Soldiers deployed for peace and dev't efforts in Negros villages

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 13): Soldiers deployed for peace and dev't efforts in Negros villages

Twenty “Bayanihan” teams of 300 soldiers from the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army were deployed to 11 underdeveloped villages in northern Negros Thursday for the implementation of the “Serving the Countryside, Working with the People” project.

The send-off rites held in Toboso town was led by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Col. Jon Aying, commanding officer of the 303rd IB, who both head the Provincial Peace Integration and Development Unit (Pro-PIDU).

Pro-PIDU is a sub-unit of the Provincial Peace and Order Council.

“Serving the Countryside, Working with the People” is Phase II of the “Winning the Peace” initiative of the Negros Occidental provincial government and the military.

Phase I, referred to as “Marching for Peace, Serving the Countryside,” was a socio-civic action held in July and involved a 15-day caravan through six barangays in Escalante City, and Toboso and Calatrava towns, which are part of the province’s First District.

These six far-flung villages, including Paitan, Pinapugasan and Malasibog in Escalante City, Bandila and Bug-ang in Toboso, and Malatas in Calatrava, are former mass base areas of the New People’s Army.

Five more villages situated adjacent to these six barangays will also benefit from the second phase of the “Winning the Peace” program.

Ma. Lina Sanogal, provincial planning and development officer and action officer of Pro-PIDU, said the governor is leading the peace and development efforts himself because he wants the residents of these areas to know that the government is sensitive to their needs.

“We are trying to re-establish the presence of the government in these areas,” she said.

Sanogal added that after turning over the supplies to the village residents, the “Bayanihan” teams will stay in these communities for about six months to assist residents in rebuilding their communities.

During the send-off program, Marañon turned over food supplies, household tools, and livelihood packages to the Army “Bayanihan” teams who will distribute these items to more than 500 families of the six identified villages.

The governor urged residents of these villages to cooperate with the provincial government in the implementation of the programs aimed to improve the countryside and promote sustainable peace.

“There can never be progress if there’s no peace,” Marañon said.

For his part, Aying said the “Winning the Peace” program is one of the ways that government forces can work with the people living in far- flung areas.

Other officials present during the send-off rites were Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco, First District Board Member Rolando Ponsica, and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Director Milko Lirazan.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=565569