3ID Commander: Sajahatra Bangsamoro, an example of hope

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 13): 3ID Commander: Sajahatra Bangsamoro, an example of hope

The launching of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro by no less than President Benigno Aquino III in Sultan Kudarat is considered by top military officials as an example of not losing hope in attaining peace.

"We will never lose hope in attaining peace, for example right now, who would have thought that there is this great framework (Sajahatra Bangsamoro) with MILF and even the President has gone to the camp," 3rd Infantry Division Commander MGen Jose Z. Mabanta Jr. said during a press conference here in Bacolod City.

Sajahatra Bangsamoro is a concrete, socio economic initiative aimed to uplift the health, education and livelihood conditions of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) communities in Mindanao.

Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras in a statement said the program is a manifestation that both forces – the government and the MILF – are working closely naming the target beneficiaries of the services to be delivered by government agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Oscar Lactao who attended a lecture on Peace Through Commerce at the University of St. La Salle in a separate interview told PIA that the Sajahatra Bangsamoro is a good move.

“Now we see that our agreement with the MILF is moving forward which is a very good step and eventually this will start the development of Mindanao,” Lactao added.

Meanwhile, President Aquino in his message during the launching said that with Sajahatra Bangsamoro, we don’t have to wait longer to experience change, what we can do today, we do today

“When once they treated themselves with herbs from the jungle, soon they will have health insurance, and will be cared for by trained doctors and nurses in state-funded health centers. When once children were taught merely the histories of suffering inside their madaris, soon they will also learn that peace can triumph—so long as we open our hearts and allow ourselves to trust our fellow men. And when once they felt oppressed under the cloud of conflict, soon they will feel empowered, illumined by the daylight of peace,” Aquino added.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1031360653194