MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur--More assistance has reached Gacap village in the municipality of Piagapo as the army troops and their partner stakeholders converged in an effort to augment their support in the place.
Through the 51st Infantry "Fuerte Uno" Battalion together with the provincial government, 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade, Inner Wheel Club-Lanao del Norte, Kiwanis International, Ronald McDonalds House Charities, Inc., Jollibee-Iligan City, and Fiat Macarambon, a community outreach program was conducted Thursday, March 17, delivering various services, particularly to the children in the said barangay.
51st Infantry Battalion commanding officer LtCol. Fernando Payapaya said such an intervention is in support of the overall mission of confronting and dismantling the Dawlah Islamiyah terrorist group in the area to attain lasting peace and sustainable development through pushing for the enhanced education program, under which is the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
He stressed that this initiative was realized with their desire to augment the literacy of the constituents in the target community considering that the language barrier is evident among locals and the guests reaching out to them.
“Iyong activity namin ngayon is part ng sustaining sa effort natin sa education. Good that there are agencies na tumutulong sa atin. In fact, sa kanila at LGU-Piagapo galing ang mga items na binibigay. Maganda at connected ito sa pagtulong in terms sa reduction sa illiteracy sa area namin at sa tingin ko, successful naman tayo sa mga ginagawa natin,” said Payapaya.
[That activity of ours is part of sustaining our effort in education. Good that agencies are helping us. In fact, the items we gave away were from them and the LGU-Piagapo. This is wonderful and connected to our assistance in terms of reducing illiteracy in our area and I think we are successful in what we do.]
103rd Infantry Brigade Civil-Military Operations officer LtCol. Palawan Miondas further underscored that the event likewise contributed to their aim of preventing and countering violent extremism as the information education campaign focusing on such a matter was one of the services extended.
“Mayroon tayong mga video na ipinapakita on terrorism. Ipinapakita rin natin iyong Anti-Terror Law at ang mga activity na pang-anti-terrorism act at preventing violent extremism. Itong [Brgy.] Gacap, bago mag-Marawi siege ay dito nauna [maggiyera]. Dito nanggaling ang isang giyera. Naranasan nila ang nangyari before Marawi siege kaya patuloy natin sila inaaddress,” he said.
[We had shown videos on terrorism. We also showed the Anti-Terror Law, and the activities for anti-terrorism act and preventing violent extremism. This [Brgy.] Gacap, before the Marawi siege, already had it [the firefight] first. The firefight started here. They experienced it first before the Marawi siege that is why we continuously address them]
With the services brought to the community such as the distribution of educational materials for the mini-library of Gacap Primary School, giving away slippers, feeding program, free haircut, and anti-terror campaign, more or less 500 recipients benefited and enjoyed which they were grateful of.
As such, Merlyn Manos from one of the principal sponsor organizations, Kiwanis International, urged especially the children in the community to strive and pursue their studies, rather than be swayed to join groups that only advocate for unlawful and violent acts.
“Kami ay para sa mga bata kaya pumunta kami dito [sa Piagapo]. Gusto kong iparating sa inyo na kahit ganito tayo kahirap kasi sabi nila, mahirap daw ang mga magsasaka dito sa ating lugar, ay mag-aral lang tayo nang mabuti at huwag niyong kalimutang magdasal. Alam ko na sa dulo ay mayroon kayong patutunguhan. Huwag niyong hayaan na ang mga masasamang tao ang mag-engganyo na huwag kayong mag-aral. Mag-aral kayo nang mabuti,” she said.
[We are for children that is why we went here [in Piagapo]. I want to convey to all of you that although we are poor, as they say farmers here in our place are poor, just study hard and do not forget to pray. I know that in the end, there is a better future that awaits you. Do not let bad people persuade you to not study. You study hard.] (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)
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