The municipality of Isabela has established the first-ever inter-agency facility in Negros Occidental that will implement programs aiming to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC).

The Task Force Isabela ELCAC Fusion Center, located in Barangay 4, has been serving as the municipal government’s centralized office for the implementation of anti-insurgency plans and programs since it was inaugurated on September 30.

Mayor Irene Montilla said in a statement on Wednesday that peace and order is one of the priorities of her administration as she cited the town’s improving security conditions, resulting from the concerted efforts of the local government unit (LGU) and its residents with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Isabela is situated in central Negros, which still has the presence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.

The town’s Barangay Libas hosts the headquarters of the Philippine Army 62nd Infantry (IB) troops which have recently encountered communist-terrorist rebels in the surrounding areas.

Lt. Col. Melvin Flores, commanding officer of 62IB, also on Wednesday lauded the effort of the municipal government in taking a lead role in ending insurgency.

“With the support of the counterpart agencies and the people, we can say that the peace objectives can be achieved. I urge other LGUs to step up the fight against insurgency and take the path towards the attainment of genuine peace and progress,” he added.

The Isabela ELCAC Fusion Center is supporting the initiatives of the whole-of-nation approach to address insurgency as provided in President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 70.

The facility serves as the venue for capacity-building in implementing the President’s directive and to further foster a model municipality in good governance.

It also aims to promote inter-agency collaboration to produce developmental and synergized ideas that can greatly contribute in maintaining the peace and order not only in Isabela, but also in Negros Occidental as a whole.

In January this year, Isabela activated the Municipal Task Force-ELCAC to coincide with the launching of the “Serbisyo Negrosanon” to implement the Retooled Community Support Program and further empower LGUs in achieving peace and development. (PNA)