Kalinaw News: 1002nd Infantry (Bagwis) Brigade celebrated its 15th Founding Anniversary with the poorest IP communities in Magpet, North Cotabato

Posted to Kalinaw News (Aug 30, 2021): 1002nd Infantry (Bagwis) Brigade celebrated its 15th Founding Anniversary with the poorest IP communities in Magpet, North Cotabato



MAGPET, NORTH COTABATO – The 1002nd Infantry (Bagwis) Brigade celebrated its 15th Founding Anniversary with the poorest Indigenous People (IP) communities at Sitio Natayukan, Brgy Balite, and Sitio Boay-Boay, Brgy Basak, all of Magpet, North Cotabato through Community Outreach Activity/Community Pantry on August 25, 2021.

Initiated by the 1002nd Infantry (Bagwis) Brigade in connection with the Brigade’s 15 fruitful years of service to the people of Regions 11 & 12 together with 72nd Infantry (Gabay) Battalion; participated by Hon. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza, Vice-Governor of the Province of North Cotabato; Local Government Unit (LGU) of Magpet led by Hon. Florenito Gonzaga, Municipal Mayor of Magpet, represented by his Secretary, Mr. Jay Lawrence Gonzaga; Office of the 2nd District Representative of North Cotabato, Hon. Rudy S. Caoagdan; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XII led by Director Restituto B Macuto, represented by Ms Blessed Grace Tagacay; Aboitiz Corporation in partnership with Youth for Peace Movement (YFPM)-Tanan Lihok Batan-on og Sundalo (TALBOS) – North Cotabato Chapter led by its President, Ms. Precious Mae Medrano; Mr. Mike Buhisan of Marchael Sea Ventures Corporation, DOLE Philippines, and Plus Construction Industries Corporation (PCIC).

A total of 119 households benefitted from the program, 48 from Sitio Natayukan and 71 from Sitio Boay-Boay. Distributed items during the program were 229 food packs, PhP3,000.00 cash assistance for each household, 620 pairs of slippers, 800 packed lunch, face shields, used clothing (ukay-ukay), loaves of bread, assorted candies, and chocolates which brought joy to the beneficiaries.

From the reactions and statements of the people of these IP Communities, the goodies which were shared to them from good-hearted individuals, private company and agencies of the government are truly of great help to their current condition. More importantly, pledges of more government services like road rehabilitation and agri-production were assured by the local government unit of Magpet.

Sitio Natayukan of Brgy. Balite and Sitio Boay-Boay of Brgy. Basak, were known as two of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) heavily influenced communities in the Municipality of Magpet which were later cleared by the Philippine Army Community Support Program Teams (CSPTs) and are now being monitored and assisted by the Community Development Team (CDT).

Vice Governor Mendoza, in her message, highly praised the men and women of 1002nd Infantry Brigade and 72nd Infantry Battalion for the commendable performance in doing their sworn duty to attain a peaceful and conflict-resilient North Cotabato. “Let us support the government by calling those who are still on the side of the CTG to return to the folds of the government. Aside from this, we can beat insurgency through education. I am encouraging the parents to support their children’s education to achieve a brighter future.”

In return, Brigadier General Potenciano C Camba, Commander of 1002nd Infantry (Bagwis) Brigade, in his message, “My profound gratitude to our partners in peace and development for contributing and sharing blessings to the less fortunate communities. As we are performing our mandate and surviving the effects and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the main theme of our anniversary is sharing the blessings to the poorest IP communities in the host municipality of our Headquarters Magpet, North Cotabato.”

Far from the previous celebrations of the Brigade’s Founding Anniversary, this year’s celebration is very simple and low-key but somehow meaningful and relevant by bringing in assistance that would alleviate the poorest of the poor.

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