In an effort to support and value the future of young Lumads and out of school youths, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) has leveled up its online classes to be given to indigenous people’s (IPs) youths, a military official said Wednesday.
The military even said the equipment installed at the Mobile Computer Laboratory (MCL) van were all functional and now ready to accommodate the IPs and out-of-school youths in the Caraga region.
4ID’s public affairs chief Captain Al Anthony Pueblas said the program was initiated by the Philippine Army in collaboration with other agencies and local government units.
He said the laboratory is a 40-footer fully-air-conditioned container van assembled with 21 high-technology computers, gadgets, and other equipment intended for Basic Computer Literacy learning.
“”Its purpose is to provide access to computer education to the marginalized sectors of the community especially the IP and OSY,” said Pueblas.
Pueblas said the 4ID continues its aim towards promoting online and computer literacy among the IP youths under the Project Gabay Aral sa Kabataang Lumad.
The training, Pueblas said is also in line with the EO No. 70 mandated by Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte which institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace and development to various conflict-affected areas.
“While people particularly the youths are prohibited to roam everywhere due to the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, thus this online program,” Pueblas said.
Pueblas added the project intended to deliver the most basic educational services and computer literacy to far-flung communities in Caraga and Northern Mindanao through the Community Support Program (CSP), benefiting the identified members of marginalized sectors.
The project MCLT, Pueblas added was officially launched on January 23, 2018, by the army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade, during the stint of Major General Franco Nemesio M Gacal as the Brigade Commander, with the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), and the local government unit of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
Maj. Gen. Gacal said that despite the current crisis situation, the Philippine Army continues to innovate with the advent of the new technology as a powerful means in communicating relevant information to the vulnerable IP sector.
“The 4ID always believe that the youths have a great role to play in society,” Gacal said, adding to continue to assist and guide the IPs youth, so that they become fully aware of the things they need to learn as they grow.
The Philippine Army would always see to it that their rights and welfare are protected, according to Gacal.
The 4ID chief further revealed that as soon as the situation gets better, the Mobile Computer Laboratory will again be running and more are expected to benefit from the said project.
After a month of training, MCLT graduates were already capable of doing the tasks such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Powerpoint operations.
Overwhelmed with how the project effectively works for the IP sector, Eddie “Datu Bawang” Ampiyawan, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Agusan del Norte of the Mamanwa tribe
expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Brigade for their MCL training as this training provided opportunities to young IP and OSY to learn the use of computers which have been of great benefit to the young people in their everyday lives.
“I was delighted to have been given the opportunity with his fellow Lumads and even to the non-IP graduates because he himself is a witness on the significant change in the life status of every graduate from the various training conducted by the Philippine Army in his area,” Ampiyawan said.
IPMR of Santiago, Agusan del Norte Datu Roldan Porogoy, also acknowledged the army’s MCL training, as the training has provided opportunities to young IPs and OSYs to learn and appreciate the basic use of computers, as well as the social media, which have been of great benefit to the young people in their everyday lives.
Based on records, there were more than 600 IPs and more than 600 OSYs in the Caraga region that have already benefited from the project. (Ben Balce)
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