CATARMAN, Northern Samar – A simultaneous send-off ceremony for Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) teams was held today, March 22, 2021, at the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office, this town.
A total of 214 personnel from the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office (NSPPO), Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), Special Action Force (SAF), and the 803rd Infantry Brigade (803rd IB) of the Philippine Army has undergone CSP Operators Training during the past few months.
From this group, 30 teams composed of 132 personnel will be deployed to nine municipalities, namely:  Victoria, San Isidro, Lavezares, Catubig, Las Navas, Bobon, Pambujan, Laoang, and San Roque.
The RCSP teams will be sent to barangays identified to be affected by insurgency problems with each team staying for 2-3 months or until such time that the areas will be declared clear of insurgency.
As part of their mission, they will provide various support services to the community in order to make the residents of these far-flung barangays aware of the different government interventions which they can avail of.
LMP President Mayor Galahad Vicencio and Liga ng mga Barangay President Hon. Liza Esidera accepted the RCSP teams on behalf all the municipalities and barangays covered by the program.
“Let us continue to support our shared goal to end this decades-long thievery, terrorism, and economic sabotage being done by the CTG. And pay no heed to the voices of their front organizations because our people deserve to live in a safer Philippines,” Mayor Vicencio stated in his acceptance message.
During the send-off, the local chief executives from the participating municipalities also signed a memorandum of agreement with NSPPO Provincial Director PCol Arnel J. Apud to show their support to the program and “to continue working collectively to build peaceful and developed community for the benefit of the populace and their future generations.
“There should be sustainable programs in anti-criminality, corruption, and anti-insurgency. There were several programs already in the past to address the issue on insurgency, but still we can’t deny the fact that some are not effective. Our government today is serious to end this more than a half century battle with the communist terrorist groups that have been exploiting innocent Filipinos,” PBGen Ronaldo De Jesus said in his statement, as read by PCol. Apud.
Also giving their messages of support for the program were Col. Efren Morado, deputy brigade commander of the 803rd IB, DTI provincial director Mimosa Regis, BFAR OIC Director Norberto Berida, PIA Provincial Manager  Ailene Diaz, and DILG LGOO  Elaine Abigail Delorino.
“Ang ating EO 70 designates the local chief executives as the lead campaign commander in eradicating communist terrorist forms in our country. However, our LCEs cannot do it alone. They need the support of the different agencies of the government and other stakeholders,” Col. Morado in his message of support.
Finally, in a prepared statement read by Board Member Florencio “Fawa” Batula, Governor Edwin Ongchuan expressed his hopes that through constant delivery of basic services, in agriculture, health, livelihood and other areas, some of our fellow Nortehanons will no longer have reason to put up arms against the government.
“The provincial government assures our partners that we will continue our support to the RCSP. Let us hope that we will eventually build the safest and most peaceful Northern Samar for all of us to work and live in,” Governor Ongchuan concluded.
(NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE/ROEL T. AMAZONA)