P471M readied for conflict-wracked areas

The price of peace is not cheap. At least P471 million to be exact.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that, in line with the government’s peace initiatives, it was releasing P471 million for the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program in the Soccsksargen region (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City).

The Pamana program, anchored on the poverty reduction component of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) initiative, is meant to strengthen the government’s efforts to quell the communist rebellion that government officials had recognized as rooted in extreme poverty in the country’s most undeveloped areas.

Amalia Jayag-Datukan, executive director of the DA in Soccsksargen, said the Pamana program would also help in reconstruction and development of areas torn by conflict.