Duterte approves national plan to address conflict with communists

April 16, 2019

Malacanang on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte approved a national plan integrating government efforts to address the armed conflict with the communists in the country.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte had his first meeting with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Malacañang last Monday.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte today rallied all instrumentalities of government, the private sector, and the entire Filipino nation to actively work together in a Whole-of-Nation Movement to address violent conflicts, as well as build a culture of peace and development throughout the country,” said Panelo in a statement.

Panelo said all officials who were present “agreed that the Whole-of-Nation Movement is not directed primarily at defeating the communist insurgency, but instead to demonstrate genuine good governance for the betterment of the lives of the people.”

Panelo said Duterte will assign specific Cabinet members to oversee the peace and development efforts in every region of the country.

''The designated Cabinet Officer for the Region will be supported by a unified and integrated Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order Council,” he said.

Panelo said the government would also pursue the “fast-tracked” implementation of the National Wifi and 911 projects in all barangays.

“By effectively managing barriers and challenges to peace and development, the Whole-of-Nation Movement envisions to build resilient and robust communities that promote the welfare and well-being of the Filipino people,” Panelo said.

Last year, Duterte signed the Executive Order No. 70, mandating the government bureaucracy to take a "whole-of-nation approach" in defeating insurgency through the creation of the national task force. Ella Dionisio/DMS