Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is pushing to speed up the conclusion of the peace process agreement for the immediate implementation of the livelihood and development programs in the province as outlined in the agreement. 

Degamo recently met with the senior officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) to discuss a proposed memorandum of agreement that calls for the implementation of livelihood programs once the peace talks reach closure. 

 

Col. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, in an earlier interview, said that livelihood and development assistance will be extended to members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) in Negros Oriental upon closure of the peace agreement. 

Said agreement stipulated that inventoried firearms, ammunitions and explosives carried by RPA-ABB members will be turned over to the government in exchange for the livelihood and development programs, said Patrimonio. 

 

OPAPP representatives on March 23 have already conducted an inventory on firearms and weapons belonging to some members of the RPA-ABB at Sitio Candanqui, Brgy. Azagra in Tanjay City. 

A team from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office’s Crime Laboratory was also present during the inventory to stencil the items presented by the RPA-ABB members. 

In an interview with the media who witnessed the inventory, Azagra village chief Felix Mira, Jr. said he is supporting the inventory and thus, the peace process. 

“I’m supporting this activity because I want the government’s projects to continue to be implemented in my barangay. If there’s no peace here, no development projects will be undertaken here,” said Mira. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)