CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela- Fifty-three children of former rebels received educational assistance from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Cagayan on January 30, 2023, at Captiol Grounds, Peñablanca, Cagayan.
Of the said number of beneficiaries, nine college students received 5,000 pesos each, 20 highschool students received 4,000 pesos each, and 24 elementary pupils received 3,000 pesos each.
Alias Rome, who received the assistance for his four children thanked the PSWDO. “Dalawa po ang kolehiyo ko, isa ang nasa highschool at isa ang nasa elementarya. Kung hindi po dahil sa tulong na ito, may posibilidad po na ilan sa mga anak ko ang tumigil na sa pag aaral.”
Additionally, alias Frank who has a college student and 2 elementary shared their struggles in sustaining the educational needs of of his children. “Mahirap po talaga, kaya nagpapasalamat ako na may ganitong programa na nakakatulong po sa amin. “Kaya sinabihan ko mga anak ko na mag aral mabuti para hindi na danasin ang dinanas naming madaling nalinlang ng komunistang teroristang NPA sa kanilang paghikayat na talikuran ang kinabukasan para sa kanilang armadong pakikibaka”.
The educational assistance was granted through the support of the 17th Infantry Battalion.
Meanwhile, the assistance is under the Local Government Empowerment Cluster of the Regional Task Force- End Local Communist Armed Conflict of Region 2.
