Army, PNP Conduct Community Support Program: Identifies, facilitates resolution to hinterland barangays’ problems, issues

The Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) successfully identified and continues to facilitate the resolution of issues exploited by NPA terrorists in two of Siayan town’s hinterland barangays after its successful conduct of Community Support Programs (CSP) which started on August 15 this year.

Also members of the CSP teams were personnel from  547th Engineer (AGILA) Battalion and policemen from Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office (ZNPPO).

Barangays Pange and Macasing in Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte province are long treated by Communist-Terrorist Groups (CTGs) as their safe havens.

Some of the identified issues exploited by NPA terrorists in their deceptive narratives are high farm input/low output prices, dilapidated roads, lack of medical facilities and personnel, lack of K-12 teachers, and lack of post harvest facilities.

The CSP teams, in coordination with various national government agencies (NGAs) and the Municipal Government of Siayan headed by its mayor and Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) Chairperson Hon. Josecor Gepolongca, continues to facilitate the resolution of the said issues exploited by Communist-NPA Terrorists (CNTs).

The conduct of CSP aims to clear conflict-affected areas (CAAs) and barangays of NPA-terrorist influence. It prevents the resurgence of NPA terrorists and helps the community in the establishment of a conflict-resilient community.

It is a multi-stakeholders’ and people-oriented effort employed in CAAs and sectoral organizations.