Real Change in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace

“Insurgency is not a sole responsibility of the government,
rather a shared responsibility of the whole nation.”
– Epimacio V. Densing III
DILG Undersecretary

The continuous battle cry for national peace and development affects all the different sectors of the society through the five long decades of localized armed conflict in the many parts of our country. Although many have been made aware of the circumstances, more have not made a stand or acted upon it. At this time, the good leaders denounced their commitment to the promise of working out a resolution to these recurring issues.

Despite these challenges, NTF-ELCAC utilizes Whole-of-Nation Approach (WNA) and claims its superior effectiveness against the previous attempts in addressing these recurring issues. Such is the government’s advocacy of a change in confronting “root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, facilitating societal inclusivity, and ensuring active participation of all sectors of the society in pursuit of country’s peace agenda.” This development is more than welcome to the Philippine Air Force’s CMO as NTF-ELCAC enables and enhances CMO’s to reach farther areas and engage locals within conflict-affected and vulnerable communities.

The NTF-ELCAC or Executive Order 70, “involves all government agencies, from the national to the barangay level, with delineated roles and responsibilities in the WNA.” Likewise, the PAF CMO also conducts coordination with relevant national agencies, LGUs, local communities, and other stakeholders, including but not limited to government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs) in accordance to the mandate in the implementation of the National Peace Framework (NPF).

For instance, the Regional Task Force 1 (RTF1-ELCAC) recommended the inclusion of 16 target barangays in Ilocos Sur for the implementation of Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) as beneficiaries of the 2021 support to Barangay Development Plan (BDP). The 16 identified additional barangays are categorized as Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) less-influenced areas. The BDP provided an allocation of an amount not exceeding Twenty Million Pesos to each cleared barangay for the implementation of the following projects: (i) farm-to-market road; (ii) school building; (iii) water and sanitation system; (iv) health stations; (v) electrification; (vi) agricultural livelihood and technical vocational training/projects; and (vii) assistance to indigent individuals or families. Thus, providing assistance in conflict-areas are supervised by LGUs, NTF-ELCAC, and RTF-ELCAC.

The RCSP strengthens the Community Support Program (CSP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). It is an inclusive program that aims to address identified issues in the community by closing governance and development gaps by providing needed government Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) that gears towards institutionalizing sustainable peace and development.

The Civil-Military Operations (CMO) programs extend their activities in support of the WNA as the military sector is also launching various activities and programs that enhance the strategic and operational levels for different community projects on counterinsurgency programs aid NTF-ELCAC. Further, the launch of Campus Peace and Development Forum and the Supreme Student Council Society of the Philippines serves to sustain inclusive information and a clear concept on how Communist Terrorist Groups operate their recruitment among the youth sector.On this note, the extended reach and spread of public consciousness of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), its infiltration works, schemes, deceptions, and lies in the far-flung communities.

Therefore, NTF-ELCAC’s nationwide effort from national to barangay level exponentially improved CMO’s accomplishments as CMO is enabled to conduct their counterinsurgency programs in farther places before was not easy to reach. The PAF CMO accomplishments were made possible through coordination and cooperation of the government agencies and other sectors involved is a testimony that coming together provides a clear picture of change in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace. As for NTF-ELCAC, we can now realize a world where we embrace differences and mitigate prejudices. Successful CMO activities are a legacy and a good foundation for the peace and development of our country for the generations to come.