MAWAB, Davao De Oro – The 25th Infantry Battalion under the 1001st Infantry Brigade visited the 2.25 hectares of banana plantation of the People’s Organization in a formerly Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) affected area in Barangay Sangab, Maco, Davao De Oro, yesterday.
The Sangab Energetic Farmer’s Association (SEFA), composed of 138 members, produced Lakatan bananas as their source of livelihood given to them through the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) of the Department of Agriculture. Likewise, the SEFA already conducted its second harvest with 116 bunches of bananas on May 21, 2023, earning more or less P200,000.00.
Barangay Sangab also received various projects from the Barangay Development Program (BDP) under the National Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). Out of the P20 million budget, P5 million went for the construction of the Farm to Market Road, P5 million for the water system, P4 million for the Rural Electrification, P3M for the construction of the health center, P3 million for livelihood assistance allotted for cash-for-work program and livelihood assistance for the SEFA.
In his message, Mr. Eugene Cabalida, Chairman of SEFA, expressed his gratitude to the 10th Infantry Division, the Provincial Local Government of Davao De Oro, and the NTF-ELCAC.
“Nabuhat kog vice-chairman sauna sa communal sa NPA, igo lang mi naghagbas, paghuman wala na. So, ang ginabuhat namo karon gina rolling namo ang income para maka provide tag livelihood. Nagapasalamat jud ko sa 10ID kay wala jud silay puas ug wala silay pagpakapoy kay gihatagan jud nila ug priority ang People’s Organization tungod kay mao jud ni ang dapat tutukan kay ang armed (referring to armed group) ato nang napildi,” Cabalida added.
(I was once the vice-chairman of the NPA communal. Before we were just cleaning (referring to the farm) and then we were gone. Now, what we are doing is we are rolling the income so that we can provide a livelihood. I am grateful to 10ID for their tireless efforts in prioritizing the people’s organizations. We should focus on the PO because we have already defeated the armed group.)
Cabalida also said that if the CTG before influenced the people through false promises, there’s no reason now that the government can win the hearts and minds of the people through education.
Barangay Sangab was once influenced by the CTG. In 2013, the CTG abducted PFC Jesus Tomas in Barangay Elizalde, Maco, and released him in Barangay Sangab. Moreover, other NPA leaders were from the said barangay.
