SAVE the Children of War Mindanao Association Inc. celebrated its 9th Festival of Love and Peace, benefiting at least 513 children of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) in Basilan province.
The festival was held at the gymnasium of Lamitan City on Saturday, October 7, and was attended by government and military officials such as Representative Mujiv Hataman and Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, 101st Infantry Brigade commander.
Other officials present were Basilan Vice Governor Yusop Alano and Provincial Administrator Manny Muarip.
All the officials present during the festival cited the important contribution of the Cafgu in the maintenance of peace and security in the island province of Basilan.
Hataman particularly recalled several instances in the past when Cafgu members had demonstrated their dedication to protect the Basileños, partly the reason for the province to achieve peace.
Hataman thanked the private and civil society groups like the Save the Children of War in Mindanao Association Inc. for honoring what he called the unsung heroes -- the Cafgus and their children.
He said that one of the kids has had horrible experience in armed conflict and was saved by the Cafgu, and as a government official, he will make sure that no more children will experience war.
He admitted the Cafgus' salaries are not enough to sustain the needs of their families but still they serve and assist the military and local government units in keeping the communities safe and secure, vowing that he will to help them in any way possible.
Luzon also commended the Cafgus for their critical role in peace keeping efforts as they are always in the frontline.
Luzon said the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Army in particular, continues to find ways to help the militia groups like giving them additional service allowance aside from their existing subsistence allowance, which include health and death assistance, more importantly the scholarship program for the Cafgus' children.
Luzon said there are some 2,000 members of Cafgus assisting them in the maintenance of peace and order in Basilan province, which comprises of two cities and 11 towns, including two island municipalities.
The Cafgus in Basilan province are under the supervision of the 101st Infantry Brigade.
"Here in Basilan, we explore ways where our Cafgus canbe assisted in terms of livelihood," Luzon said in an interview.
He said each member of the Cafgu are required to render security duty 15 days monthly and they can get extra job on the remaining 15 days of the month.
Meanwhile, militiaman Gilbert Garcia, the lone survivor in the July 2018 checkpoint bombing in Bulanting village, Lamitan City, was delighted to receive the recognition and that he never expected to receive a motorcycle and other items, to include the scholarship of his children studying at Furigay Colleges.
Dr. Arlyn Jawad Jumao-as, founder and president of Save the Children of War Mindanao Association Inc., said that last year, her group honored the children of former rebels in Basilan and Sulu.
This year, they chose to honor the children of Cafgus in recognition of their contribution to the security, adding that the militiamen are doing great sacrifices, leaving their families whenever they go on duty with the military despite their meager salary.
"My wish for them is that they will an increase of monthly subsistence allowance," Jumao-as said in a separate interview, citing the current P4,500 allowance is not sufficient to maintain a family.
Meanwhile, Jumao-as was delighted to see and feel for herself the peaceful transformation of Basilan nowadays compared to previous years when violence was prevalent, thereby affecting mostly the children.
She added that this was the reason why her association is saving the children of war in the hope of making them productive members of society in the future.
She expressed her deep gratitude to the government officials, military, police, civic groups and other organization, including the Junior Chamber International-Lamitan City, for helping them make realize the celebration of the 9th Children's Festival of Love and Peace: Cafgus’ Children.
The celebration was anchored on the theme: "Honoring the Legacy of Our Unsung Heroes." (SunStar Zamboanga)