TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur, Sept. 24 —  “The people of Bayugan City deserve better, the delivery of basic services and social development to them is our priority.”

This was the statement of Mayor Kirk D. Asis of Bayugan City and the chair of City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (CTF-ELCAC) during the recently held mission planning for the implementation of Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) in Barangay Hamogaway, Bayugan City.

The delivery of basic government services in the said barangay which is a conflict-affected area (ConAAs) was discussed during the mission planning as a response to the needs of the local community.

The RCSP is an inclusive government program to realize the objectives of Executive Order No. 70 “whole-of-nation approach” which was formulated to strengthen the Community Support Program (CSP) of the military and aims to address the issues identified in the said barangay by the previously deployed CSP teams of the 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion.

“We need to sit down together first and work with oneness. I am grateful for the entire members of this committee for your support to the City Government initiatives and programs. I, as the chair of the CTF-ELCAC, guarantee to do my hundred percent willingness and commitment to work with you towards the over-all accomplishment of our mission,” underscored Asis, as he expressed his gratitude to the entire committee of CTF-ELCAC.

Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce, commanding officer of 26IB, emphasized that all the sectors with the government must participate actively in addressing the issues of the community. “Together, we need to resolve the identified issues of the local community. This is only possible if the local government agencies (LGA), local government unit (LGU), civil society and other stakeholders will work jointly toward achieving a common goal,” he said.

“We must ensure the active coordination among us in delivering the basic government services to the community. In that way, we will surely bring hope, peace and development to the home of the people,” Goce added. (26IB/PIA-Agusan del Sur)