The SBDP is the flagship program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict funded under the LGSF for poverty alleviation and development in geographically isolated and former communist conflict-afflicted areas.

The activity was conducted to monitor and validate reported accomplishments of the projects including the challenges and issues that are affecting the implementation of these projects. These projects are located in Barangay Balanni, Sto Niño, Cagayan and in the barangays of Minanga, Anurturu and Liuan in Rizal, Cagayan.

The national government allocated PHP120 million to fund the 22 SBDP projects in the six communist terrorist group-cleared barangays of Cagayan particularly in the municipalities of Piat, Rizal and Sto. Niño. These projects include the upgrading and construction of farm-to-market roads, construction of health station, rural electrification, construction of solar dryer with farm shed, construction of school building, and construction and improvement of water system. As validated, eight projects have already been completed while 14 projects are still ongoing, as of June 30, 2022.

Officials of the visited barangays recognized the significance of the program and expressed their appreciation to the government’s effort in bringing development to the remote and poverty-stricken barangays.

The three-day activity concluded with an exit conference attended by the Provincial Government of Cagayan, project contractors and barangay officials. The findings and recommendations of the inspection team to improve and hasten project implementation were discussed and agreed upon by the participants.

Members of the inspection team were representatives from DILG Central Office under the Executive Order 70 Project Management Office and regional offices of DILG, NEDA, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Air Force of the Philippines and Philippine National Police.#NEDA2-PMED