The National Capital Region Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NCRTF-ELCAC) has concluded its Levelling Sessions on Executive Order (EO) No. 70, series of 2018, for the 1,709 barangays in the region.

Held from June 14 to 17 and 21 to 25, 2021, the massive virtual orientation for barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan chairpersons aims to provide them the necessary information on, and enjoin them to support, the national government’s whole of nation approach towards peace and development in accordance with EO 70.

EO 70 harmonizes the delivery of basic services and social development packages in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities in pursuit of the county’s peace and development agenda.

The barangay levelling sessions also highlight the importance of community participation in building peaceful and orderly barangays and the role of barangay officials who are at the forefront of government programs at the grassroots level.

More than 5,000 barangay officials from across NCR attended the sessions via Zoom; key functionaries of the member agencies of NCRTF-ELCAC served as resource persons and discussed the various activities of the communist terrorist groups, particularly in urban communities targeting the urban poor and the youth.

The activity was also a venue for the 17 local governments to present their accomplishments on peace and order. Local chief executives and their city administrators tackled these accomplishments, as well as planned actions to sustain their local peace initiatives in their respective localities.

One of the highlights of the activity is the presentation of the Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development or CUCPD framework, developed by the DILG.

CUCPD is different from the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP), as it is tailored for urban communities. The program aims to empower communities to address peace and development concerns by providing necessary government services and interventions. It is also seen to foster cooperation with the different sectors, opening lines for participatory governance.

The virtual sessions also allowed participants to raise their concerns and queries with key

functionaries of the NCRTF-ELCAC in handling peace and order issues and concerns in their communities.

In his message, NCR Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) and NTF-ELCAC infrastructure cluster head DPWH Secretary Mark Villar thanked the barangay officials for their active participation in the activity. He stressed the importance of unified action between the national government and barangays as a manifestation of the whole of nation approach in maintaining peace and order in every community.

The NCRTF-ELCAC is composed of DPWH-NCR, DILG-NCR, DSWD-NCR, JTF-NCR, MMDA, NICA, NCRPO, DOLE-NCR, TESDA-NCR, PIA-NCR, DEPED-NCR, NCIP-NCR, MMCHD, OPAPRU, DBM-NCR, DTI-NCR, DENR-NCR, CHED-NCR, DFA, and DOJ. #