DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 5, 2012) – Philippine troops and students and their teachers have participated in the Harvest Festival in the southern province of Davao Oriental, an army spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Lt. Ice Achanzar said the festival yielded over 30 kilos of bitter gourd and 1,000 bundles of Chinese cabbage from the 400-square meter of vegetable farm in the town of Lupon.
She said government militias and soldiers from the 72nd Infantry Battalion were joined by students and teachers from the Tagugpo High School, including village officials. The farm is where the army maintains a patrol base on the request of municipal officials and civilians to protect them from lawless elements.
Achanzar said military detachment “Gulayan” is among the model projects on vegetable production using organic fertilizer especially prepared by the CAFGU Active Auxiliary and army soldiers who were trained by the Department of Agriculture.
Lt. Benedict Joy Corpuz, commander of the battalion’s Bravo Company, said they would extend technical expertise and manpower to train and assist the so-called “Gulayan sa Paaralan Projects’ and will expand this to other areas.
“We hope to motivate and organize youth and students to support Gulayan sa Paaralan Project and hopefully encourage them to bring the technology in their respective homes having Davao Oriental being rich in agricultural lands,” Col. Reuben Basiao, the battalion commander, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner..
Basiao said they are putting efforts to transform the CAFGU Active Auxiliary, involving in various community-based activities to support the local chiefs in their respective areas in creating productive and secure communities. (Mindanao Examiner)
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