Melecio Puelo surrenders his shotgun to authorities led by Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. of the Provincial Government as part of the mainstreaming of the Balik Sibilyans.
Advance Command Post, 303rd Infantry Brigade, Bacolod City – "Ang atong Gobernador, ang Amay sang Negros Occidental ari subong sa pagdala sang mga programa nga igahatag kag ipaabot sa aton nga mga IP".
A total of 101 members of the Indigenous People (IP), Tribu Bukidnon declared themselves as a Peace Community and pledge to the conduct of non-violence on October 31, Thursday in Brgy. San Agustin Isabela, Negros Occidental.
Gov. Alfredo G. Maranon Jr., of Negros Occidental graced the activity that culminated the celebration of the 16th Indigenous People’s Month with the theme "Nurturing Ancestral Domain Culture". The highlights of the activity were Humanitarian Caravan of the Pro-PIDU with assorted services; Awarding of Guns for Peace to four (4) beneficiaries and Giving of Cash Reward for Surrendered Firearms with the Bayanihan song played as its background music.
Other services rendered include Massage-11, Haircut-25, Circumcision-52, Dental-79, Check up and Consultation-84, 350 Gift packs, 950 Seedlings, 215 Pairs of Slippers, 15 Candy packs, 250 Heads Chicks, 20 Heads of Grower caber and 7 Heads of Peking Ducks.
Richard Doremon of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) acknowledged the effort and facilitation of the government with the celebration of IPs.
He also acknowledged their tribe’s vulnerability from outside forces for their self interests and at the expense of the IPs. The government has called for unity of all IPs in order to achieve the genuine peace and development. Doremon said "They have come to bring various programs and projects for us. Let us do our part to help one another as part of the tribe".
Gov. Maranon welcomed the light atmosphere ever since December 2012 after an encounter between the government forces and the rebel group. He also mentioned before the IPs that the government has many programs and opportunities for them. Maranon pledged to rebuild the classrooms for Grades 1 and 2 and the repair of the public road. All family heads will be registered to PhilHealth. He encouraged the IPs to enrol in Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Insurance Program (NOCHIP) and TESDA as he emphasized education as a means to overcome poverty. For the farmers (especially those who plant rice crops), he urged them to avail the Crop Insurance Program (CIP).
Brig. Gen. Francisco M. Patrimonio of the 302nd Infantry Brigade in his speech said that they were only used by the NPA for their interest. Patrimonio urged the IPs to air their problems and issues to the right person or agency. He said "Kon ano ang inyong mga problema ginasakyan ng NPA. Pero nakita naton sin-o ba ang naghatag tabang sa inyo? Ang NPA o Gobyerno?" to which the crowd cry out it is the government.
Col. Jon N. Aying of the 303rd Infantry Brigade on the other hand advocated and explained the Province’s Provincial Integration and Development Unit (Pro-PIDU) Program and its five (5) components; the Socio-economic, Political/Governance, Environment, Psycho-social and Security and Justice of which every Negrosanons have the duty to fulfil to address the issues on the 5 areas of concerns. He also shared that the Pro-PIDU Program is multi-sectoral in nature.
The IP Community was led by their Chieftain Jacinto Dadlis. Stakeholders present were the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Training, Livelihood and Development Center (TLDC), Provincial Cooperative Office (PCO), Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA), Alter Trade Foundation Inc. (ATFI), Arts Association of Bacolod City (AAB), National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), 302nd Infantry Brigade and the 303rd Infantry Brigade.
With the presence of the Governor, resolutions were passed in favor of the IP Tribu Bukidnon as follows: public road for Sitio Mahupaho, 3 Hanging Bridges across the three (3) rivers and a water pipe needed for 4 sitios linking from one house to another.
This is connection with the recent activity in the south wherein 47 Balik Sibilyans were declared part of the IP Peace Community.
http://www.ndb-online.com/110413/local-news/local-news-ip-tribe-declares-peace-community-pledges-non-violence
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