The military has introduced a new dimension in its humanitarian campaign to the country’s most vulnerable sector, with soldiers directly engaging school children in at least five public schools in five towns and municipalities in Tarlac last Friday.
The paradigm shift is part of the Civil Military Operations dubbed as the “softer side” of its internal security operations and to ease the impact of the prevailing economic conditions of poor families in Tarlac.
Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, Philippine Army chief, led the initiation of the revitalized CMO by distributing gift packs to at least 805 school children in the province.
Aged 5 to 11, the children belonged to the “poorest of the poor” families in the province, where Bautista launched his military career as a senior Army officer by serving as chief of staff of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command in 2012.
“It’s part of the efforts of the Philippine Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to reach out to areas of our country, especially to those who have been deprived of opportunities like this,” Bautista said during the gift-giving activity.
The Army chief was joined in the distribution of gift packs to school children by Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, 7th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Felimon Santos, and Mechanized Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Gilbert Gapay.
The program was conducted in cooperation with the Tarlac Heritage Foundation and the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.
Myra Joy dela Cruz, 30, who accompanied her two children studying at the San Jacinto Elementary school in San Manuel, Tarlac during the program, said it was the best and the first gift so far they have received from the government, and it came from the Army.
“Of all people, it is the soldiers who have remembered us, our children,” she said.
Irene Rabang, 40, a Grade Six teacher, said the gift giving was the first she had encountered in her 15 years at the school.
“We are very thankful because our school, our pupils were beneficiaries. Thank you for the gift from the Army,” she said.
“The gifts are really needed, they are very timely because it is the difficult season,” Rabang added.
The children could not hide their joy during the program that when they were asked by Dr. Isa Cojuangco Suntay of the THF if who among them would like to become soldiers when they grow up, they all raised their hands.
“You are loved by your soldiers,” Suntay said.
Bautista said the Army will take on every opportunity to deliver its services to every peace stakeholder in the country.