Saturday, February 1, 2020

Militiamen, former NPAs complete skills training in Agusan Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 1, 2020): Militiamen, former NPAs complete skills training in Agusan Sur (By Alexander Lopez)



NEW SKILLS. A total of 15 government militiamen and five former communist rebels receive their certification for shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) training on Friday in Butuan City. The program is designed by the Army's 3rd Special Forces Battalion, with the support of other government agencies and the private sector. (Photo courtesy of 3SFBn)

At least 15 government militiamen and former communist rebels recently earned their National Certificates I and II (NC I and II) for completing the shielded metal arc welding training.

1Lt. Krisjuper Punsalan, civil-military operations officer of the Army's 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) told Philippine News Agency on Saturday the graduates consisting of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) personnel and former New people's Army (NPA) members received their certificates on Friday (January 31) after 36 days of training.

The skills training, Punsalan said, is a joint undertaking of 3SFBn, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program of the Father Saturnino Urios College of Sibagat, Inc. (FSUCSI).


During the distribution of certificates, Punsalan said the government militiamen and the former NPA rebels were thankful for the opportunities given to them by the government with the support of the private sector.

“That was the first time they experienced graduation since they have not gone to school, while others only finished certain levels of education,” Punsalan said.

In a separate statement issued on Friday, Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, 3SFBn commander, lauded the support of government agencies, local government units and the private sector for their support of the program.

“We are grateful for the committed heads of local and national government agencies who answered the call to end insurgency through increasing the economic activities in the conflict-affected areas and capacitating the affected communities to become resilient and productive,” Baybayan said.

In the same statement, Col. Allan D. Hambala, commander of the Army's 401st Infantry Brigade, said that more skills training intended for the FRs and CAFGUs will be conducted in the area.

Hambala added that the CAFGU personnel and former NPA rebels are considered “partners in intensifying our integrated territorial defense system.”

The skills training, he said, is part of the "whole-of-nation" approach of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to end the local communist armed conflicts.

“The end of insurgency lies in a government that puts premium to the welfare of its citizens. This is why we must have no letup in delivering the necessary government services for those in the conflict-affected areas. We believe that these efforts of the government will induce more rebels to surrender,” Hambala said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1092678

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