Soldiers of the Eastern Mindanao Command during the opening ceremonies of the 10th year anniversary of the EMC held at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City on Friday, August 26. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY— After the declaration of ceasefire with the National Democratic Front, the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) announced that they planned to advance the Peace and Development Outreach Program PDOP in communities here.
During the celebration of 10th year anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command here on Friday, August 26, Army commander Lt. Gen Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero said that the ceasefire will help them in the implementation of PDOP in far flung communities.
“Now that a ceasefire with the CPP-NPA is in effect, we expect that the implementation of the government’s peace and development programs in the countryside will be able to proceed much faster providing the much needed services to even the remotest barangay,” he said.
PDOP program promotes partnerships of efforts between the Philippine Army and the Provincial Government and its Local Government Unit’s (LGUs).
He said that without the “effective convergence of local government units and agencies, organizations, civil society organizations and the security sector and management groups” the military will not be able to improve the peace and security in the region.
For the past 10 years, Guerrero said that a total of 150 barangays was cleared of the New People’s Army (NPA) allowing the declaration of five provinces and one city as “conflict manageable and development-ready areas.”
After a decade, Guerrero said that in the area covered by EMC, NPA members reduced by 115, while number of NPA firearms reduced by 177.
“This reductions of NPA is from the effective barangay immersions supported by the members of the community,” he said
Guerrero said that the EMC were able to conduct a total of 287 various naval operations “logging a total of 3,266 hours steaming time along the 16,667 nautical mile stretch of our maritime area of responsibility.”
He added that the Region 10, 11 and 12 were able to conduct a total of 1,566 various air operations that include maritime patrols.
“The security of our maritime boarders is also the focus of our international defense and security engagements,” he said.
On the disaster response, Guerrero said that the EMC deployed elements like Tactical Operations Group 11 (TOG 11) and the 10th Infantry Division (ID) to put out fires from Mount Apo last March 26.
“A total of 90 helicopter sorties were performed to survey and drop water and ice over the affected areas in Mt. Apo,” he said.
With this year’s theme, “Team EASTMINCOM: Katambayayong sa sa Tinudanay nga Kausaban” (partner for genuine change), Guerrero said “a lot more needs to be done.”
As part of the anniversary celebration, EMC together with President Rodrigo Duterte awarded AFP personnel and civilian stakeholders. (davaotoday.com)
