By Hilda Austria
In Lingayen, Pangasinan, efforts to counter the resurgence of insurgents persist with programs aimed at fostering self-sufficiency and productivity among residents, including the youth.
During an interview on Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Benny Singca, Commander of the Philippine Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion, emphasized the ongoing deployment of mobile community support.
Four people’s organizations, registered with the Department of Labor and Employment, form part of the overall territorial defense system.
“So that even if there are no military and police forces they will be self-sustaining and prevent resurgence of threat groups, meaning they will not accept the presence of threat groups in their area,” he said.
The Philippine Army also teamed up with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other stakeholders for the Peace and Community Empowerment, which provides three-month skills training like masonry, carpentry, and scaffolding in far-flung areas.
Since its launch last year, 14 individuals from Mangatarem town and 11 from Infanta town have joined the program.
A youth summit is also conducted.
“Threat groups are focusing their recruitment on the youth due to their nature as adventurous and (this group is the) main source of their cadres,” he said.
Singca said they are likewise enhancing humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities in partnership with the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, while outreach programs with other non-government and government entities continue.
“The majority of forces of the threat groups are in the east side in the Sierra Madre. They are trying to consolidate forces to create another guerilla unit in the boundaries of Aurora and Nueva Ecija. We are anticipating that they have a two-year plan to create a unit and try to recover forces and regain forces areas in the Caraballo Mountain range on the side of the province,” he said.
Hence, the government’s efforts to increase forces in the eastern side of the province, deploying platoons in San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, and Umingan towns, to secure hydro projects as well as monitor different groups in Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija. (PNA)
