DUMAGUETE CITY - The Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF-ELCAC) will resume holding the "Dagyawan Sa Barangay: Talakayan sa Mamamayan" and Caravan on Basic Services (Serbisyo Caravan) in seven villages in Negros Oriental tagged as still affected by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Farah Diba Gentuya said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency that the Dagyawan/Serbisyo Caravan will bring together all government agencies in a whole-of-nation approach to listen to and address the needs of these barangays.

"This is part of government's efforts to sustain programs and projects to alleviate the plight of villagers who are still confronted with the communist insurgency problem and this year, we will be going to the barangays instead of the usual town hall meetings," Gentuya said.

During a coordinating meeting of the NOTF-ELCAC here on Friday, member agencies were apprised of the recently included barangays as well as interventions undertaken, such as the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) of the DILG.

The first of a series of Dagyawan activities will be held on March 14 in Barangay Pula, Canlaon City.

The succeeding dialogues and service caravans will be held in the villages of Mantiquil and Apoloy, Siaton town; Nagbalaye, Milagrosa, Nagbinlod, and Talalak in the municipality of Sta. Catalina.

Last year and in the previous years, the Dagyawan was held usually in the town's gymnasium but the provincial TF-ELCAC wants to hold it this time right in the insurgency-affected barangay, Gentuya said.

The Philippine Army has cleared these new barangays for inclusion in the RCSP, one of the government's mechanisms in the national TF-ELCAC program implementation in conflict-affected areas.

Negros Oriental now has a total of 46 barangays listed under the ELCAC program.

Gov. Roel Degamo, who chairs the provincial task force, said he will also bring his "MagDegamo" medical mission to complement the Dagyawan and Serbisyo Caravan activities. (PNA)