ARM TO FARM // Former NPA Rebels Reap the Fruit of Their Labor

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Nov 6): ARM TO FARM // Former NPA Rebels Reap the Fruit of Their Labor



Impasugong, Bukidnon (DWDD) - Soldiers of the 8th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army have worked hand in hand with former NPA rebels and the local residents as they reap the fruit of their labor during the first produce of the Pilot Organic Farm (Arm to Farm) Project near the battalion headquarters in Brgy. Poblacion, Impasugong, Bukidnon today, November 5, 2015.

The “Arm to Farm” program was crafted by the 8th Infantry Battalion, in coordination with the local government unit of Impasugong and the Department of Agriculture-Region 10, in order to provide agriculture-based livelihood opportunities for former NPA rebels and assist in delivering livelihood to the communities which are affected by insurgency. It is a venue where different agencies like the Department of Agriculture, TESDA, DILG, DepEd and the LGU converge and share their role in achieving a common goal of working together towards peace.

The pilot organic farm uses the Indigenous Micro-organism (IMO) technology in farming beside the military headquarters which is a two-hectare farm land owned by the LGU of Impasugong. With the supervision of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Impasugong, the farm land abundantly grows corn, cassava, “Pinakbet” garden (a combination of string beans, bitter gourd, eggplant, squash and lady finger vegetables) and also has a Tilapia growing site.

Jonathan Nacar, a former NPA rebel, shares his joyful story as he works with the soldiers in harvesting the cassava which they planted about nine months ago. “Mapasalamaton ko sa 8IB ug sa magkalain-laing ahensya ilabi na sa lokal nga pangagamhanan sa Impasugong ug sa agriculture nga ila ko gidawat dinhi unya gitabangan ko nila nga makasugod ug usab sa akong bag-ong kinabuhi. Lahi ra gayud ang akoang kahimtang sa una nga naa ko sa kalihukan sa NPA nga grabe gayud kalisod ug wala kami matabangi sa amoang problema kabahin sa yuta ug panginabuhian nga maoy gisaad kanamo sa kalihukan. Karon malipayon kaayo ko nga daghan kaayo ko nakat-unan sa pagpanguma unya naa pa gayud koy abot tungod niini nga programa para kanamo. Manghinaot ko nag magmalungtaron kini nga programa kay dako kaayo kini nga tabang para kanamong mga kanhing rebelde.” (I am thankful to the 8th Infantry Battalion and to the different government agencies especially the LGU of Impasugong and the Department of Agriculture for accepting me and for helping me start anew. My life is very different when I was still in the NPA rebel movement where life was so difficult and we were just given false promises in solving our problems about land and livelihood. Now I am delighted that I have learned a lot about farming and I even have an income because of this program. I am hopeful that this program would last because this is very helpful to us who are former NPA rebels.) says Nacar.

It can be recalled that Jonathan Nacar is a Lumad of the Higaonon Tribe who was recruited by the NPA rebels of SPP TOTO, Guerilla Front 4B under Lino Namatidong alias DAHON. He surrendered to the 8th Infantry Battalion and the LGU of Impasugong, Bukidnon and received his firearms remuneration amounting to Php 52,000.00 under the AFP Guns for Peace Program on July 13, 2015. He will also be receiving another Php 65,000.00 from the Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process or OPAPP.

Meantime, LTC LENNON G BABILONIA INF (GSC) PA, the Commanding Officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, also thanked the different agencies who contributed in the realization of the program. “We are very appreciative on the cooperation of the different government agencies and the LGU of Impasugong, who have worked together in crafting this program.  This program is actually a vivid example of how the IPSP Bayanihan works wherein it seeks to bring about a concerted effort among all stakeholders towards peace and security through its whole-of-nation approach. This also shows that the 8th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine Army, as a whole, is committed in coming up with peaceful means of ending violence and conflicts from among the Filipino communities. In spite of all these issues on Lumad killings and exploitations, I assure our brother rebels that when you surrender, we will continue to work with other stakeholders to ensure your safety and well-being and that of your family.” says LTC BABILONIA.  CMO 8IB / MCAG

http://dwdd.com.ph/2015/arm-to-farm-former-npa-rebels-reap-the-fruit-of-their-labor/