Manjuyod residents avail of gov’t services in DL caravan

Representatives from TESDA-Negros Oriental facilitate the enrollment of some residents of Manjuyod town in their skills training and scholarship programs during the Duterte Legacy Caravan on May 1, 2022. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)

MANJUYOD, Negros Oriental, May 26 (PIA) -- Around 1,000 residents of Manjuyod town availed of various government services during the conduct of Duterte Legacy Caravan in their town recently.

Residents availed of free banana seedlings, fish fingerlings, fertilizers, rice and other relief items, slippers, free haircut services, enrollment to skills training and livelihood programs, among others during the said activity.

Participating government agencies include the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of the interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Agriculture, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Public Works and Highways Negros Oriental 1st Engineering District, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Municipal Government of Manjuyod.

The activity was led by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Negros Oriental.

Aside from extending government services to the grassroots, the activity aimed to impart the positive changes experienced by the people over the past five years under the Duterte Administration, said PNP Provincial Community Affairs and Development Unit Chief PLTCol. Ruben Verbo. 

Verbo cited one of the significant changes is the reduced crime rate in the country due to intensified anti-criminality operations of the police.

The activity also highlighted the government’s campaign against communist armed conflict.

The 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army brought three former rebels who shared the hardships they went through while they were still part of the communist-insurgent groups in Negros Oriental.

They also urged residents of Manjuyod to be careful in joining groups or organizations as these are allegedly used as legal fronts of the Communist-Terrorist-Group (CTG) New People’s Army (NPA).

“Likayan ra gud ninyo ang pag-recruit sa legal na movement nila sama sa mga rally, sa tree planting. Kon mosulod mo og usa ka organisasyon diha sa pamatan-on, kinahanglan inyong subayon kung unsa gyud ang nagdala ana. Naay uban organisasyon nga ang naglikod is NPA na sama sa ako nasudlan(Get to know first the background of the agency or organization you are joining. There are some organizations that are backed by NPAs and avoid being recruited in their legal movements such as rallies and tree planting),” said a former rebel who goes by the name “Ka Askay." 

She was one of the former rebels who gave their testimony during the event.

She admitted that she was recruited in the organization through an environmental group that has been used as a front of the NPA.

Manjuyod Mayor Felix Sy urged his constituents to continue supporting the government.

“Suportahi ning mga tawo na nagtinuod ug serbisyo. Ayaw mo itong mga tawo na nanaad ra. Ginusuportahan nato ang Philippine government og wala nay lain gobyerno (Let us support the people who genuinely serve us. Do not fall for those who just give promises. Let’s support the Philippine government because there is no other government here in the country),” Sy said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)