RDC to drumbeat peace, dev’t in far-flung Samar communities

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 19 (PNA) – The Regional Development Council (RDC) will hold peace and development caravans in previously rebel-infested towns of Lapinig, Northern Samar and Motiong Samar on Sept. 29 in a bid to attain lasting peace in far-flung communities.

Department of Budget and Management Regional Director Imelda Laceras, chair of the RDC’s development administration committee, said they will push for the caravans that kicked off last year, to continue.

“This is to support the peace agenda of the Duterte administration, underscoring the need to accelerate the implementation of peace accords with communist insurgents, socio economic development in conflict-affected areas and build a culture of peace and conflict sensitivity to uplift socio-economic development,” Laceras said.

The RDC recently endorsed a resolution enjoining the participation of all RDC Eastern Visayas members in the upcoming caravans.

The one-day activity will include delivery of messages from top officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and executives of other agencies, and focus group discussion with sectoral groups to identify areas for engagement for peace and development efforts.

Officials will also turnover the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) projects, delivery of services by different government agencies and partners, peace story telling for children, and boodle fight.

“The service caravan will take a festive mood to celebrate partnerships and drumbeat the broader spaces for engagements for peace and development under the current peace agenda,” Laceras added.

“Achieving peace remains a challenge in some areas Eastern Visayas” due to limited access to basic services and economic development, slow dispensation of justice, poor governance and deteriorating moral values of communities.” 

Specific venues for this year’s caravans are the town center in Lapinig and Calapi village in Motiong. Lapinig is 238 kilometers from Tacloban, the regional capital while is Motiong is 84 kilometers away from this city.

The RDC held its first peace and development caravans on July 29, 2015 in Lawaan village in Paranas, Samar. Other caravans last year were also conducted in Las Navas in Northern Samar, Jipapad in Eastern Samar, and Jaro in Leyte. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO