E.Samar, Declared as a “Manageable Conflict—Affected & Development Ready”

Eastern Samar stakeholders, Armed Forces of the Philippines,        National/Local Government Agencies, LGUs, LCEs, GOs/NGOs and together with the Populace jointly declare the province as “Manageable Conflict      Affected and Development Ready” on 26 March 2013 held at Provincial Capitol   Building, Borongan, Eastern Samar.

The declaration was realized  after its municipalities were declared as “Manageable Conflict Affected and          Development Ready. The MOA/resolution documents signing was publicly presented by the Province          Governor Conrado Nicart Jr. and Vice Gov. Christopher  Gonzales,               representative of CENTCOM           Commander VADM EDGAR ABOGADO AFP, Commander 8ID MGEN GERARDO T LAYUG AFP, 801st Brigade Commander BGEN     ROMEO L LABADOR AFP and the PNP Provincial Director PSSupt Allan Cuevillas.

The 14^th Infantry Battalion     acknowledges that the remaining      structural issues need to be addressed and reforms must be made. This is exactly what the unit did. However, the issues exploited by the CPP/NPA/NDF are multi-faceted and complex, in which military solution alone is inadequate. Thus, the collaboration of all       stakeholders spearheaded by the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) facilitated the attainment of our common        objective – by declaring the whole Province of Eastern Samar as “Manageable Conflict-Affected and Development Ready”. This is done through joint declaration signing.

In line with this, the Province of Eastern Samar under the Leadership of Governor Conrado Nicart Jr.,  recognized the reality that a purely military solution will never be enough to adequately    address those issues. As peace and     security is indivisible, efforts towards these must be shared by all – it is       everybody’s responsibility.

The LCE, together with other LGUs and LGAs in the whole Province actively perform the lead role in pursuing peace and development in the area.

Prior to the realization of the symbolic event, on the start of 2^nd       Semester of year 2012, after the         Battalion retraining and setting foot in Eastern Samar, this unit took part through series of coordination and     conferences to help improve the Province of Eastern Samar. Troops continue to conduct combat clearing operations in the hinterlands of the AO to reduce the influence of CPP/NPA/NDF.

Indeed, the battalion contributed to the conditions that the LCE can fully take responsibility for the safety and well-being of the people.