The military reiterates the role of education as a vital
tool against recruitment of the New People’s Army (NPA) both in urban and
hinterland communities in the region.
The youths are more vulnerable to NPA recruitment and this
has been repeatedly manifested through the arrests of suspected young activists
that law enforcers believe to have links to the rebel’s movement.
“While poverty is a major factor of recruitment of children
and minors up in the mountains, their counterparts living in the lowlands are
more likely prone to recruitment due to idealism and deceit," said Lt.
Col. Antonio Dulnuan Jr., commander of the Philippine Army’s 87th infantry
battalion (IB) based in this town.
To counter the activities of the NPA’s “front organizations”
in the urban and lowland areas, the battalion embarked on massive and sustained
education, information and awareness activities for the youth to understand the
ills of the NPA.
A series of security awareness symposium, youth leadership
seminar, sustained information dissemination through the tri-media, village
visitations, local community consultations and dialogues, inter-agency
conferences, and constant collaboration with the church officials and other
stake holders, have helped reduce the threat of massive NPA recruitment.
Dulnuan said these activities have to be sustained not only
by the Philippine Army, but by the local government units, village officials
and local communities as well.
With this knowledge, the 87th IB eyes on instilling among
youths the desire and know how on building peace.
According to Col. Dulnuan, there is no better way to work
toward future peace than to capture and channel the imagination, passion,
dynamism, capacities and commitment of the youth.
He also lauded some areas where residents are spearheading
efforts to ensure that their communities are free from the presence of
insurgents and some have even adopted measures to monitor the movement of
visitors coming to their villages.
To recall, faculty of Mabini
National High
School in partnership with 87th IB and village officials
facilitated a youth symposium in Mabini village, Basey, Samar
to establish a peaceful society of youth in the community.
Mabini is a remote village in Basey Samar, where children
have to walk approximately two to three hours to attend school and, in most
cases, the family income most likely will not allow them to go further than
high school.
“Empowerment of people through education is a long-lasting
transformation, leading to potential personal growth and capacity development,
as well as bringing hope for a better and possibly sustainable livelihood,”
Dunual pointed out.
The symposium, according to school principal Lauro Gacusana
of Mabini National High School, aims to strengthen youth-driven peace building
initiatives based on the needs of its members, facilitates a safe space for
dialogue and conflict transformation, develop the organizational capacities of
the members and to bring the voices of young people to policy makers on a
regional and global level.
“It is also an opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences
and approaches on advocacy and is aiming to connect the experiences of young
change makers and peace builders with the international policy realm,” the
official added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=740915
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