CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) — Following the declaration of some towns of Isabela and Quirino provinces as insurgency-free, the livelihood and skills development training arms of the government have capacitated People’s Organizations (POs) to spur rural and community development.
At least 48 members of newly created POs from the towns of Echague, San Agustin, and Jones of Isabela, and from Maddela of Quirino actively participated in the recently conducted empowerment and capability-building training by the 86th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army.
The training was conducted in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
Municipal Administrator Manuel Cabungcal Jr said the declaration of Jones as insurgency-free will surely enable economic development in their town as they can now engage freely in entrepreneurial endeavors.
He said the training is an initial step towards helping the farmers and community folk become more productive.
“Now that some of the towns in the province were already declared as insurgency-free, more development and services are expected to be delivered to the residents,” Cabungcal said.
Cabungcal also acknowledged the efforts of the soldiers, the police, and all other stakeholders for their contributions to help the newly declared insurgency-free towns move forward.
Members of newly created People’s Organizations from Isabela and Quirino province participate in a two-day capacity-building training conducted by the 86th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army. (Photo courtesy of 86 IB)
During the training, the participants were taught basic entrepreneurship; bookkeeping; rules, duties, and responsibilities of the organizations’ officers. DOLE also offered them ‘pangkabuhayan’ programs.
Jay C. Perez, chairperson of the San Martin Agri-Farmers Cooperative, expressed his thanks to the government instrumentalities for spearheading the empowerment and capability-building training, which is a need of their organization.
“Ang training na ito ay isang malaking tulong sa amin na mga opisyales at miyembro ng ibat-ibang POs, mapapabuti at maisasaayos ang aming mga organisasyon lalong-lalo na ang makatulong sa pag unlad ng aming komunidad” Perez said.
The 86IB is continuously conducting training including Youth Leadership Summits for the young individuals to become responsible leaders of the future and to save them from the deceptive recruitment of the rebel groups. (OTB/MGE / PIA Isabela)
