Civilian auxiliaries complete military training in Siargao
By John
Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 4 -- Around 120 strong Civilian Active
Auxiliary (CAA) men under Class 46 and 47 of this year had successfully complied
the requirements of Basic Military Training on June 3, 2018 in Siargao Island.
In
his message, Surigao del Norte First District
Representative Francisco Jose
"Bingo" Matugas recognized the graduates as protectors of
Siargao Island who will be working alongside with regular Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) troops.
“Thank
you for volunteering to help in securing our local communities and in
maintaining peace and security in our island. Know that by sacrificing your
time and energy it would mean protecting your own family and your own
locality,” said Matugas.
Siargao,
according to Matugas, “is known to be a safe island with no record of
insurgencies.”
“With
Siargao gaining immense popularity recently, and after the moratorium in
Boracay with international tourists, our tourist arrivals surged to 33 percent
that at the moment is still beyond our capacity and capability as a tourist
destination to handle,” Matugas said.
Matugas
also added that from only a few flights last year, they now have nine flights a
day which will increase to 12 flights by July of this year. He said he already
requested the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to issue
control on excessive commercial flights since the number of tourists at present
is already a challenge that they need to keep up and manage appropriately.
With
more tourists arriving in the island, Matugas further explained the need of
trained peacekeepers who will be vigilant and protective of the people.
“I
count on you to be at the forefront of rescue operations during emergency
situations and calamities, particularly those involving our tourists also.
Being a typhoon and storm surge prone island, we need you to be available at
all times; to help and protect our people and your own families,” said Matugas.
The
CAAs underwent a 45-day training from April 16 to May 30, 2018 in the
municipality of San Isidro. (PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
