5 more military facilities to rise in Fort Magsaysay

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 8, 2021): 5 more military facilities to rise in Fort Magsaysay (By Zorayda Tecson)

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will construct five more military facilities in Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

With a total worth of PHP75.76 million, the projects are under the DPWH - Department of National Defense (DND) Convergence Program, also known as "Tatag ng Imprastruktura Para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS).

The TIKAS program was initiated for the mutual benefit of the two agencies wherein the DND can mount projects with the DPWH while the soldiers shall safeguard infrastructure projects in conflict areas.

The five new military facilities up for construction are the 2nd Air Defense Artillery (ADA) battery basing facility, officers’ quarters, mobile structures for the 2nd 155MM self-propelled battery facility, training barracks, and higher headquarters (HHQ) battery.

"The entire Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) is excited at the scheduled construction of the five military facilities as these are the first projects that we have received under the TIKAS program," AAR commander Brig. Gen. Romulo A. Manuel Jr. said in a social media post on Friday.

He thanked the DPWH for addressing the AAR’s needs for infrastructure development.

The 2nd ADA battery basing facility and 155MM mobile structures are intended to house newly activated units of the regiment, such as air defense and self-propelled howitzers.

The training barracks, on the other hand, will house personnel undergoing various training courses and seminars, such as on specialization and in-service while the officers’ quarters will be used to accommodate different staff officers of the command.

Meanwhile, the HHQ battery transient facility is expected to ensure the billeting requirements of officers and enlisted personnel coming from the line units of AAR when coming to Fort Magsaysay.

Manuel said the projects aim to contribute to strengthening the country’s national defense and security by providing military personnel with conducive, modernized, and functional facilities.

“This regiment has nine battalions and seven separate batteries. Distributed din tayo nationwide. Kaya yung mga facilities na itatayo, pati yung mga personnel coming from different units as far as Jolo magagamit din nila (We are distributed nationwide. Thus, the facilities that will be put up will be used by personnel coming from different units as far as Jolo),” he added.

On September 25, a new Army Aviation hangar and a two-story administration building of the Light Reaction Regiment was inaugurated in Fort Magsaysay.

Likewise, a road network, barracks, and a new headquarters building for the Army’s 7th Infantry Division were constructed inside the sprawling military camp.

DPWH 3 (Central Luzon) Director Roseller A. Tolentino has assured that the implementation of all TIKAS projects, not only in Fort Ramon Magsaysay but also in other military installations across the region, will be supervised and monitored by his office in support of the national government’s strategy of building a modern military.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1156052

IPs receive mobile tablets from youth org

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 8, 2021): IPs receive mobile tablets from youth org (By Nef Luczon)

DONATIONS. Col. Michele Anayron Jr. (3rd from let) of the Army's 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City, receives 50 units of mobile tablets from the Kilos Kabataan Livelihood Foundation Inc. on Thursday (Oct. 7, 2021). Some 13 of the tablets were turned over to select indigenous peoples’ youth. (Photo courtesy of 4ID)

Some 50 tablets were donated by a youth organization Kilos Kabataan Livelihood Foundation Incorporated (KKLFI) to the Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) here in support of the “Education for All” peace campaign for indigenous peoples.

In a statement on Friday, Col. Michele Anayron Jr., 4ID deputy commander for Retirees Reservist Affairs, said 13 units were immediately distributed to select indigenous peoples youth beneficiaries identified by the 8th Infantry Battalion in Bukidnon province, while the 4ID is finalizing the identification of other beneficiaries.

Kristin Bangot, KKLFI's founder and chief executive officer, said the endeavor is part of their “education for all’’ advocacy which they extend to communities that are geographically isolated and disadvantaged.

“We want to give aid to students who want to study but are hampered by difficulties due to lack of digital gadgets for online education. We intend to share quality education and equal opportunities for everybody, particularly in digital education, especially that we have this pandemic," she said in another statement.

Bangot encouraged recipients to take good care of the tablets, which have been programmed with other educational topics.

One of the beneficiaries who was present during the turnover on Thursday was Joshua Velasco, a street kid from this city.

"I am really thankful to Kilos Kabataan and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) because even though I have nothing, they helped me and gave me an opportunity to finish my education," he was quoted as saying in the vernacular.

Anayron said education has always been strongly regarded as a pillar of national development and a primary avenue for social and economic success.

Maj Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., the 4ID commander, said the partnership with KKLFI is a big boost to their fight against violent extremism as it helps contribute to stopping youth radicalism in the Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions, especially by elements of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

“We must promote education for all to address radicalization. The CPP-NPA-NDF radicalized youths to become violent extremists such as the bearing of firearms and fight the government. It must be stopped as it poisons the innocent minds of our youth. We urge other stakeholders to partner with us in this endeavor and jointly denounce the communist terrorist group’s youth radicalism," Brawner said in a statement.

The Philippines' Anti-Terrorism Council has designated the CPP, NPA, and NDF as terrorist groups.

The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines also listed the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1156073

PH body in UN says task force investigating NPA abuses

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 8, 2021): PH body in UN says task force investigating NPA abuses (By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)

File photo

The Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva said Friday the government is investigating 1,500 new cases of possible breach of humanitarian law by the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The statement came after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet cited reports of abuses by the NPA in her speech at the 48th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council on October 7.

"High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet cited reports of abuses by the New People's Army of the Communist Party of the Philippines, including the killing of civilians, recruitment of children, and extortion. The Philippine government's AO35 Task Force is investigating 1,500 new cases of possible NPA breach of humanitarian law," the Permanent Mission tweeted.

Administrative Order No. 35 Task Force is the government's inter-agency committee on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave violations on the right to life, liberty, and security of persons.

The task force is chaired by the Department of Justice and composed of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Office of the Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs, Presidential Human Rights Committee, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation.

The Philippines' Anti-Terrorism Council has designated the CPP-NPA, and National Democratic Front as terrorist groups.

The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines also listed the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1156084