Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar on Wednesday, Sept. 22, encouraged the anti-communist insurgency task force in Cordillera to seek the participation of local government units in insurgency-related dialogues.
“There should be a mechanism with which regularly the local government units (LGUs) at various levels should have dialogues particularly on grievances in the community against government and other things," Dar said during the 3rd quarter meeting of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC).
"We need to understand all these grievances and give proper consideration, to let them know that there is good governance at the LGU level,” added Dar, who also serves as the cabinet officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Cordillera.
During the meeting, the task force discussed the insurgency situation in the Cordillera region, updates on relevant programs implemented, and engagements in the universities, colleges, and schools in preventing communist group recruitment, among other matters.
Further, Dar urged the task force members to encourage the active participation of LGUs, particularly in barangays with insurgency "by having meaningful dialogues with the community members outlining why they are discouraged to join insurgency movements."
He also asked the concerned cluster to work with the LGUs in continuing the fight against communist insurgency in the region.
“We have to strengthen the role of the local governments as the main mechanism to handle all these grievances and encouragement for people to stay with the Republic, in general,” the cabinet officer said.