BACOLOD CITY: Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental is hoping for continued peace in Barangay Carabalan two months after thousands of its residents were displaced due to a series of encounters between government troops and communist rebels.
As of Tuesday, the city government continues to implement various interventions to help the community in its rehabilitation and recovery efforts.
“So far, it’s very peaceful, which is what normally happens after an encounter. We just hope it will be maintained,” he told reporters here.
Tongson said the Philippine Army itself conducted massive security operations that he believes achieved their objective of restoring peace and order in the village.
“In our level, we have maximized our rehabilitation and recovery programs, focusing on the people affected by the incident,” he added.
The series of clashes between the New People’s Army rebels and troops of the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion, which started on Oct. 6 mainly in Barangay Carabalan affected 5,444 families.
These included those residing in Barangay Carabalan, 3,313 families and the neighboring Barangay Cabadiangan, 1,985 families; and Barangay 3-Poblacion, 28 families.
Affected as well were 118 families in Barangay Bi-ao in the adjacent Binalbagan town.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development- Western Visayas has distributed a total of PHP11.81 million worth of assistance, of which PHP10.01 million in cash aid were distributed to more than 3,000 displaced families under the Armed Conflict Financial Assistance program.
The city government also provided assistance amounting to PHP4.25 million to the affected families
Source: Philippines News Agency