Former NPA rebels of Bukidnon benefitted from a livelihood seminar on Mushroom Production which was facilitated by the 8th Infantry Battalion of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division in coordination with the personnel of 4th Field Artillery Battalion of the Philippine Army on March 5, 2016 at 8IB Headquarters in Brgy. Poblacion, Impasugong, Bukidnon.
The seminar intends to give additional livelihood to former rebels who are working in the Pilot Organic Farm (Arm to Farm) Program of the 8th Infantry Battalion and the LGU of Impasugong. Meantime, members of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) coming from the different detachments in Bukidnon also participated in the seminar together with the troops of the 8th Infantry Battalion so that they may propagate mushroom cultivation techniques in the IP dominated communities in the province through the Bayanihan Team Activities program.
Mushroom production is gaining popularity in the country. It is a widely accepted vegetable that may give sustenance to communities and to the CAA detachments that are found in the different areas in Bukidnon. With its very efficient farming demands, it offers a great opportunity to boost the food production in areas that are stricken with hunger and poverty. Relatively, conflicts such as those that are brought about by insurgency usually thrive in these areas due to the conditions that fuel unrest among the people. Incidentally, our Lumad brothers in Bukidnon dominate most of these areas and this explains why most of the members of their tribe are being deceived into joining the armed struggle of the NPA rebels. And while the NPA rebels are busy recruiting the Lumads and asking them to carry firearms and fight against the government on an ill motivated “armed revolution”, the soldiers of the 8th Infantry Battalion are reaching out to these communities in an effort to arm and capacitate the people to fight against hunger and promote peace through its Bayanihan Teams and livelihood skills training.
In his message, LTC LENNON G BABILONIA INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, inspired the participants of the seminar to take advantage of the livelihood opportunities that the mushroom production provides especially in sowing seeds of peace in the conflict-affected communities. “As soldiers, we have a sacred duty of protecting the rights of our people, especially that of our Lumad brothers here in Bukidnon. As such, it is only imperative for us to find ways, other than war, to help our people win the peace. This time, we help protect the people’s right to have food on their table and their right not to be placed in a situation where they will have to fight for food and carry firearms while promoting the very violence that the armed struggle have stricken the Filipino community for almost half a century now.
We start this journey with you, our former rebel brothers, together with our CAAs and our troops. We need toencourage community-based initiatives defined by the local communities, with local government units coordinating efforts against insurgency, geared towards presenting long-term solutions while at the same time addressing the immediate needs of the local community.” says LTC BABILONIA. CMO 8IB / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2015/better-lives-ii-fmr-npas-and-caas-benefit-from-livelihood-seminar-in-bukidnon/
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