Soldiers arrive in IP villages bearing gifts

From the Mindanao Times (Dec 24): Soldiers arrive in IP villages bearing gifts

LUMAD  families received a bag full of groceries from soldiers of 84th Infantry Battalion as part of the contingent’s “Pinaskuhan sa Barangay” program.

The program allows the soldiers to share their blessings to IP families in far-flung barangays of Carmen in Baguio, Tambobong in Marilog and in Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

Col. Louie Villanueva, commander of 84th Infantry Battalion, said in an interview that instead of asking donors from their partner agencies, they instead asked their soldiers to donate P500 each.

“It’s difficult to ask from our benefactors for this program so I thought about a more simpler method,” he said. “We thought about this because we personally saw the real situation in the communities in far-flung areas that are not easily accessible.”

“This would hopefully have a positive impact on them especially since the local government do not usually reach their place because of the remoteness,” 2Lt. Noel B. Urot, Alpha Company Leader assigned in Barangay Loreto in Kitaotao, said.

Around 830 Families from the Matigsalug tribe received  medicines, canned goods, noodles and rice that were given to them in coordination also with the local government unit during a four-day activity last Dec. 9-12.

Urot said they have chosen barangays Kipilas, Digongan, Panganan and Sitio Patag  since these are one of the more remote areas in Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

Troops led by Lt. Jay Navarro of Charlie Company also distributed food packs to the 200 families of ovu-manobo tribe in Marilog District in a half-day gift giving activity on Dec. 12.

They have chosen five out of 38 far-flung sitios of Likuyan, Kiandong, Cabangbang, Kiasagay and  Luyan in Barangay Tambobong where the peace and development outreach program in the area is ongoing.

“Barangay Tambobong is a tri-boundary of Arakan, Davao and Magpet area and it’s really far away,” he said.

At least 200 children of bagobo-klata availed of the Jollibee food packs   in Purok 7 A and B and Purok 8 of Barangay Carmen, Baguio District on Dec. 16 .

The 84th IB, along with the  Philippine College of  Technology, also gave gifts to the students  in Sitio Sikao in Barangay Tamayong last Dec. 15. They also distributed 56 food packs to the households in the area.

“These are mostly children that’s why we also invited Jollibee so they could also enjoy a food they don’t usually eat,” said Lt. Rowell O. Dairocas, Bravo Company leader.

“Another purpose here is to show to them that the military doesn’t only exist for combat operations,” he added.

The community was identified because of the heavy NPA presence in the area.

Today,the soldiers are targeting almost a thousand residents  in Sitio Patag, Kitaotao Bukidnon to be recipients of “Pinaskuhan sa barangay. “

http://mindanaotimes.net/soldiers-arrive-in-ip-villages-bearing-gifts/