KITCHARAO, Agusan del Norte -- The 29th Infantry (Matatag Fighters) Battalion (29IB) under the 901st Infantry (Fight ‘em) Brigade has assisted the provincial government of Agusan del Norte in the distribution of food packs to the residents of Sitio Apa-apa, Brgy. Bangonay, Jabonga Agusan del Norte on Sunday, June 27, 2021.

Gov. Dale Corvera personally distributed the food packs to the residents as his token of gratitude for the opportunity to have been able to visit the people in the said area. 

Jabonga Mayor Napoleon Montero welcomed the visitors and expressed his gratitude to the governor for choosing Brgy. Bangonay to be the recipients of his shared blessings. 

Maj. Alex Basanes, Battalion Commander of 1SAF said that, “Lagi ang priority namin ang kaligtasan ninyo at ng komunidad, at yung karapatan ninyo na mabuhay ng malaya at masaya. Sana tulungan ninyo kami na matulungan kayo (Our priority is always your safety and of your community, and your right to live freely and happily. We hope you will help us so that we can help you)." 

Lt. Col. Aristotle Antonio, Commanding Officer of 29IB, assured the residents that the government is here to provide services to them. "They are wrong if they say that no government service has reached here. Our government is always here," he said.

"Kaya panahon na para tayo ay magtulong-tulong, wala pong mangyayari kapag parati tayong nag-aaway-away. Nandito po ang 29IB at ang ating mga security forces para protektahan kayo. Tumigil na po tayo sa pagsuporta sa mga NPA, wala po silang naitutulong at naidudulot na mabuti. Sana po magisip-isip na po tayo (And it is now time for us to help each other, nothing will happen if we are always fighting. The 29IB and our security forces are here to protect you. Let us stop supporting the NPA, they are not helping us nor have caused us any good. I hope that we should contemplate about it)," added Lt. Col. Antonio. 

Rey Cueva, Provincial Director of TESDA Agusan del Norte, said the mandate of the governor is to provide livelihood and skills training to the residents. "For every sitio, we will build an enterprise village with communal garden, communal fishpond and communal livestock. This is the initial commitment and support that TESDA will provide," he said.

During his visit, the governor discussed his plans for the economic development of the whole Agusan del Norte and pleaded, “Muhangyo ko niyo atol sa adlaw sa akong birthday, isip gift ninyo sa ako nga hatag mo ug suporta sa atong gobyerno kay aron muuswag kita kay ug dunay kasamok, walay kalambuan (Today is my birthday and I will ask a special gift from you, support our government so that we can prosper because if there is violence, there will surely be no development)," Gov. Corvera said. (2Lt Roselyn Matulac, CMO Officer, 29IB PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)