1002nd commander visits ex-NPA stronghold

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Apr 30, 2023): 1002nd commander visits ex-NPA stronghold

ZAMBOANGA. A total of 110 B’laan children and adults from Sitio Sultana in Donganpekong, Matanao, Davao del Sur, complete a three-month basic literacy program known as Project Peace and Development Alternative Literacy System (Pedals). A photo handout shows Brigadier General Patricio Ruben Amata, commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade, 10th Army’s Infantry Division, awarded a medal to a child completer of the literacy program in a ceremony on Friday, April 28, as he and other stakeholders graced the culmination of a three-month inter-agency Project Pedals. (PR)

BRIGADIER General Patricio Ruben Amata, commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade, 10th Army’s Infantry Division, joined other stakeholders in gracing the culmination of a three-month inter-agency project known as Peace and Development Alternative Literacy System (Pedals) on Friday, April 28, in Sitio Sultana, Barangay Donganpekong, Matanao, Davao del Sur.

Sitio Sultana is in the heart of Mount Alip Range on the border of Sultan Kudarat and Davao Del Sur and can be accessed by one-hour trail walk from the newly constructed road in Datal Fitak, Matanao.

The area was a former Communist Terrorist Group’s (CTG) guerilla base in which various encounters transpired between the government security forces and the CTG’s New People’s Army (NPA) in the previous years.

It is also the location of the closed CTG-run Lumad school that became their recruitment haven to lure the IP youth as well as the whole IP community into their wage of war against the government.

Donganpekong Village Chief Rodulfo Lauda, during his speech is at awe as he expressed his gratitude and honor for the presence of Brigadier General Amata in his area of jurisdiction.

He also emphasized that this endeavor strongly manifest that Sitio Sultana along with the whole province of Davao del Sur is indeed peaceful and insurgency-free.

Amata joined the Local Government Unit of Matanao led by Mayor Vincent Fernandez and Vice Mayor Irick Agbon along with the different collaborating agencies in the program.

Meanwhile, a total of 110 B’laan children and adults undergone the Project Pedals that aims to provide basic literacy education to communities in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (Gidas) that have no or limited access to formal education to further protect these vulnerable communities from being deceived and exploited by the CTGs.

The inter-agency program was a brainchild of Youth for Peace Movement (YFPM) Davao del Sur as part of their peace advocacy in partnership with the 39th Infantry Battalion and Department of Education Davao del Sur.

It was then executed in collaboration with the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Davao del Sur, Local Government Unit (LGU) of Matanao, National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Davao del Sur, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Davao del Sur, Provincial Youth and Development Center (PYDC) Davao del Sur, Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Davao del Sur, Junior Chamber Inc (JCI) Duwaling, Goodlife Foundation, and Philippine National Police.

The Pedals culminating activity started with a Fun Run for Peace showcasing a peaceful and insurgency-free Matanao.

It was then followed by a Motorcycle Trail Ride carrying the school supplies and food packs to be distributed in the community and a trekking towards the venue proper.

Moreover, vaccination to livestock, turn-over of water tub to the community sitio leader and a site visitation to the LGU procured land where the DepEd school will be established was also conducted.

 
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1960010/zamboanga/local-news/1002nd-commander-visits-ex-npa-stronghold