BUTUAN CITY -- Top officials of the Philippine Army in Caraga Region welcomed the decision of the Department of Education in Davao Region (DepEd-11) to shut down the operations of Salugpungan schools in Region 11.
In an order announced on Tuesday, DepEd-11 pointed out that the closure of the 55 Salugpungan Ta’Tanu Iskanogon Community Learning Center Inc. (STTICLCI) schools was based not only on its links to the New People’s Army (NPA) but also due to various regulatory violations, deficiencies, and compliance issues.
In a phone interview on Tuesday, Army Maj. Francisco P. Garello, civil-military operations officer of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, bared that most of the tribal schools in Surigao del Sur are being run by the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and livelihood Development, Inc. (ALCADEV) and the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur, Inc. (TRIFPSS).
Garello said two of the indigenous peoples (IP) schools in the region are located in the town of San Miguel and in the hinterland Barangay Maitom in Tandag City.
“We hope of similar measure from authorities concerned here, particularly from the DepEd,” Garello said, adding that initiatives are being done by government agencies, including the DepEd, the local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders in giving information to IP communities on the benefits of sending their children to government-run schools.
“All of these information drive activities are being supported by the tribal leaders, especially those who want their children educated in government schools,” he said.
Garello added that the information drives have been proven effective as more IP children are now enrolled in government schools.
During the dissemination drives, he said the Army provides the necessary information and facts on how the tribal schools are often being used as breeding grounds of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the NPA.
Garello also lauded the effort of the DepEd in Surigao del Sur, especially in their participation in the Army-led information drives in IP communities.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
