The Convergence Approach for Transformation and Change – Unification Program (CATCH-UP) convened its 1st Semi-Annual Meeting for 2025 on March 22 at Habi Hotel in Koronadal City. The gathering also included progress updates on the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC), reaffirming the collaborative commitment of various government and partner agencies toward peace and development initiatives in the region.
The meeting served as a platform to review the program’s performance in the first half of the year, highlight key accomplishments, and identify areas for improvement in implementation. It brought together representatives from local government units, national line agencies, civil society organizations, and security forces involved in the CATCH-UP and PTF-ELCAC efforts.
Among the major accomplishments presented were ongoing community development projects, including livelihood support, road access improvements, and water system installations in conflict-affected and geographically isolated barangays. Updates on the PTF-ELCAC initiatives also emphasized the intensified delivery of basic services and social protection in areas formerly influenced by insurgent activities.
The meeting also featured breakout sessions where participants discussed strategies for sustaining peace gains, addressing community grievances, and enhancing program responsiveness. Discussions included ways to better harmonize agency interventions and improve monitoring and evaluation systems.
The next semi-annual meeting is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, with a focus on scaling up high-impact projects and strengthening conflict-sensitive approaches in service delivery.
