Quezon Convention Center, Lucena City, Quezon
October 21, 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte underscored the importance of promoting peace and development in conflict-affected areas throughout the country due to longstanding communist insurgencies as he led the Joint Meeting of the National Task Force – Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-RTF ELCAC) in Region IV-A held in Lucena City, Quezon.

The President proudly announced that a significant development has been achieved in the government’s counter-insurgency programs and activities. He also extended his appreciation to the Joint NTF-RTF ELCAC Region IV-A for its efforts in sustaining its campaign in the area.

“I stand before you to say with confidence that we are winning the war against communist insurgency in our country,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of providing a better quality of life for the people living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, saying that peace and serenity that the national government intends to achieve for these areas should begin at the barangay level.

During the program, President Duterte also witnessed the ceremonial handover of a copy of Republic Act (RA) No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act. The said law oversees the prompt utilization of coconut levy funds for the benefit of the coconut industry as a whole. Furthermore, the Sariaya Agricultural Trading Center and Facilities (SATCF) was turned over to the local government unit of Sariaya, Quezon.

Prior to the President’s arrival, the Task Force, together with various government agencies, turned over socio-economic programs and projects to various beneficiaries within Region IV-A.

The visit to CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) is part of a series of meetings held across the country to discuss the Task Force’s accomplishments and provide updates on the development programs being implemented to counter the atrocities of the armed communist rebels.

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