Marilog lumads get clothes, food

AROUND 150 persons from indigenous tribes in Marilog District received clothes and brand new shoes, while 600 pupils benefited from a feeding program at the Marilog Central Elementary School, Monday morning.

The feeding program and donation distribution was set up by the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), with the 5th Civil Relationship Group (CRG), Civil Affairs Team (CAT), Task Force Mindanao (TFM), the Regional Emergency Assistant Communication Team (React) of Panabo City, and Operations Blessing Foundation Inc. (OBFI).

Eastmincom spokesperson Colonel Leopoldo Galon said the outreach program is a part of their continuous civic activities in far-flung communities.

"For the feeding program, we gave the students arozcaldo, pandesal, and juice. Nagbigay rin kami ng mga vitamins for the kids and the IPs (indigenous peoples) as well," Galon said.

A total of 205 pairs of Converse and Fila shoes were given out to the IPs, while React also donated five sacks of books for Sibika at Kultura, Balarila, English Communication Skills, Mathematics, and Filipino.

"The books were good for the Grade 1-6 pupils. Meron din ilan dito for high schools pero these will be put in the library para lahat ng estudyante mabigyan ng pagkakataon na gamitin yung mga aklat sa pag-aaral nila," Galon said.

The OBFI donated wheelchairs for the disabled while the Department of Agriculture gave out seeds. (Ivy C. Tejano)