SERVICE CARAVAN. Residents from rebel-infested communities in Las Navas, Northern Samar availing government services during a caravan in this March 23, 2021 photo. The Northern Samar provincial government is bringing its service caravan to more conflict-stricken communities in the province to end insurgency in remote areas.(Photo courtesy of Northern Samar provincial government) TACLOBAN CITY - The Northern Samar provincial government is bringing its service caravan to more conflict-stricken communities in the province to end insurgency in remote areas. The local government will hold a caravan in Palapag town on March 10. This is the 10th round since its launch in November 2019 in San Isidro town, Northern Samar provincial information officer John Allen Berbon said. "The Kauswagan (progress) caravan is one of the flagship programs of the province under the stewardship of Governor Edwin Ongchuan with a goal of bringing government services closer to the people. The program is also in support of Executive Order No. 70 - institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) in the country," Berbon said in a phone interview. Since late 2019, the caravan has been held in far-flung villages of Laoang, Lope de Vega, Las Navas, Silvino Lubos, Pambujan, and Catubig. Present in these caravans are the various heads of offices of the provincial government led by provincial social welfare and development officer Jenny Darish, whose office has been giving food packs to every household and burial assistance to some. Other departments provide information and assistance on the provincial government's livelihood programs, filing of real property tax, cooperative services, family planning programs, disaster risk reduction and management services, and employment opportunities. The provincial agriculture office is tasked to distribute free seedlings while the provincial veterinary office offers vaccination, castration, and deworming of pets and cattle. Health partners offer wellness checkups and advice. Partner agencies like PhilHealth and Philippine Statistics Authority conduct mobile services for PhilHealth memberships and late birth registrations. The Philippine Army offers free haircuts while representatives from national government agencies inform residents of their various programs and service. The governor's wife, Blessie Ongchuan, also gives out candies and toys to children in the venue. Northern Samar is considered as the hotbed of the communist terrorist group due to its thick forest and poor road networks. The high incidence of poverty makes people in upland communities vulnerable to the persuasion of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). 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. The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as "an integral and inseparable part" of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA) }