Kalinaw News: 23IB joins 2-day immersion program in Agusan del Norte IP community

Posted to Kalinaw News (Apr 15, 2021): 23IB joins 2-day immersion program in Agusan del Norte IP community

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – The 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion joined the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of Agusan del Norte in the conduct of a two-day immersion along with Agus Serbisyo activities in Sitio Minbahandi, Nasipit on April 12 and 1.

The activity was also participated in by the different line agencies of the government together with the Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office (ADNPPO), the provincial government of Agusan del Norte and the Indigenous People (IP) leaders in the area.

The two-day activity was graced by Gov. Dale B. Corvera, Nasipit Mayor Enrico R. Corvera, Brig. Gen. Maurito L. Licudine, commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, commander of 23rd Infantry Battalion, and Datu Eddie “Bawang” Ampiyawan, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Agusan del Norte.

The activity was started with a ritual officiated by the tribal leaders and was followed by the conduct of a medical mission that benefited hundreds of IP families in the said community.

Outreach services which include the distribution of food packs, used clothing, mosquito nets, wheelchairs, crutches, reading eyeglasses, a portable sound system, water drums, and flashlights were also conducted.

Families also received vegetable seeds and seedlings of fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing trees, and abaca. Piglets, egg-laying chickens, and tilapia fingerlings were also distributed to the IP farmers in the area. A mass wedding was facilitated during the activity, benefitting a number of unmarried couples.

Datu Nobentahan Ruben Mandahinog, the Municipal Tribal Chieftain in Nasipit, expressed his gratitude over the full support that the government has provided to the IP families in Minbahandi.

During the activity, Gov. Corvera vowed to prioritize Sitio Minbahandi in the implementation of various programs and projects of the government.

“The provincial government of Agusan del Norte, together with all the government agencies, are here in your sitio because we are all dedicated to serve the people. We want you to feel that you have a government who sees your needs, who is always willing to serve you by heartily bringing the basic services,” Gov. Corvera said.

He also emphasized the importance of improving the roads and other infrastructures in Sitio Minbahandi to attract investors that will provide more opportunities for the people. “This is not the last time that we will come here, instead, this is just the beginning because after this immersion, we will still be coming here and will implement many programs,” Gov. Corvera said.

Mayor Corvera, for his part, thanked the provincial government for prioritizing Sitio Minbahandi despite its distance and inaccessibility.

“I am glad that the provincial government of Agusan del Norte visited this sitio because I want them to know the real situation of the people here, including the neighboring areas. The people here really need government assistance. Problems such as limited funds often cause the delay of the implementation of projects here,” Mayor Corvera said.

The mayor also lauded the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 that institutionalized the whole-of-nation approach to end the conflicts caused by the terrorists New People’s Army (NPA).

In his message, Brig. Gen. Licudine urged the residents in Sitio Minbahandi to cooperate with the government to put an end to the atrocities and other terroristic activities of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs).

“I know the real situation of the people in this Sitio. The only agency that can enter here long ago was the army because of its inaccessibility and the fact that this was once a guerrilla zone. We want to emphasize that the security, peace and development of a particular community depend upon the people. We encourage everyone to cooperate in the peace initiatives of the government. We already felt the relative peace and order, let us take care of it. You are the greatest defense your community needs,” Brig. Gen. Licudine said.

He also asked the people not to be deceived by the sweet promises of the CNTs as the group has provided nothing for the development in the area.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Paulo assured the residents of Sitio Minbahandi of the continued services of the 23IB soldiers to maintain peace and order situation in the area and the neighboring IP communities.

“We are glad that the tribal leaders and the residents are now helping us end insurgency. Only when everyone exerts effort and help each other can great accomplishments be visible,” Paulo said.

Other government agencies that joined the two-day activity include the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

[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/23ib-joins-2-day-immersion-program-in-agusan-del-norte-ip-community/