Kalinaw News: Tausugs planting “Seeds of Hope”

Posted to Kalinaw News (May 3, 2021): Tausugs planting “Seeds of Hope”



Talipao Sulu – On April 29 2021, troops from 6th Special Forces Company and 64th Infantry Battalion Community Support Program (CSP) Platoon under the 2nd Special Forces Battalion took the turn as they transition from combat operations to civil-military works in Barangay Bud Bunga, Talipao, Sulu.

The week-long activity kicked off with a seed distribution and practical gardening exercises. The program aims to empower the newly formed Bud Bunga Women’s Association to undertake gardening as a “food on the table” means for sustenance. The project is a competition to have the most productive garden in the community and is spearheaded by the military as part of their food security initiatives in conflict-affected areas.

“We hope that this venture will expand into a livelihood program for our members to benefit,” said Analin Robin, President, Bud Bunga Women’s Organization.

The women’s organization was organized by the military and Talipao LGU as a pre-activity of Barangay Bud Bunga’s Balik Barangay Program held last April 8. Since 2001, Bud Bunga residents has been displaced, seeking refuge in nearby barangays before their community was liberated from the Abu Sayyaf holds last year.

The military-initiated developmental activity was sponsored by East-West Seeds corporation and other private individuals. To enable sustainable livelihood and support sanitation, troops installed a temporary 4,000 Liter water system. A sanitation facility (comfort room) was also constructed by soldiers for the community.

“Most of our troops, including some of our officers, are products of agricultural villages. We would be sharing this knowledge on farming to our Tausug brothers and sisters for them to adapt the technology since they are not traditional land tillers,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jooney Jay R Busińos, Commander 2nd Special Forces Battalion.

The troops also conducted hands-on training on proper seed germination and nursing as part of the distribution. A 500 square meter lot will be established by the troops as a model garden for “future farmers” to have a feel of a scaled-up production.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Busińos, the activity will cater to develop economic activities and sustainability in the area. Aside from fighting the enemy, the military is there to develop the communities.”

Units have stepped up developmental efforts as communities are being liberated from the shadows of the Abu Sayaff Group.

The ASG in Sulu, now numbering less than a few dozen core members, has been evading government troops as they struggle to reconstitute due to unrelenting military operations.

On April 29, 2021, the 2nd Special Forces Battalion, as part of Task Group Dagger, and other military units under Joint Task Force-Sulu scored successive encounters. “Through focused military operations, we can end the Abu Sayyaf terrorists. Through civil-military operations, we create meaningful engagements to render hostile narrative irrelevant, resolve root causes of armed conflict and prevent conflict relapse,” said Brigadier General Antonio I Bautista, Commander 1101st Infantry Brigade overseeing the operations of 2nd Special Forces Battalion.

Judging for the most productive farm will be conducted after four months, taking into account the yield and general appearance of the lots.

Financial rewards and additional farming tools will also be given to encourage expansion of their gardens



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