barangay road worth 10 million pesos in Brgy. Buhisan, San Agustin, six units of sanitary toilets worth 2 million pesos and solar street lights worth 6 million pesos in Brgy. Pong-on, San Agustin, and road concreting worth 20 million pesos in Brgy. Tagbobonga, Hinatuan were warmly received by the beneficiary residents of the province.

Out of the 357 projects worth 3.8 billion pesos undergoing implementation in the region, the six projects are the first to be completed and turned over to the beneficiaries which demonstrates the sincerity of the local government to push for the end of the long-standing chaos.

The turnover signifies the success of EO 70 in Caraga region, which has been a seedbed for local communist armed conflict, amidst the aspersion of opposing lawmakers.

Prior to the construction of the projects, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) first held a Community Support Program (CSP) in clearing communities of NPA infestation while neutralizing the politics-military structure the rebels established in the village. Then, the local government units, with the guidance of the DILG, implemented the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) which identifies the issues of the communities which shall then be addressed through the provision of needed government interventions, such as the inaugurated projects.

“Mapasalamaton ako og dako sa among kalsada para dili na kami magkalisod sa among mga produkto pagpapalugsong ngadto sa among lungsod. (I am very thankful for our road because we will no longer have trouble getting our products to the town's center),” said Gilma Tejero, president of Km 9 Simuwao Kabudagan Assocation (KSKA), in the Lianga turnover.

The acceptance messages of the other residents were also filled with gratitude on how the projects are sure to make their lives much easier and safer.

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the February 22, 145 former rebels from Surigao del Sur who surrendered to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) of the government received 8.8 million-peso-worth of financial assistance from the national and local government.

Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary for New Media and External Affairs and NTF-ELCAC Spokesperson USec. Lorraine Badoy graced the events together with DILG Localization of EO 70 Project Management Office Director Rene V. Valera and DILG Caraga Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion.

DILG Caraga RD Famacion zeroed in on the importance of a whole-of-nation approach in the venture for a more peaceful and developed Caraga and how President Duterte will leave a sterling legacy when he steps down with the successful implementation of EO 70 in her messages to the barangays and the former rebels.

“Sa iyang [President Duterte] unom ka tuig isip lider sa atong nasud, hugot niyang gihatagan ug gahom ang atong mga LGUs, ilabina ang atong mga barangay, sa pagkab-ot sa kalinaw. Ang administrasyong Duterte, tinuod nga hulagway sa tapang at malasakit, mao ang nakatuman sa dugay na natong gipangandoy. (In his six years as our country’s leader, he scrupulously empowered our LGUs, especially our barangays, to achieve peace. The Duterte administration, truly a paragon of tapang at malasakit, has fulfilled our long-sought dreams.)” ### (By LGOO II Estela Marie M. Vallespin)



Guests and former rebels pose the Duterte fist, a symbol of restored confidence in the government’s ability to end the local communist armed conflict.



 The former rebels recite their allegiance to the government in their return to the folds of the law. The assistance provided shall be their trestle in their reintegration back to the community.



Inauguration of School Building and Farm-to-Market Road in Sitio Simowao, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga on February 22, 2022



Inauguration of Solar Street Lights and Sanitary Toilets in Brgy. Pong-on, San Agustin and Local Access Road in Brgy. Buhisan on February 23, 2022