RCSP aids over 200 residents in Ilocos Sur village
By Joyah Mae C. Quimoyog / Philippine Information Agency
VIGAN CITY – More than 200 residents of Sitio Kimpatubbog, Barangay Poblacion in Suyo, Ilocos Sur received basic services from the Local Government Unit (LGU), along with the member-agencies of the provincial task force to end local communist armed conflict (PTF-ELCAC), during the Serbisyo Caravan held recently as part of its Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).
Mayor Mario B. Subagan led the activity highlighting in his message the development of the task force ELCAC, specifically the deployment of the Philippine Army’s CSP/RCSP, to their locality.
“Makikita mo talaga ang pag-unlad dito sa Sitio Kimpatubbog. Isa ito sa mga paraan upang maiparating ang mga iba’t-ibang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa ating mga kababayan lalo rito sa malalayong sitio ng barangay,” he said.
According to the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer in Suyo, during the RCSP’s Community Immersion, pressing issues were raised by the residents and were asked on how they think the LGU can provide solutions to these issues.
One of these is the difficulty of residents to transport and sell their farm products due to the unfinished construction of road, which is a rough 1-hour ride to the town market.
Mayor Subagan assured to fast track the construction of the road to ease the burden of the residents, thus, providing additional income to them.
To solve their problems on insufficiency of water supply, the residents also agreed with the establishment of connection of the water supply from the DILG’s SALINTUBIG project in its adjacent Sitio – Sitio Bito.
During the Serbisyo Caravan, the local government of Suyo with its various departments, along with other government agencies – DILG, Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office I, Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine National Police, and the 81st Infantry (SPARTAN) Battalion, 702nd Infantry (DEFENDER) Brigade, 7th Infantry (KAUGNAY) Division, Philippine Army along with Non-Government Organizations – SIGLAT Training Center, Lions Club-Candon City Chapter and the Municipal Health employees of Suyo converged to deliver different services like free medical consultations and medicines, hygiene kits and relief supplies, and Noche Buena packages and slippers, among others.
The Sangguniang Kabataan in the barangay also awarded a computer set for the students to use especially with the adaption of blended modular and online learning as a measure against the COVID-19.
After the activity, the TESDA committed to conduct skills training on Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and Bread Making using sweet potato, which is the sitio’s local product, as the main ingredient.
One of the residents sang a song of gratitude to the LGU and the government agencies who according to her, visited their Sitio even with the long distance and rough road just to bring various services to them.
The RCSP was formulated to strengthen the CSP initiative of the military and make efforts driven mainly by the local government.
Philippine Army's CSP was deployed in the said area August 19, 2019 and the RCSP was implemented last October 8 this year.
Mayor Subagan added that along with the services the LGU and the NGAs have provided to them, one of the best results of the CSP in the area is how it united the residents to support the government's programs and initiatives.
“Maraming nag-iba. Kung noon, mga babae lang ang nakikita naming aktibo sa mga aktibidad ng LGU lalo sa mga pagpupulong, ngayon, kitang-kita ang partisipasyon ng lahat. Sa pamamagitan ng mga programa ng Task Force ELCAC, mas napagtibay pa ang relasyon ng gobyerno at ng mga residente at sana’y magtuloy-tuloy na ito,” he said.
Aside from these anti-insurgency efforts, residents and local officials of Suyo, Ilocos Sur conducted an indignation rally last September 16 in front of their town’s public market to Sitio Kimpatubbog expressing their united stand not to support the CPP-NPA.
They burned the effigies of Jose Maria Sison, the NPA flags, and the faces of the NPA leaders of the Komiteng Larangang Guerilya – Southern Ilocos Sur (KLG-SIS) operating in Ilocos Sur. They also burst red balloons and released white doves as an expression of resistance in the presence of the CPP-NPA terrorists in the town but are united in achieving peace and development in the area. (JCR/JPD/JMQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)