The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)  has successfully implemented the program in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon where New People’s Army (NPA) rebels used to be have their lairs in some villages.

The Kalayaan Barangay Program is a government intervention to accelerate rehabilitation and development in villages influenced by communist insurgents by providing these communities with various infrastructure projects.

Army Capt. Razaleigh Bansawan, 901st Infantry Brigade spokesman, said hundreds of villages in three Bicol provinces have been beneficiaries of infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water system, electrical and medical facilities.

A total of P345-million worth of KBP-funded projects are being implemented by OPAPP in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Concerns on Community Organizing for Development (ACCORD) from its 565th Engineering Construction Battalion and the Army’s 9th Infantry Division.

Of the total amount released some 84 KBP projects worth P86.4 million were successfully pursued in Bicol.  The projects include construction of 33 school buildings, 33 water systems, and 18 farm-to-market road projects.

The 33 school buildings costing P12 million were constructed in the towns of Prieto Diaz, Donsol, Castilla in Sorsogon, Guinobatan, Pioduran and Oas in Albay and the cities of Sorsogon and Iriga in Sosrosogn and Camarines Sur respectively.

Thirty-three water system projects worth P31 million were also built in the same areas with the inclusions of the town of Donsol in Sorsogon, Jovellar in Albay and Buhi in Camarines Sur.

For farm to market roads, 18 KBP projects worth P43 million were completed in the three provinces.

Some P59 million funding this year is yet to be spent for 49 ongoing KBP projects, which involve the construction of 13 farm-to-market roads costing P33 million; 10 school building projects worth P7 million; 13 water system project costing P13 million and 13 health center project worth P7 million.

The projects will be implemented in the towns of Jovellar, Guinobatan, and Oas, all in Albay.

The turnover of the completed KBP projects is set on Nov. 20 and 21 in Albay and Sorsogon, respectively.

Bansawan said the KBP projects initiated by OPAPP and ACCORD is another version of the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).