Army, ACE launch mobile computer literacy program in Surigao Norte town
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, June 28 (PIA) - The 402nd Brigade, Philippine Army, together with the
Association of Caraga Executives (ACE) and local government of Gigaquit thru
Mayor Elvira Egay launched on Tuesday, June 26, the Mobile Computer Literacy
Program (MCLP) for the 42 Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Gigaquit, Surigao del
Norte.
The
Mamanwa tribe in the said municipality offered a ritual as the launching starts
at the covered court of Barangay Mahanub, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte. Local
residents in the area, employees of the local government unit and other guests
witnessed the event.
Mayor
Egay, in her message, thanked the 402nd Brigade, Phil. Army, together with
ACE for choosing Gigaquit town as the beneficiary of the Mobile Computer
Literacy Program. She explained that the IP beneficiaries will be trained on
the use of computer with the assistance of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) trainers.
“We
do not only teach them how to read and write, we also want them to learn how to
use the computer, and give them the opportunity to excel using the modern
technology,” said Mayor Egay.
The
lady mayor also said the local government unit has allocated a Php 100,000.00
fund intended for the IPs training. She strongly supports the initiative of the
402nd Brigade and partners, in its effort to build sustainable peace and
development in its area of responsibility.
Lieutenant
Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, commander of 36th Infantry Battalion,
said the Mobile Computer Literacy Program will empower the participants
and will mold them as peace and development advocates. He added that the
beneficiaries composed of IPs and out of school youths will enjoy the one-month
training inside the 40-footer van equipped with 21 high-tech computers and
other necessary gadgets.
“The
Philippie Army in Caraga region will continue to provide basic computer
literacy program to the IPs and other marginalized sectors in the area, as we
see them as partners in nation-building, and we see to it that their potentials
are recognized to full extent,” said LTC Trinidad.
Also,
Atty. Francisco Pobe, regional election director of Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) Caraga and ACE president, said their organization has provided
backpacks, slippers, notebooks, pens and towels to the 42 beneficiaries of the
MCLP. “ACE also gave Php25,000.00 cash assistance for the meals
expenses of the beneficiaries for their one-month training,” he added.
Meanwhile,
402nd Brigade commander Brigadier General Franco Nemesio Gacal, emphasized that
more IPs and out of school youths in the region will be benefitting from the
said program. He also encouraged other partner stakeholders to take part and
help promote the welfare of the IPs. (PIA-Caraga)
Army urges lumads to report 'migrants' in CADT community
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 28 (PIA) – The Philippine Army reminded anew the
lumads to stay alert and to report to authorities any presence of individuals
with suspicious motives in their area that may arouse conflict within their
communities.
This
was again emphasized after six non-indigenous people (IP) persons identified as
employees of the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) had
entered the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) community in Barangay
Libas Sud, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
Indigenous
peoples mandatory representative (IPMR) Datu Rico Maca said, in an interview
over the local radio, that those persons who entered illegally in the premises
of the IP communities aimed to conduct a dialogue in order to convince the
lumads to patronize the TRIFPSS school which is not accredit by the Department
of Education (DepEd).
Accordingly,
they did not go through the process that would allow them to conduct their
activities in the area. The protocol forbids their visitation as no permit or
clearance from the Municipal Tribal Office was issued to them.
Lieutenant
Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, 36IB commanding officer, supported the statement of
Datu Maca by reiterating that “there is a municipal ordinance in San Miguel
regulating the entry of migrants or non-government organizations (NGOs)."
Trinidad
further said the municipal ordinance was enacted to prevent the entry of
unidentified personalities especially those with ill motives towards the
inhabitants, particularly the CADT areas, which became prey to the manipulative
and deceptive tactics of communist New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists.
Report
said, the troops of 36IB acted upon the request of the barangay officials in
line with the commitment and support under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’
(AFPs’) Community Support Program for the peace and order initiatives of the
barangay.
It
was also learned that said personalities had also visited Sitio Sangay and
Sitio Hayon, all in barangay Libas Sud on January 19 and
20, respectively.
Maca
also confirmed that these communities already had its newly installed and
operationalized DepEd - Elementary School of Living Tradition (ESLT) for
IPs. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
