BUTUAN CITY - A total of PHP3.040 billion worth of projects under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) are already approved for implementation in Caraga Region. The approved SBDP projects were presented by the Department of Interior and Local Government in Caraga (DILG-13) during the conduct of the one-day Summative Evaluation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday (Oct. 20) here. The activity also reported the significant accomplishments of the continuing efforts of the government in defeating the insurgency in the region from June 2019 up to the present. "Caraga Region is the second-highest recipient of SBDP projects in the country," Annabel Yangson, the Local Government Operations Officer of DILG-13 said during her presentation of the gains of NTF-ELCAC in the area. Yangson said the PHP3.040 billion budget will be implemented in 191 barangays in four provinces and five cities in the region. The total budget will cover around 357 projects consisting of road construction, potable water projects, and other identified development projects. Among the cities in Caraga, Butuan got the highest allocation with PHP280 million for 14 barangays with 23 projects, Surigao City with PHP220 million for 11 barangays with 36 projects, Bayugan City with PHP180 million for nine barangays with nine projects, Cabadbaran City with PHP80 million for four barangays with six projects, and Bislig City with PHP20 million in one barangay with three projects. Surigao del Sur province was allotted the highest budget of PHP900 million that will be implemented in 45 barangays involving 57 projects while Surigao del Norte got a total of PHP760 million for 38 barangays with 104 projects. The province of Agusan del Sur also got a total of PHP720 million for its 38 barangays with 69 projects and Agusan del Norte with PHP660 million for 33 barangays with 50 projects. Groundbreaking activities were already conducted in 12 SBDP projects from July 8 to August 31 this yearin Surigao del Sur, three in Agusan del Norte, two in Surigao del Norte, and one each in Agusan del Sur and Butuan City. Of the total number of BDP projects in the region, 75 are already ongoing, 22 are waiting for notice to proceed, 172 are on the procurement process, while 88 are approved for procurement preparations. The BDP is the hallmark program of the NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of bringing development toformer conflict-prone communities, affected by the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army) (CPP-NPA. The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA) }