MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 14 (PIA) --- The 64th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army is set to conduct a series of consultative meetings with the local government units (LGUs) within its area of responsibility to better address insurgency and other peace and order issues.
Lieutenant Colonel Darwin Bucawit, 64th IB commanding officer, said the consultations aim to seek the opinions of local chief executives (LCEs) on how to deal with the barriers of peace and order as well as ways to forward the development in their localities.
“Through this, we can give chance to the LCEs to take the lead role in addressing such barriers to achieve permanent peace and pave the way for progress and development,” he said.
Bucawit further said the military and other line agencies would just give support to LGUs in their peace advocacy campaign and other projects.
The series of consultative meet kicked-off on Sunday, Feb. 13, in Mulondo Municipal Hall.
With 26 barangays, Mulondo is located at the eastern part of the Lanao del Sur.
Farming, fishing and government employment are the means of livelihood of most of its residents.
Mulondo town elected officials headed by Mayor Machol ‘Jalal’ Abdulsalam expressed appreciation to the 64th IB troopers for visiting their town first.
Aside from protecting the people from insurgents, Abdulsalam said, the presence of the military in the town gives them assurance of peace and helps the ordinary people to live a normal life.
Bucawit, on the other hand, emphasized that the meeting is a step to reach-out and communicate to local leaders that the military is their friend and protector citing that the military are not invading their town.
He said he encourages his soldiers to always respect the Muslim belief and Maranao culture in order to gain the trust, sympathy and respect of the civilians, he further cited.
Among the important concerns discussed were the priority agenda of the Mulondo local government, impression of the local residents about the military and their perceived expectations on how the military can contribute to the progress of the town.
The causes and ways to fight insurgency were also tackled during the meeting. (Apipa Bagumbaran/PIA Marawi)
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