RIZAL, Cagayan: Under the national government's whole-of-nation initiative program, the Philippine Army's 17th Infantry Battalion (17IB) has turned over one set of solar power system and two sets of water filtration system to Masi Elementary School (MES) in Zinundungan Valley here.
In a simple turnover ceremony over the weekend, Major Primitivo Narag, 501st Infantry Brigade (501IB) civil-military officer, said the donation came from the Lucio Tan Group of Companies and Jaime Ongpin Foundation.
Narag, who represented 501IB commander Brig. Gen. Steve Crespillo at the turnover ceremony, said the support is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's order to end local communist armed conflict.
Rey Bata, MES teacher in charge, expressed gratitude to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), especially to the 17IB, for realizing its promise following the construction of the new classroom at MES.
Bata said that the AFP and the United States Indo-Pacific Command built the classroom as part of the engineering civic action project of this year's Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises.
"We are grateful to the 17IB for facilitating the donation of the solar panel system and water system for our school. This equipment will be of great help to all of us at MES, especially when our school starts in-person classes very soon," Bata said.
Reelected Vice Mayor lawyer Joel Ruma noted that Zinundungan Valley has no electric supply. He also said the area used to be a stronghold of the New People's Army.
"The bidding for the energization of the area is ongoing as well as coordination with the Cagayan Electric Cooperative," Ruma said, adding that the water system will be strategically placed near the school's entrance gate so that residents can also have access to potable water.
The vice mayor also said that the improving peace and order situation in Zinundungan Valley comprising the villages of Masi, San Juan and Bural has been the main reason why their communities have been chosen for infrastructure developments and assistance from various government agencies and stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Ruma said there is an ongoing concreting project of the Logac-Lasam-Gagabutan Road.
He said the stretch from Barangay Gagabutan going to Barangay San Juan has been completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
"Previously, whenever we talk of Zinundungan Valley, it was always about violence and war. We are so thankful to the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army for making Zinundungan Valley peaceful now," he said, acknowledging the cooperation of the whole village.
Meanwhile, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) Director Phlormelinda Olet also urged parents and youth-attendees to sustain Zinundungan Valley's status as an insurgency-cleared area.
"Let us not fall into their trap of deceitful recruitment so we won't experience hardships in life. We have talked to many former rebels and their testimonies proved how bad it is to become a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF," Olet said.
The CPP-NPA-NDF stands for Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front.
The government's whole-of-nation approach strategically addresses the needs of underdevelopment in areas affected by armed conflict.