MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – Selected students from 23 schools in the landlocked province of Bukidnon were recently given backpacks and school supplies

The 403rd Brigade in a press release said that the program was spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Davao Satellite Office through its special project called PagbaBAGo program.

Peoples’ Organizations (POs) and schoolchildren are the program’s intended beneficiaries.

A series of activities were held in conjunction with the planting of 2,000 Narra trees in Brgy. Kalasungay on November 8, 2023, which was followed by the distribution of backpacks containing school supplies to Bukidnon’s identified underprivileged schoolchildren from November 8-10, 2023.

A total of 4,019 school bags were provided to students from various schools in Malaybalay City (2,890 beneficiaries), Impasugong (973 beneficiaries), and Cabanglasan (156 beneficiaries).

Furthermore, the aforementioned operations were carried out in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Governor, the 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade, Bukas Kalinaw, 8th Infantry Infantry Battalion, 88th Infantry Battalion, and 16th Infantry Battalion under 402nd Infantry Brigade.

Ms. Regina Rose D. Tecson, the OVP Officer-in-Charge of the Davao-based satellite office noted that the Tree planting and distribution of bags are the flagship program of Vice President Sara Duterte that are shown to be beneficial to the community even during her term as Mayor of Davao City.

The OVP is optimistic that the bag distribution will encourage pupils to work hard despite their poverty and to harvest what they sow in the future.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Michele B Anayron Jr, commander of the 403rd Brigade, expressed gratitude to the Vice President for selecting Bukidnon, primarily in the Area of Responsibility of the 403rd Brigade, to be the beneficiary of the PagbaBAGo program.

“We in the Philippine Army in collaboration with the Bukas Kalinaw and other stakeholders and government agencies will continue to support in extending social services to the community for the sustainable peace and development effort in order to finally end the insurgency”, Anayron said. (melbmadera)