DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA)--The Philippine Army has given importance on communication to deliver the message of the govenment to the grassroots .

“Ang  number one nato nga (Our number one) communicators are our individual soldiers who are on the ground,” said 10th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office( DPAO) chief, Major Mark Anthony Tito.

He revealed during his guesting over Radio 911 Sayron Ta! Pakigsayod radio program, anchored by the Philippine Information Agency XI, that this  retooling initiative of the Philippine Army, still continues to deploy soldiers in geographically isolated and depressed areas in support of the Community Support Program (CSP).

Tito  said the Philippine Army puts premium on good communication skills in  hiring applicants to become part of the government troop.

“Ang atong kasundaluhan wala lang nato gi-equip on war fighting skills (Our soldiers are not only equipped on war fighting skills),” he said, pointing out that at present they are also looking for into the good communication skills as among the qualities of their recruits--one who can express himself and deliver the message needed by the people.

According to him, there is no need for them to go to other countries since, within their level, if the soldiers are capable to negotiate, they can do the talking.

Communication and public relations skills are among the tools that the Philippine Army has embedded as it trains its soldiers for CSP work which it finds necessary to sustain after having declared Davao Region as insurgency-free in October 2022.

“Maski wala na ang atong mga armed group, ang atong mga kasundaluhan deployed gihapon sa mga GIDAs (Even without the  armed groups, our  soldiers are still deployed in GIDAs), and recently cleared areas, para Ipadayon ang pagtuki sa mga  issues and concerns nga kinahanglan nato nga ma resolve (to continue looking into some issues and concerns that need to be resolved) immediately in partnership with  the different government units and government agencies,” he said.

Tito, however, made  it clear that the Philippine Army has yet to monitor any atrocity of the communist terrorist group or  any act of  the CTG to infiltrate  and regain the cleared areas previously under the CTG influence.  (JDA/PIA Davao del Norte)