The Negros Oriental Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) is requesting the Provincial Board for P1,032,000 million for the hiring of Job Order employees who will guard the forests of the Province.
The new employees will augment the existing forest guards who are already on the payroll of the Province.
In an emergency meeting of the PPOC last week, they also asked for the P832,000 for the purchase of rice for the forest guards and another P200,000 to augment the operation and maintenance of the Provincial Peace and Order Council.
In the same meeting, Capt. Erwin Glenn Romero of the 302 IB, AFP bared that the peace and security condition in the province of Negros Oriental has greatly improved and is now ready and conducive for development.
Per assessment of the Philippine Army the province is enjoying relative peace as insurgency situation is manageable and is continuously being addressed by the security forces in the province.
Although some hinterland barangays are still affected by the presence of New People’s army, they don’t pose a threat to the security situation because they are no longer capable of conducting tactical offensive moves against the government troops, Romero said.
The active participation of government agencies and local government units have efficiently addressed the core issues being exploited by the NPAs particularly agrarian related problems, the military added.
With the support and active involvement of all the stakeholders, the Philippine Army is confident that Negros Oriental will become an insurgency free province in the near future. (PIA/Leandra Pagunsan)
