THE military has started its peace initiatives in the villages to strengthen peace and security development in the communities in Cagayan de Oro City.
Captain Christian Uy, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division in Camp Evangelista, said they conducted series of dialogue with local residents in the urban villages of Cagayan de Oro could partner with the army who are assigned in their areas not only to crackdown criminalities, but to help develop their communities as well.
Uy said the dialogue, headed by the Bayanihan Alert for Peace and Development Teams, is aimed at getting the opinion and ideas of local residents on how they could be helped by government agencies concerned.
Uy said local constituents would be briefed with their role in “maintaining peace and working together through volunteerism, where members of the community come together to achieve a common goal of success for a genuine and long-lasting peace.”
The local government of Cagayan de Oro is joining in this crusade together with the concerned village officials.
Uy said even the officials from the city planning and development office, city social welfare and development office, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the urban poor communicators and other stakeholders contributed in answering the issues and concerns that were raised by the residents.
“Winning the peace requires the involvement and participation from different stakeholders in our society especially to the youth sector which is considered as the future of our country,” Colonel Francisco Pabayo, commander, 403rd Brigade, said in a statement sent to this paper.
Lieutenant Colonel Jose Leonard B. Gille, Commanding Officer, 4th Civil Military Operation “Kasaligan” Battalion, called on different sectors of the society to work hand-in-hand and cooperate in educating the underprivileged constituents “who are probably the victims of wrong ideology cultivated by the insurgents.”
“We also encourage everybody to disseminate information about different government programs and their basic services for the people,” Gille added.
On Tuesday, the dialogue ended at Barangay Cugman. The team visited barangays Lapasan, Consolacion, Bugo, Puerto, and Macabalan.
Captain Invinzor Meneses, commanding officer of the 43rd Civil Military Operations Company (CMO), said the Bayanihan team introduced several projects in the communities in partnership with some government agencies such as sheds, public toilets, garbage bins, security outposts, among others which are necessary for the development of the communities.
Meneses said nine soldiers are assigned in each six villages to help facilitate and assist the concerns of the residents.
“Mostly gyud problema sa drugs,” Meneses said when asked on the issues and concerns that are prevalent in these villages.
“So, kung madunggan namo ilang concerns, we can assist to facilitate a talk between the villagers and the concerned government agency,” he added.
At the dialogue, Pdea urged the participants to help its anti-drug campaign.
The Pdea also asked barangay councils to reactivate the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) which has been proven vital in the fight against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the villages.
Cugman barangay chairperson Engr. Ricardo L. Pacheco expressed hope that with the partnership of soldiers, police officers and other government entities, they would achieve a lasting peace in his barangay.