IP Community in Davao Occidental meets NCIP Secretary

MALITA, Davao Occidental - The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) together with the 73rd Infantry Battalion (IB) and different national agencies participated in the Inter-Agency Visitation and Consultation this September 7, 2020, at the Spamast Gymnasium, Malita and Emils Place, Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental.

The said activity was graced by Secretary Allen Capuyan, NCIP Chairperson and NTF-ELCAC Head and was attended by nearly 100 Indigenous Leaders and members from the different municipalities of Davao, Occidental and government agencies such as TESDA, DA, DENR, DSWD, DTI and others.

The Indigenous Peoples were empowered during the activity after gaining knowledge from the different programs of the national agencies.

"Most of the different tribes were the subject of recruitment by the communist terrorist. This is because the services of the government were not distributed in the area," Sec. Capuyan shared. 

In response, Lt. Col. Ronaldo G Valdez, Commander of 73IB expressed his gratitude for the cooperation of the people, especially in far-flung areas.

"The manpower of the communist terrorist had reduced into 6. Rest assured that the services of the agencies will be delivered in far-flung areas in order to counter the propaganda of the communist that government is not present in these areas," he said.

Datu Gregorio T. Day also commended the efforts of the 73IB in securing the area of Davao Occidental with the military deployed in the sitios.

 
Source: Civil-Military Operations Office, 73rd Infantry Battalion, Joint Task Force Agila, PA