Kalinga sa Bayan, "Kauswagan is not a sanctuary of war but of peace"

Kalinga sa Bayan, “Kauswagan is not a sanctuary of war but of peace”

By Jun Enriquez

Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, August 2, 2015 – There were 299 children from 13 barangays with at least 23 children participants from each Barangay attended the Kalinga sa Bayan ng Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte conducted on August 1-2, 2015, held at the Kauswagan Central Elementary School this town, spearheaded by the 15th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, led by Lt. Col. Leomar Jose Doctolero, Battalion Commander. Kalinga sa Bayan is an activity for children and the youth to capacitate them through leadership training as part of the Internal peace and security program (IPSP) of the Armed forces of the Philippines. The two-day program covers activities, the Bihis bayani choreography, Drug forum by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) by the Youth for Development (Y4D), First Aid training, Paraisong Pambata, Football clinic, and dance workshop. The participants received certificate of participation during the two-day activity. 

Fatima C. Asum, School Principal

During the culmination on August 2, Fatima C. Asum, School Principal of Kauswagan Central Elementary School, said the Kalinga sa bayan ng Kauswagan is one way that planted the seeds of love. She said “the children and youth participants are not here to enjoy but to learn from the activity”. She also urged the out-of-school youth to enroll in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and skills training program. She said the youth is the hope of the nation. She thanked the 15^th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army for holding the Kalinga sa Bayan activity and greeted the children participants wish good luck.

Workshop with Lynn Rose Genon with a smile

Mr. Dionesio Fuentes, Administrator of the local government of Kauswagan represented Mayor Rommel Arnado, said there is no peace when there is no development. He said that Gawad Kalinga is about housing and it’s not only physical about housing but the moral lesson is to build the good future of the youth. Fuentes recalled the conflict happened in Kauswagan in the past decades rooted on misunderstanding and disagreements, a painful experienced from the past among the Muslims and Christians. He said the objective of the Mayor is to collapse the wall of biases and install the bridge of peace. The wall of biases divided the people of Kauswagan. Fuentes said the youth is the hope of the fatherland. He said Mayor Arnado is motivated not by his self-interest but looking for the future of Kauswagan to have a peaceful community to live in. He said peace starts in the family. The local government is committed for development programs for the youth

 

Dionesio Fuentes, Municipal Administrator

Fuentes said the Kalinga sa Bayan is not the end of the journey to become Kauswagan a peaceful community. The Kalinga sa Bayan is part of the transformation process in the municipality with presence of multi sectoral approach, the military, civil society organizations (CSOs), education sector and other stakeholders, to prevail the culture of peace and break the culture of violence. Fuentes said that Kauswagan is not a sanctuary of war but a sanctuary of peace. He reiterated when there is no peace there is no development.

In his message, Lt. Col. Leomar Jose Doctolero, Battalion Commander of the 15 Infantry Battalion Philippine Army, extended his thanks to the local government of Kauswagan, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Jollibee, Youth for development (Y4D), the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police (PNP), Magbalantay Press Corps of the 2^nd Mechanized Brigade, Barangay Chairmen, Department of Education, Gawad Kalinga and other stakeholders.

At left, Lt. Col. Leomar Jose Doctolero, delivered a message

Doctolero said “we are here to give happiness to the children”. He said the children is the hope of the nation and empower them to promote peace in Kauswagan, through the unity of the Muslims and Christians and become good citizens in the country. Doctolero said Kauswagan municipality is the seventh held Kalinga sa Bayan activity in their area of responsibility. The 15^th IB is based in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. During the previous peace gathering, the people of Kauswagan led by Mayor Arnado supported the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in congress to give peace a chance for Mindanao. The children and the youth enjoyed the military band joining songs and dances.With reports from Phil Paalan, Photos by Malyne Gungob.