MAGPET, Cotabato Province, Nov. 16 (PIA) -- Communities can rely on the Philippine Army as a partner in their development efforts, an army official here said.

"As soldiers, we are happy to serve the country. We are happy to serve fellow Filipinos. This is what soldiers do. We are not here solely to fight with the enemies of the State but to truly serve the people. Thus, the Philippine Army is always your partner in the development projects of the government as well as in the peace and development agenda of the Provincial Government of Cotabato led by Gov. Nancy Catamco," Col. Potenciano Camba, commanding officer of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade told the residents of Barangay Manobisa, Magpet during the Serbisyo Caravan Thursday.

Col. Camba added that government troops are constantly collaborating with different government agencies for the delivery of needed basic services to communities.

This partnership with other government institutions is highlighted in the implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP), officially launched in pilot barangays through a Serbisyo Caravan.

RCSP is one of the mechanisms of the national government in carrying out the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) as spelled out in President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's Executive Order No. 70.

In SOCCSKSARGEN Region, RCSP covers 103 barangays-- 62 in the original list of target barangays, 40 barangays added recently, and 1 barangay recommended by the Regional Task Force ELCAC.

As RCSP areas, these communities are eligible to receive P20-million development assistance package from the national government for priority projects identified by the community with the help from municipal and provincial LGU officials.

Local government units and national line agencies also contribute to sustain the development of RCSP-target communities by pouring in the needed basic services such as livelihood, skills trainings, medical and dental services, agricultural production support, farm-to-market roads, water systems, and many others.

Prior to the inclusion of these barangays as RCSP target areas, these were focus of AFP's peace and development initiative called Community Support Program (CSP) which among others aimed to facilitate development and reintroduce government services in conflict-affected communities, particularly in identified New People's Army strongholds.

Barangay Manobisa is one of the 10 barangays in Magpet municipality and 36 barangays in the entire Cotabato Province identified for RCSP implementation. (DED-PIA XII)