TF Davao’s 10 years show it has evolved

By EJ Dominic Fernandez
“Ice cream! Ice cream!”
Like in an election campaign, this was the joyful shout of eager children in the city’s 76-A Purok 1 while ice cream in tin cans was being delivered by personnel of Task Force Davao which was celebrating its 10th founding anniversary April 16.
This is among the goals of TF Davao, to reach out to the community, because it used to be that once upon a time residents, especially the children, would shy away from contact with soldiers, said 2Lt. Chrystin Pamplona.
“On our last civic activity here last February 24, residents and children kept their distance when we (TF Davao) arrived because they thought that we were here to take them and their parents away,” she added.
“instead of having a blast to celebrate our 10th anniversary, we opted to help and conduct outreach programs in Purok 1 barangay 76-A which is our adopted community by giving free medical/dental services to residents, circumcision for boys, as well as feeding and gift-givingm” she said.
TF Davao gave away 1000 packs of relief goods to victims of the recent fire incident in the area, 100 pairs of slippers, 500 toys, and 100 pairs of correctional eye glasses.
On the other hand, 150 people received medical services, another 150 received dental services, and 55 children received free circumcision in the area on that day.
Pamplona said that in the last 10 years, TF Davao had evolved from focusing on security and counter-terrorism programs in Davao City to providing humanitarian services to the community by adopting Purok 1 for starters.
With the theme “Task Force Davao: Usa ka-dekadang pagserbisyo kontra terorismo, alang sa kalinaw ug kalambuan sa Dakbayan”, the unit aims to maximize their celebration through humanitarian services with more than 1,500 residents of Brgy. 76-A Bucana benefitting from the outreach program of Task Force Davao.
TF Davao will be conducting more community outreach programs in barangay 76-a, according to Pamlona, adding, “we want them to know that we are here to help, especially the children whose parents are detainees.”
“Instead of going through the cycle of arresting criminals in barangay 76-a, Purok 1, we organize, unite and develop their community to prevent crime and get more information about the activities of unlawful entities in the place,” according to Adapting a System for Independent Growth (Barangay ASTIG) program coordinator SPO4 Maria Rosario Suarez.
During the outreach activities, a simultaneous event took place when TF Davao turned over a computer set to the barangay’s ASTIG Learning Center. The computer set was a donation by the Davao Lion’s Club, Entrepreneur chapter.
Joel, a 10-year old boy who lined up to get his scoop of ice cream, said he was happy and thanked TF Davao for helping them.