BANCASI, Butuan City – The 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade thru its operationally controlled unit, the 42nd CMO Company, facilitated the turnover of various assistance to the 1st Batch of former members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) front Organization, the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Sur (NAMASUR), during a meeting on April 18, 2021 held at Bgry San Toribio Gym, Brgy San Toribio, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.
A total of eight (8) out of the fifteen (15) farmers’ organizations comprising the Esperanza United Farmers Federation Association (EUFFA), the former NAMASUR after it was redirected, attended the meeting and received various assistance and commitment from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority of Caraga region.
Various assistance were received by the farmers’ groups from the eight (8) barangays namely: Brgy Anolingan – five (5) sacks feeds from DA; Brgy San Toribio- three (3) piglets and four (4) sacks feeds from DA); Cebulan – two-thousand (2,000) fingerlings and eight (8) packs growing seeds from BFAR; Brgy Crossing Luna – three (3) sacks of feeds from DA; Duangan – two (2) sacks of rice from DA; Brgy Guadalupe – three (3) sacks of rice from DA; Dacutan – three (3) sacks of rice from DA; and Brgy Labao – two (2) trays of eggs for ‘Balot’ from DAR.
In attendance during the said activity were Director Tarhata S Mapandi, the Regional Director of TESDA Caraga; Ms Rebecca O Atega, the Regional Technical Director of DA Caraga,; Mr Edgardo Balambao, Assistant Regional Director of BFAR Caraga together with their Local Government Agency in the province and municipality level.
Also present in the said activity was Director Manuel Orduna, the Regional Director of the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA). He conducted information awareness drive about the CTG deceptive recruitment and the needed actions to counter the deceptive recruitment. “We are here committed in providing information and awareness to the conflict affected communities”, Director Orduna said.
Said turn-over of assistance was made possible thru the facilitation and effort of the 42nd CMO Company under 1st Lieutenant Ashley Del Rosario, the Commanding Officer, and Ms Jane Pansacala who are strengthening development of the federation by equipping the officers and members with necessary skills and knowledge to sustain their organization. Ms Pansacala who trained in Organizational Development, explained that the assistance provided during the activity is a representation of the commitment of the agencies to the association.
Brigadier General Maurito L Licudine, 402nd Brigade Commander in his statement, lauded the NICA 10 for facilitating the request and the PRLEC member agencies led by TESDA Caraga for the swift action in attending to the request of the association. “We congratulate the NICA 10 and PRLEC Caraga thru its member agencies for addressing the needs of the federation. The commitment and support they have displayed will be instrumental in paving the way of other communities still considered as conflict affected areas to emulate the said federation and fully support the government”.
“We assure our partner agencies and other stakeholders of the 402nd Brigade’s unwavering support and commitment to facilitate and bring the government closer to the people. While we push forth and sustain our focused military operation against the armed component of the CTG to force them to abandon the armed struggle and surrender, we exhort every peace partner agencies/stakeholders to sustain the efforts of the whole of nation approach in addressing the issues brought about by insurgency in order to attain a peaceful and conflict resilient communities”, BGen Licudine said.
