Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte – Eighteen (18) Project Engineers / Project In-Charge of Constructions Companies and several members of Local Government Units within 30th Infantry (Fight On) Battalion, Philippine Army (30IB) area of responsibility attended the First Contractors and Business Establishments Security Forum held at Headquarters 30IB in Brgy Mahanub, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, February 19, 2021.
Said Forum aimed to enhance coordinative mechanism among said economic Stakeholders, Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Security sectors emphasizing “Shared Security Responsibility” concept to ensure that implementation of all government projects and economic activities unhampered and uninterrupted as offshoot to the Communists Terrorists threats and intimidation usually resulting to sabotage and destruction of company properties particularly those in the remote areas.
Salient points of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) was also presented to the participants in order to raise their respective awareness on their rights and protection as non-combatants against all attacks and human rights abuses where huge number of them already suffered cruelty and abuses from these communist terrorists. The CARHRIHL was an agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army CPP-NPA-NDF) to ensure the protection of Civilians against all forms of human rights abuse.
An information briefing was presented by LTC Ryan Charles G Callanta, Commanding Officer of 30IB on the concept of shared security responsibility among the involved/concerned stakeholders (Construction Company, Community, LGU, Integrated Territorial Defense System (ITDS) and Security Sectors) of which each component has separate but equally important roles and responsibilities to ensure that peace and security is maintained and attained unhampered implementation of government projects within the area.
The activity was organized by the Army’s 30IB under the supervision of the 901st Brigade and partnered by several Local Government Units within the province of Surigao del Norte.
Brigadier General George L Banzon, Commander of 901st Brigade personally graced the activity despite his hectic schedules. In his message BGen Banzon assured the attendees that securing and protecting the entire province’s economic activities are among the topmost priorities of the entire 901st Brigade together with its two Infantry Battalions and the PNP.
“Extortion is a lifeblood of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG). If we can work together and stop the extortion scheme of the Communist Terrorist in Surigao del Norte, it will be a significant blow to its weakening posture. I therefore encouraged all of us to work together and do our respective part in this specific endeavor. If we can do this then, we can expect peace, progress and development will take its full throttle in this part of the country. Lastly, I thanked everyone for giving us your time.” BGen Banzon said.
