MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Wednesday said that the government continues to reap gains on its whole-of-nation approach to end local insurgency while providing job opportunities to former rebels.
“Atong gipaninguha nga atong matabangan ang atong Presidnete para sa lakang niya nga masolbad ang problema sa insurhensiya [We are making an effort to support our President in his aim to resolve the problem of insurgency],” he said in an interview.
He noted that the 403rd Infantry Brigade and the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 advocate Adlai production and processing as potential livelihood projects for former rebels.
Secretary Andanar is the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) of Northern Mindanao.
“Sa atong rehiyon, dako kaayo ang mga lakang ug mga achievement sa atong gobyerno para masolbad ang insurgency. So mao nang katong mga nisurrender, ninaog sila gikan sa bukid ug natagaan nato og trabaho. Dunay uban pud atong atong napaeskwela, samtang ang uban nahimong farmers [In our region there are many government initiatives and accomplishments to address insurgency. There were those who went down from the mountains to surrender and we have provided them with job opportunities. There were others who enrolled to study, while others became farmers],” he said
Last December, Secretary Andanar and DA Undersecretary for Regulations, Engr. Zamzamin L. Ampatuan attended the Adlai Ceremonial Harvest at Camp Osito Bahian in Malaybalay City.
Upon his return to Manila, the PCOO chief brought with him 1 ton of Adlai in an effort to promote it to other Cabinet Secretaries and foreign dignitaries with whom he had engagements.
“Namalit ta og mga Adlai nila para matabangan nato ang rebel returnees sa pagbaligya nila ug gapadayon pud ta og order sa 403rd IB, para ato pong mapadali ang kinabuhi sa atong reel returnees ug ato pong mapromte ang ilang produkto [We bought Adlai to help our rebel returnees and we continue to order through the 403rd IB, to make life easier for former rebels and likewise promote their products],” Secretary Andanar said.
Adlai production is now also replicated in the Caraga region for their implementation of projects under their Regional Task Force Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC). This has served as another alternative staple food and livelihood for farmers, indigenous peoples, and families in communities identified as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).
The said crop is also commercially produced because of its nutritional value.
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