BOTOLAN, Zambales —The local arm of various government agencies and local government units have organized an inter-agency collaborative project to bring essential government services closer to the people in remote areas here.

Spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and in collaboration with the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) of Botolan, Zambales, the project is targeting beneficiaries in the far-flung areas of Barangays Maguisguis, Cabatuan, Nacolcol, Villar and Poonbato by the month of December this year.  

On November 25, the DILG-Zambales met with government agencies and representatives from the provincial government at the Botolan People’s Plaza in preparation for the upcoming Serbisyo Caravan included in the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).

Local Government Operations Officers Shieralyn B. Esteban and Jonnel B. Edillor provided an overview of Executive Order No. 70 and the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP), and facilitated the action planning of the partner agencies for the commitment setting.

EO 70, signed by President Duterte in December 2018, institutionalized the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, created a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and directed the adoption of a national peace framework.

In her response, Mayor Doris E. Maniquiz expressed gratitude to all stakeholders that were able to commit their agency’s services, which are essential to the anticipated success of the Serbisyo Caravan.

She also stressed that peace and order is everybody’s concern and that the efficient implementation of EO 70 lies on the collaborative effort of everyone.

The Serbisyo Caravan project hews close to EO 70 in institutionalizing the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to end local insurgency and armed conflict in the country by bringing the government service closer to the people. — SHIERALYN B. ESTEBAN / DILG-Zambales