Families of Ilocos Sur clash victims grateful to gov’t’s support (

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 11, 2020): Families of Ilocos Sur clash victims grateful to gov’t’s support (By Joyah Mae C. Quimoyog)

CANDON CITY, Oct. 11 (PIA) – “Taos-puso ang aming pasasalamat sa gobyerno para sa mga tulong na aming natatanggap dahil kahit na hindi maganda ang mga pangyayari sa nakaraan ay hindi niyo kami pinababayaan.”

Lucita Langas, sister of Ka Eugene – a member of the Kilusang Larangan Guerilla, South Ilocos Sur (KLG-SIS) who was slain in an encounter in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur last August, expressed her gratitude to the national government after the awarding ceremony of livelihood kits from the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa – Livelihood Seeding Program (PBG-LSP) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) held in this city on Thursday, October 8.

She received two piglet heads and four sacks of rice bran.

“Malaki ang tulong ng livelihood kit na aming natanggap lalong-lalo na sa aming magkakapatid. Makakaasa kayo na pagtutulung-tulongan namin itong palakihin at palaguin,” she said.

Along with Langas, the DTI also awarded livelihood kits (two goat heads) to Jesus Justo, relative of another slain member of KLG-SIS from Barangay Bugnay; Romeo Cordova, wounded civilian; and Nurijean Valdez, wife of the slain civilian in the same encounter.

In an interview, Valdez, who was left with their seven-year-old child, expressed her gratitude to all the assistance they have received and said they are doing their best to move forward as it has been very hard for them to accept what suddenly happened to her husband.

“Pasalamat kami sa gobyerno kasi kahit papaano ay nandiyan sila na nakaalalay sa amin simula sa lamay ng aking asawa hanggang sa libing at siyempre lalo na ngayon dahil medyo mahirap sa akin at wala na akong katuwang, kaya ano man iyong mga tulong na natatanggap namin ay malaking tulong para sa panimula naming mag-ina,” she said.

“Ang iniisip ko lang naman ay iyong anak ko kasi siyempre ako, sa bahay lang kasi ako, nakadepende lang ako noon sa asawa ko tapos biglang ganun ang nangyari pero kailangan nating matuto na tumayo sa sariling paa para sa anak ko,” she added.

The distribution of assistance was made possible through the development programs implemented by the member-agencies of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC), chaired by Governor Ryan Luis Singson with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as the lead agency.

As public servants, DTI Provincial Director Grace Lapastora said that what gives satisfaction to each PRLEC member-agency is not only the implementation of the program but it is the long-term impact to the recipients which will eventually develop their way of life.

“If you have an improved quality of life, walang mag-i-isip na sumali sa kabila, that is our goal sa PRLEC and we are happy that you recognize and you feel our sincerity, our commitment to bring the things that you need to develop the quality of life that you have,” she said.

Moreover, the four recipients were able to receive the livelihood kits through the endorsement of the 81st Infantry Battalion (IB) of the 702nd Infantry Brigade, 7th Infantry Division Philippine Army who plays a vital role along with the PRLEC member-agencies in ending LCAC in the province.

“Kami sa 81st Infantry Battalion ang naghahanap ng tulay para madala natin iyong ahensiya ng gobyerno na kailangan natin sa isang lugar. Hindi kami ang tumutugon, dinudugtong lang namin ang gap sa pagitan ng masa at gobyerno. Sana sama-sama tayo at huwag nating kalimutan na iisang bansa lang tayo; Pilipino tayo. Magkaisa tayo at ipaglaban natin ang ating karapatan para maging tahimik ang ating barangay at maging maunlad sa darating na panahon,” 81st IB Battalion Executive Officer Major Renante Carsano told the recipients.

Forty-three beneficiaries from barangays Bugnay and Tablac, who underwent TESDA's livelihood training, also received the same livelihood kits from DTI.

In his testimony, Rogelio Ramos, one of the recipients and a former Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) member, expressed his support to Major Carsano’s message and thanked not just the assistance that they have received but most importantly the 81st IB for bringing peace to their community.

“Matagal ng problema ang insurhensiya dito sa Brgy. Tablac, Candon City dahil kahit may mga dumarating na kampo ng Philippine Army, napapaalis naman sila pero hindi nagtatagal ay bumabalik din sila. Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa 81st IB dahil sila ang tumapos sa problema ng insurhensiya rito sa aming barangay,” he said.

“Malaki rin ang pasasalamat namin sa inyong lahat para sa tuloy-tuloy na tulong na inyong ibinibigay sa amin na naapektuhan ng insurhensiya. Sa aking mga ka-barangay, ating suportahan lahat ng programa ng gobyerno para sa hinaharap ng ating mga anak, apo at para sa susunod na henerasyon,” he added. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ/PIA Ilocos Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055693