NINE former internally displaced communities (IDPs) in the province of Sulu have received some 5,400 heads of egg-laying chickens for a livelihood poultry farm project as they start to live life peacefully.
The project is part of the Balik Barangay Program of the municipal government of Patikul and the Army’s 11th Infantry Division (ID).
The distribution of poultry, which was held last week, was initiated by the Patikul municipal government in partnership with the Department of Agriculture’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-Saas) in Zamboanga Peninsula and the 1103rd Infantry Brigade, one of the units under the 11ID.
Patikul Mayor Kabir Hayudini said the poultry project is expected to significantly improve food security and economic stability of the villages of Pansul, Panglayahan, Kabbon Takas, Bakung, Buhanginan, Maligay, Tugas, Bungkaong and Latih.
Hayudini said each of the nine recipient villages was given 600 egg-laying chickens. The recipients of the project will team up with battalions under the 1103rd Infantry Brigade to fully maximize the resources provided to them.
All internally displaced communities of Patikul have returned to their respective lands in November 2021.
Hayudini said the rehabilitation of the internally displaced communities was made possible by the improved security situation of the municipality.
“Many residents of Patikul have evacuated to safer areas for several years, some five while the other seven years. Their lives were destroyed due to the presence of the Abu Sayyaf bandits. Now, we are very happy and proud with the improvement taking place in Patikul,” Hayudini said.
Brigadier General Benjamin Batara, Jr., 1103rd Infantry Brigade commander, said they were able to reduce the number of Abu Sayyaf bandits through the active participation of the peace-loving residents of Patikul.
Major General William Gonzales, 11ID commander, agreed that the military campaign in Sulu is meant for the long haul.
“I am honored to have been part of Sulu's history and I will always be genuinely concerned about the future of this place that has become my home,” Gonzales said. (SunStar Zamboanga)