Military anti-insurgency unit abolished

MANILA, Philippines — The National Development  Support Command, the development arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to fight insurgency in the countryside, has been abolished with the retirement of its commander.

In a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo Thursday, Major General Carlos Holganza, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1978, was honored in a testimonial parade as he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Nadescom was in charge of developmental projects and programs in the countryside.

The deactivation was for the restructuring program of the AFP under the Defense Planning Guidance for 2013 to 2018.

Meanwhile, Nadescom spokesman Major Emmanuel Garcia could not say whether it would be replaced with a new unit, but said the remaining projects would be distributed to unified commands and field units.

Nadescom personnel at the General Headquarters were also seen packing their things, and their office vehicles were recalled effective Thursday.

The Nadescom had been partnering with non-government organizations to continue its projects since its funds from the Kalayaan sa Barangay Program had been re-channeled to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process under the Pamana program in 2011.

The Nadescom was formed under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2006 to spearhead the KBP, which handles the military’s development programs in far flung areas in the country to address insurgency.

It was composed of five Army brigades, one Navy Seabees and one Air Force Engineering Brigade.

President Benigno Aquino III in his first budget message, scrapped the KBP as it was “no longer able to deliver its intended outcome.”

The military finished 1,800 projects including health centers, schools and farm to market roads under Nadescom.