LAS NAVAS, Northern Samar -- The 20th Infantry ‘We Lead’ Battalion, in partnership with the Northern Samar Provincial Police Office, participated in the Community Outreach Program of the Gamay Municipal Police Station and Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Gamay held in Barangay Cade-an of this province, on Tuesday, May 31.
The program aims to bring the government closer to the people in the far-flung areas.
The 20IB has been conducting community outreach activities and facilitating the provision of various services and projects, including livelihood, to the concerned areas in partnership with the task forces to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) and local government units within their area of operations.
It is the Army's way of stepping up their peace and development efforts in parts of Northern Samar to counter the remaining influence of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Barangay Cade-an is a conflict-affected barangay and among the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in Northern Samar. Through the Community Support Program (CSP) and the efforts of the immersed CSP Team in the area, the threat situation in Cade-an has been minimized.
The 20IB has partnered with the NSPPO and Gamay MPS in the distribution of rice packs, school supplies, hygiene kits, clothes, and slippers for 628 beneficiaries.
One of the residents of Barangay Cade-an, Nilda M. Turla, extended her appreciation to the 20IB and PNP for conducting such program.
“Dako an amon pagpapasalamat nga nagkayaon san sugad sini nga programa ngadi sa Brgy. Cade-an ngan dako ini nga bulig para sa amon. Unta mas damo pa nga mga barangay an makatagamtam san sugad sini nga program,” Turla said.
("We are very thankful for having an opportunity to experience such outreach program in Barangay Cade-an. This is a big help to our barangay. We are hoping that other barangays could also receive the same programs and services.")
Cade-an Barangay chairperson, Ruel D. Capoquian, stressed the sincerity of the government in providing sustainable development through outreach programs in the community, especially to the far-flung barangays in Northern Samar
Meanwhile, 20IB Battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Joemar N. Buban, appealed to the public and local government leaders of Barangay Cade-an to help the Philippine Army and the PNP in sustaining the gains of Community Support Program to attain lasting peace.
"Now is the best time to end the five decade-old local communist armed conflict by winning the peace and supporting the government programs aimed to improve the living condition of every Filipino. Let us stop the communist terrorist ideologies for the sake of our children's future," Buban said. (20IB/8ID)
