Army joins PRLEC in development program launching for IP community in Agusan Norte

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 29, 2021): Army joins PRLEC in development program launching for IP community in Agusan Norte

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Mar. 29 -- The 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23IB), Philippine Army joined the members of the Provincial Task Force-End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) and the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of Agusan del Norte during the conduct of the mass graduation and the launching of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) in Sitio Bokbokon, Barangay Lawan-lawan in Las Nieves town.

The mass graduation and the launching of the BDP, led by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority of Agusan del Norte (TESDA-ADN) under the leadership of Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva was also in time with the conduct of the two-day immersion activity of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of the province.

A total of 104 Indigenous Peoples (IPs) belonging to the Higaonon tribe received their Certificates of Training during the activity. Of the 104 IPs who graduated from the TESDA-ADN training, 50 have completed their Land Preparation for Organic Crop Production Training, 25 completed the Fishpond Preparation Training while 29 completed the Basic House Wiring Training.

During the graduation ceremony, Dir. Cueva urged the new graduates to apply what they have learned during the sets of training to help them improve their lives.

“We are now doubling our efforts to reach more communities in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas to ensure and promote sustainable livelihood for the people. May they use the skills taught to them in order for them to pull themselves out from poverty,” Cueva said.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, the commanding officer of 23IB, also witnessed the graduation of the IPs and expressed gladness over the milestone they achieved in their lives.

“Through the implementation of the Executive Order No. 70 (EO 70) institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation Approach, the PTF-ELCAC and PRLEC in Agusan del Norte have provided different opportunities and the prioritization of the IP communities, especially those that need assistance and help them become productive citizens,” Paulo said.

He added that through the services and projects implemented by the government, residents, especially in remote areas, will have a chance to be given different sustainable livelihood programs to support their daily needs.

“These programs and services are implemented with the aim to end the insurgency. The Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) are using poverty issues in their propaganda to deceive people,” Paulo said.

He emphasized that by addressing the problems of poverty, the affected residents, particularly those in the countryside will be given the great opportunity to emancipate themselves and eventually defeat the insurgency. (1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang, CMO Officer, 23IB PA/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1070933