DAVAO CITY – Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao-Eastern (OPAMINE) Leo Tereso A. Magno met Mayor Sebastian Duterte on Wednesday, August 23, at Davao City Hall.
Magno and Duterte talked about various matters, including the forthcoming housing initiative of the Marcos government, aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s national housing program, the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program (4PH).
The two Davaoeño leaders also discussed potential collaboration between the national and city governments to boost the welfare of Davaoeños with Magno’s designation as the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Davao Region.
Area Police Commander Police Lt. Gen. Filmore Escobal provided Magno with an update on the security situation in Eastern Mindanao following last week's three-day security briefing focusing on strategies to counteract regional terrorism in Region 11.
Magno assured he would continuously support efforts of security forces to combat criminality and terrorism in Region 11 and Eastern Mindanao. He added that his office is collaborating with security forces on plans to enhance strategic security measures in their area.
The presidential assistant for Eastern Mindanao also talked on Wednesday to officials from Bislig City led by Mayor Florencio Garay, with the Surigao del Sur provincial board, to explore ways the OPAMINE could support the city.
Working with National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP)-11 Chairman Allen Capuyan, Magno collaborated efforts to implement strategies to support the Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) communities.
In a gathering here, the two officials discussed issues affecting the IPs in Eastern Mindanao.
Magno has taken on the role of CORDS for the National Task Force to Terminate Local Communist Armed Conflicts (NTF-ELCAC). He will enhance the government's efforts to counter-insurgency in this capacity.
The Davao region has been officially declared free from insurgency since October 2022.