FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – The 71st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion (71IB), of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division (7ID), Philippine Army in partnership with the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) conducted simultaneous outreach activity among Indigenous People’s ((IP) schools in line with the Indigenous People’s month celebration and a three-day community rebuilding program in Tubo, Abra last October 7, 11, and 14, 2022.
The community outreach was launched with the theme, “Pagmamahal sa Edukasyon, Kaagapay sa Pagbangon ng Bayang Tubo”, and aims to uplift the wellbeing of IPs in the locality following the 7.0 magnitude quake that hit northern Luzon last July.
A total of 154 IP pupils of Maeng Tribe from Likowan Primary School, Amtuagan Elementary School, Kili Elementary School and Tabacda Primary School benefited from the said activity just in time for the face-to-face classes.
Soldiers from 71IB together with policemen from Tubo Municipal Police Station distributed school supplies, reading books, hydration kit, clothes and toys for each IP pupil.
Moreover, Kaibigan troopers conducted fun games and feeding activity. Kaibigan troopers also handed over school supplies and teaching aids for teachers of the said IP schools as a commemoration of the recent world teachers’ day.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael B Bautista, Commanding Officer of 71IB said,
“The collaboration and partnership of soldiers with various agencies and private partners in providing necessary help to affected communities like Tubo municipality has been one of the priorities of oir troops in delivering immediate assistance and other services”.
It can be recalled that 71IB together with DevCom Society of Benguet State University, PMA and Operation Blessing Foundation of the Philippines delivered various assistance such as food supplies, tons of vegetables, hygiene kits, and clothing for the past couple of months for the quake-affected families in Tubo, Abra.
Meanwhile, Major General Andrew D Costelo, Commander of 7ID commended the initiative of the different government and non-government organizations in uplifting the morale and welfare of the people in the affected communities in the area of responsibility of 7ID.
