COTABATO OFFICIALS, led by Gov. Nancy A Catamco, visited Davao Oriental last week to learn from the province’s reintegration program for former members of the communist New People’s Army. “It’s a paradigm shift of good governance. It’s not only a talk. It is the concrete example of what good governance should be — wherein the services of the government are seen and felt by the people,” Ms. Catamco is quoted as saying in a press statement released by the Davao Oriental government. “I think this is an eye-opener. Insurgency is not a problem of the military; it’s the problem of the entire government and the solutions of which lie in the hands of the whole of government,” she added. The Cotabato contingent visited the Happy Home facility set up as a halfway house and training center for rebel returnees before they go back to their communities. Ms. Catamco said her administration will adopt Davao Oriental’s approach to addressing armed conflict through convergence of government agencies in delivering social services. Davao Oriental Gov. Nelson L. Dayanghirang, who issued an executive order for the convergence efforts, also cited the role of the military in peace and development initiatives for the success that the program has so far achieved. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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