Maramag, Bukidnon- the 88th Infantry “Maringal” Battalion, Philippine Army together with Local Government Unit of Quezon and 524 Engineering Construction Battalion, facilitated the construction of an Indigenous Peoples School and the improvement of Farm to Market Road (FMR) in Purok 8, Brgy Magsaysay, Quezon Bukidnon.
The 4-kilometer road rehabilitation and the construction of one unit of two-classrooms for the IP school by the Engineering Battalion started last April 06, 2020. It can be recalled that this was the IP community that strongly denounced their support to the NPA.
The said projects were the results of government interventions after the Community Support Team of 88th Infantry “Maringal” Battalion who immersed in the community identified that the absence of FMR and school in the area were used as propaganda by NPA terrorists in radicalizing the community and to recruit IPs to join their terrorist organization. These projects are the product of the convergence of efforts of different stakeholders of peace and development in identified Conflict Affected Areas (ConAAs) and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAS). The projects were funded by the LGU of Quezon and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) being implemented by DSWD. The school will be turned-over to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the administration.
In 2019, there is an influx of former rebels (FRs) who surrendered to this unit coming from this community. The said former rebels provided significant information on the whereabouts of Communist terrorist in the area that resulted to series of successful encounters, neutralization of terrorist leaders, seizure of NPA hideouts and capture of numerous firearms and war materials.
A former rebel and a newly graduated CAFGU active auxilliary named @ Toto said, “Dako kaayo ko pasalamat kay dagan nabag o paghuman ug pagsurender namo. Natagaan ko assistance katong pagsurender nako, ug gitagaan pako trabaho. Pasalamat pud ko gitagaan pami ug dalan ug skwelahan Tanan amo lakaw padulong Brgy kay dali na. imbis 3 ka oras karon tunga nalang sa oras. Dako sad ko ug pasalamat ka mahemuan na jud ug skwelahan amo mga bata. Dati, pag abot sa brgy kun asa ila skwelahan kay mangaon na dayon tapos matulog. Walay klaro ang pag adto sa skwelahan. Karon kay naa na dapit, makaskwela na jud sila ug tarong.” (I am very thankful for what happened to our lives after we surrendered. The government gave me financial and livelihood assistance and a permanent job. Then they make roads and school. Before, we used to walk for 3 hours going to the Barangay but now it will just take 30 minutes (by riding a motorcycle) . I also thank them for giving as a school for our children. The children will no longer need to walk for hours just to reach the school in Barangay proper. The school is already near from their houses that make them more interested in learning. )
In his statement, Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III of Quezon, Bukidnon said “Mapasalamaton ang lokal nga panggamhanan sa Quezon, Bukidnon sa pag ayo niini sa dalan sa Purok 8, Brgy Magsaysay. Usa kini ka bililhong gasa alang sa pagsiguro sa kahapsay ug kalinaw sa lungsod. Padayon nga nakig-alayon ang lokal nga panggamhanan sa Quezon alang sa maayong kaugmaon sa katawhan.
Lt Col Franklin Fabic, Commanding Officer of 88IB said, “Let this be a start of a new way of life in your village. These projects and programs are the proof of the commitment of our government in winning the peace and attaining development in far flung communities. Let us protect these projects for the better future of our younger generation. “
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
https://www.kalinawnews.com/school-and-road-for-peace-and-development-for-ip-community-underway/
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