Around 150 IP children of Sitio Landing, Brgy Camam-onan, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte received help from the youth group of Propelling Our Inheritance Nation Through Youth Inc (POINTY) together with 30th Infantry (Fight On) Battalion, Philippine Army on August 1, 2020.
The youth group of POINTY INC and 30IB was able to deliver one hundred fifty three (153) sets of Hygiene Kits and Face Masks to the IP children that can mitigate the spread of pandemic disease COVID-19 in the far flung areas.
The group utilized a Habal-habal motor vehicle and traveled around 30 kms from the National Highway in the river and took a half kilometer walk traversing a rugged trail that only carabaos and horses can trudge just to get access on the said area.
The residents of Sitio Landing were grateful with the presence of the Youth POINTY and the Soldiers. A certain Nikka Mae S Torres an IP Youth heartily expressed her gratitude while witnessing the distribution of Hygiene Kits & face masks. She said “this is the first time, that I saw youth organization helping and reaching out our communities despite the hardships and difficulties in reaching the area, Daghang Salamat”
It can be noted that Sitio Landing was identified as an influenced area & a regular supply corridor of the CPP NPA Terrorist Group (CNT’s) until the Community Support Teams of 30IB were deployed in the area of which government basic services and assistance from other private and civil organizations started to pour in where most of the IP communities had benefitted with.
In his statement, Mr. Israel M. Yabut stressed out that as the entire country is facing this pandemic covid-19, we in our own ways and capabilities with the assistance of the 30IB and LGUs we will continue to reach out our fellow kababayans particularly those residing in far flung areas such as Sitio Landing, Camam-onan assuring them that they were not forgotten.
Lt Col Ryan Charles G Callanta, Commanding Officer of 30IB expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the POINTY INC “First of all, I would like to commend our youths from POINTY INC. for initiating this kind of activity to reach out those who were in the far flung areas. It is just a simple activity but its impact will inspire the youth to be a model in giving selfless service to others rather than being deceived and be recruited as a child warrior by the CNTs. As one of the government’s representatives let me assure everyone that 30IB along with the other agencies, private sectors and civil societies that we are fully committed to pursue peace and provide secured environment amid this covid19 pandemic so that progress and development will move forward in this part of our country.” (RPN DXKS Surigao)
(Source: 30th Infantry (Fight On) Battalion, Philippine Army)