Eastern Mindanao suffers P1.4B in damages, other NPA activities

THE WAR waged by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the eastern Mindanao area against the government and the private sector has resulted to estimated losses worth P1.4 billion in 2017 alone. “The cost of war in the agriculture, mining, transportation and construction sector amounted to P1,481,418,050,” Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr., head of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), said in an interview at the sidelines of a forum in Davao City on Tuesday. The damage of the NPA’s arson, extortion and other activities are as follows: P543 million to the agriculture sector, P429.9 million in the mining sector and P508 million in the transportation and construction sector. Mr. Madrigal said the biggest damage was the burning of Lapanday Foods Corp.’s facilities and farms. EastMinCom covers the regions of Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccksargen and Caraga. — Carmencita A. Carillo