|
The
communist insurgency can be nipped in the bud by addressing
poverty and through basic infrastructure development, as shown
by the Bohol approach.
This
was the statement made by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during
the closing rites of the two-day Local Peace and Security
Assembly (LPSA) at the Bohol Tropics Resort last Friday.
The
Bohol approach of crushing the communist insurgency is proof
that a nationwide fight against insurgency could be bloodless.
|
|
|
According
to the President, years ago Bohol was the hotbed of
communism in the region with the most active rebel fronts.
"It
took the resolute efforts of a governor, Gov. Erico
Aumentado, with support from then 302nd Infantry Brigade
commander, now 7th Division chief Gen. Juanito Gomez
and the support of various sectors which contained the
New Peoples Army (NPA) in the province," Arroyo
said.
Since
2005, just a few remnants from the hundreds of armed
rebels stayed.
The
four active armed fronts of the NPA were reduced to
one.
|
What
has made the Bohol experience meaningful, according to Arroyo,
are the many former rebels who want to live in peace and "turn
their guns into plowshares."
ROOTED
IN POVERTY
The
president said she believes that the communist insurgency
is rooted in poverty.
The
poverty alleviation programs of Aumentado coupled with the
efforts of the military showed that insurgents can be driven
away from conflict-affected areas and encouraged them to return
to mainstream society.
In
the Action Agenda for Peace and Security in Central Visayas
which was drafted by local government officials and sectoral
representatives during the two-day LPSA, Pres.
Arroyo was requested to offer amnesty for members of the Communist
Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic
Front, including their legal, above-ground organizations;
offer a ceasefire to the CPP/NPA/NDF; support local peace
talks.
The
peace assembly also proposed to the national government to
enact a law that will consider land as loan collateral and
an asset swap program, and plug the loopholes in the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program, to uplift the farmers' standard living.
Farmers
often serve as major recruiting pool for insurgents.
They
also want the national government to review the re-establishment
of the Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC) as a mechanism
to instill discipline and love of country among the youth,
and enjoin local government units to adopt policies that decrease
poverty incidence in their areas.
Second,
the peace and development advocates agreed to commit to prevent
the return of insurgency in the region by attending to the
needs of the youths or students and urban poor, who are vulnerable
targets for recruitment by the insurgents; fast-track implementation
of programs for rebel-returnees; sustain and improve on the
convergence approach down to the barangay level; and build
local capacities for peace through education, values formation,
media, and other advocacy vehicles.
Third,
they aim to build upon the proven capability of local governments
and the communities to work hand-in-hand toward peace, security
and development by defining the roles and duties of the local
governments, religious sector, academe, and media in the local
peace, security and development thrust; promote the use of
the local government scorecard; revisit the Local Government
Code to ensure that local governance mechanisms and institutions
are effectively and efficiently working; and update local
chief executives of the national policies for guidance in
their peace, security and development initiatives.
REPLICATION
OF BOHOL EXPERIENCE
During
the peace assembly, the participants agreed to replicate and
propagate nationwide the Bohol experience in its drive against
insurgents.
Among
the participants were the Gov. Emilio Macias of Oriental Negros,
Gov. Orlando Fua of Siquijor, Gov. Aumentado, House Deputy
Speaker and Cebu Rep. Raul del Mar, 14 congressmen in Central
Visayas, mayors, armed forces and police officials and sectoral
representatives.
LPSAs
are gatherings of local government and sectoral leaders or
experts in the different parts of the country aimed at seeking
solutions to issues and problems affecting peace and security
in their localities.
Conducting
the LPSAs is the national government's way of responding to
the clamor of LGUs and stakeholders for support to their various
conflict-resolution and peace-building initiatives.
The
LPSA also serves as venue to bring together the major stakeholders
in the region to identify issues and concerns affecting the
efforts to address insurgency. The participants then come
up with an action agenda to address the problem.
|
