QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur, Feb. 28 (PIA) - - More than a hundred residents here received basic services from the member-agencies of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) during the “Serbisyo Caravan: Convergence of Peace” held Friday.
Majority of these were New Peoples Army (NPA) exploited masses consisting of 81 former members of the Save Quirino Movement (SQM) – a CPP-NPA Front Organization based on the Intelligence Reports and revelations of Former Rebels, in this municipality and 10 former UGMO members of barangay Remedios in Cervantes town.
Facilitated by the 69th Infantry (COUGAR) Battalion, 702nd Infantry (DEFENDER) Brigade, 7th Infantry (KAUGNAY) Division, Philippine Army, the agencies discussed its various programs and services, afterwards, conducted community profiling to assess those who are eligible of availing such services.
According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), livelihood assistance such as sari-sari store package and livestock raising were requested by the recipients, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said that trainings on Heavy Equipment (Backhoe Loader) Operation NC II (HEO-BLO) and Wheel Loader Operation NC II (HEO-WLO), Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Dressmaking, and Driving were requested by the recipients.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Ilocos Region distributed food packs containing five kilograms of rice and canned goods, and hygiene kits to the recipients.
Through the 69IB’s Community Support Program (CSP) teams deployed in various barangays here, beneficiaries withdrew their support to the communist movement and pledged allegiance to the government in December last year.
Prudencio Omaois, one of the beneficiaries and former NPA mass supporter, recognized the contributions of the Army unit to the barangays during the CSP immersion.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa 69IB sa tulong at mga programa na naibigay nila sa amin kagaya ng pagtatanim ng mushroom at paggawa ng tinapay. Dahil doon, kami ay nabigyan ng hanapbuhay. Malaking tulong iyon sa amin at sa aming bayan,” he said.
As a farmer, he added that once their request of training on driving is approved by the TESDA, it will be of big help in increasing their crop production.
Representing her husband who was a former UGMO member, Jocelyn Ilat, expressed her gratitude to the local government unit (LGU) and the national government agencies (NGA), especially to the 69IB, for providing various basic services and maintaining peace in their community.
“Pagsasaka lamang ang aming ikinabubuhay ngayon, lalo pa at hindi makapagtrabaho ang aking asawa dahil sa kaniyang sakit at nagda-dialysis siya dalawang beses sa isang linggo at dahil na rin sa hirap ng pagbebenta ng ani dulot ng pandemiya, kaya kung palarin na maibigay sa amin, malaki ang maitutulong ng alagang baboy mula sa DTI para sa aming pamilya,” she said.
Moreover, with the peace she and her family have being away from the favors of the CPP-NPA, she told the members/supporters of CPP-NPA, “Hindi totoo iyong sinasabi nila na kung kayo’y susuko, manganganib ang inyong buhay. Mas mabuti na sumuko na kayo, hindi kayo masasaktan kapag kayo’y sumuko, kundi kayo’y mabibigyan pa ng trabaho’t kabuhayan.”
Quirino Mayor Allen Nimo, Jr., meanwhile, thanked the Army unit and the participating agencies for the delivery of basic services to his constituents.
“Pasasalamat, ito lamang ang masasabi namin sa ating mga ahensiya ng gobyerno lalong-lalo na sa ating kasundaluhan na silang nagpasimuno ng programang ito. Ang mga tulong na natanggap at matatanggap ng aming mga kababayan ay bunga ng inyong walang sawang tiyaga upang ang aming mga kababayan ay magkaisa sa pag-suporta sa ating gobyerno,” Mayor Nimo said.
With its continuous anti-insurgency efforts through its close coordination with the LGUs and the NGAs, 69IB Commanding Officer Mario J. Igmen said it’s about time that the decades-long insurgency that has been impeding the development of the country particularly in the far-flung areas be put to an end.
"This insurgency has to end to stop the senseless killings perpetrated by terrorists who have gone astray. With the collaboration of member agencies under the TF-ELCAC, we see a positive direction in ending the local communist armed conflict,” Commanding Officer Igmen said. (JCR/VHS/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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