More than 30 Ata Manobo indigenous peoples (IP) communities in the municipality of Talaingod will soon be lighted up with the 400 units of solar lights donated by the Jose V. Ongpin Foundation Inc, coursed through the 1003rd Inf. Brigade of the Philippine Army.
In an interview with the media, 1003rd Inf Bde commander, Brig General Consolito Yecla called the project as “Suga para sa Katawhan” (Light for the People) providing lighting facility for 32 IP communities along the 27.2 kilometer-stretch of man-made, hand and shovel road locally known among the Ata-Manobo IPs as “pan-pan”.
Some 15 units were made functional during the ceremonial light up at twilight yesterday at Sitio Nasilaban in Brgy Palma Gil in the presence of some tribal leaders and villagers.
Addressing some tribal leaders and IP members during the light up ceremony, Yecla said that the road and the solar lights might not be the solution to all the concerns of the IP communities long been under the influence of the communist terrorist group.
“Itong suga ug panpan, di nato masulti nga ito na yong maka solve sa lahat ng problema ninyo (This light and road, would not solve all your problems), he said while emphasizing possibilities were made to light up far-flung IP communities and to open up new trails connecting sitios.
“So kung kaya nating bigyan ng kalsada, kaya nating bigyan ng ligjhts, kaya din nating mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan yong ating mga pamilya at mga anak (So if we can provide roads and can provide lights, we can also provide bright future for our families and children),” he pitched the challenge.
Yecla set the timeline of installing all the 400 solar lights of 300 watts within one month with the assistance of IP community members and elements of the 56th Infantry Battalion based in the Municipality of Talaingod.
He was banking on the IP community key leaders and barangay officials to safeguard the installed solar lights.
In his testimony during the light up rites, Palma Gil Brgy Kagawad Intot Juan profusely thanked the military, the police and the JV Ongpin Foundation for the solar lights.
He shared the feeling of being responsible of taking care of the solar lights and other projects of the government, citing these as the roots of their long time aspired progress for their communities.
“Kitang mga katawhan diri, nanghinaut ko nga ampingan jud nato ni. Tabangan jud nato ni. Kining gihatag sa ato sa gobyerno, Kinahanglan ato jud ning atimanon. (We residents here, I am hoping that we will take care what have been given us by the government. We will help this),” he said. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)
