Army troopers vow to protect peace and order in NegOr
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 14 (PIA) --- “Government troops will not be deterred by attempts of the New People’s Army (NPA) to disrupt peace and development initiatives in Negros Oriental.”
This was the statement issued by Lt. Col. Wilfredo Isaac, commanding officer of the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Brgy. McKinley, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental following an encounter between government and NPA forces recently.
On May 12, a firefight erupted between the soldiers of the 11th Infantry Battalion and NPA members at Sitio Natae, Brgy. Bucalan, Canlaon City around 7:30 a.m.
Isaac said the troopers were conducting security patrol and dialogue with the sitio residents when they received information that one of the houses in the area is harboring members of an NPA hit squad..
It was when the government soldiers went to said house to investigate that a clash took place between the rebel and government forces, wounding one 11IB soldier.
The firefight lasted for five minutes when the rebel members fled, leaving behind two dead bodies identified as Argie Villasa and Elmer Canete, allegedly members of the NPA liquidation squad known as Platoon Budlas, said Isaac.
Recovered from the dead rebels were two caliber .45 pistols.
Isaac said the battalion remains “steadfast and committed to our mandate of protecting the people.” (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from Capt. Ariel Quirog)
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Army holds 6th Youth Leadership Summit
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 14 (PIA) --- A total of 54 youths from Brgy. Talaban in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental recently attended the 6th Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) spearheaded by the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion based in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
The summit dubbed “Bayanihan Para Sa Kinabukasan ng mga Kabataan” was held May 2 to 4, 2012 at Brgy. Talaban Elementary School.
The participants were composed of six out-of-school youths, 42 in-school youths, and six college graduates.
The three-day summit was held to develop a sense of nationalism among the youths.
“It was designed to awaken and promote social and civic sensitivities among the young people and help them construct critical understanding of themselves and their responsibilities,” said 11IB Civil Military Operations Officer Capt. Ariel Quirog.
Lectures, action planning, interactive discussions, and team-building activities were held during the summit focusing on the role of the youth in nation-building.
Topics tackled during the sessions were environmental protection, drug substance abuse, spiritual and moral values, human rights, and the “deceptive strategies used to recruit youths and students”, said Quirog.
He said the battalion will also conduct similar peace advocacy campaigns geared towards youths in other parts of the country.
The leadership summit was held by the 11th IB in partnership with Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, and different religious sectors. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Silliman University to host Soil Science Society confab
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 14 (PIA) -- Silliman University’s College of Agriculture will host this year’s 15th Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology (PSSST) annual conference, themed “Soil Science in Nation-Building,” from May 15 to 18.
The conference is expected to gather policy makers and PSSST members representing the academe, government, and private sectors nationwide to discuss the issues and developments affecting soil utilization and management.
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Director Dr. Norlito R. Gicana will serve as the keynote speaker.
Plenary presentations will also be delivered by Dr. Kazuyuki Inubushi of Chiba University in Japan and Dr. Somchai Anusontpornperm of Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Also lined up are technical sessions featuring different case studies conducted by PSSST members, namely, “Models for Major Soil Series in Upland Non-Rise-Based Farming Systems in Batangas,” “Fermented Papaya Fruit Juice as Organic Liquid Fertilizer for Bush Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris),” “Effect of Miracle Soil Conditioner in Traditional Rice Ballatinaw Production,” “Land Resource Information System of Cagayan Valley, Philippines: A Guide for Sustainable Agricultural Production System,” and “Land Degradation Assessment in the Philippines Using the Fao-Lada Land Use System Approach: Current Status and Way Forward.”
The conference will cap with PSSST members electing its new set of officers and members of the Board of Trustees. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from Mark Garcia)