LAGONGLONG, MISAMIS ORIENTAL — Ann Macabecha dreams of becoming a police woman.
It was expected for kids her age in Sitio Curnao, Barangay Umagos, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental to aspire to becoming a uniformed personnel as military personnel visibly roam their village to ensure peace in the area. Sitio Curnao may be a quiet, upland village with 22 households but it was previously a conflicted area and a former safe haven of terrorist groups.
Sitio Curnao has no electricity, no signal, and its only mode of transportation was by foot or horseback. But Ann remained bubbly and positive in her outlook in life. Now in fourth grade, she works toward her dream by walking to school for one hour every day. On weekends, she would help her family collect fallen coconuts and sell them at P20 per kilo. A portion of the sale will become Ann’s allowance to school.
Ann was one of the 72 children provided with modest school supplies by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 during the Information and Basic Services Caravan held in Sitio Curnao, Barangay Umagos, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental last February 24, 2023.
Organized by the Regional Association for Government Communicators-Northern Mindanao (RAGCOM-NM) through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 10 and in coordination with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB) Philippine Army, the caravan was intended to help restore the community and change lives.
It was also participated by various line agencies, stakeholders, and non-government organizations that extended different essential services to the neighborhood of Sitio Curnao and its neighboring communities.
Aside from the school supplies, DTI-10 additionally provided the children with vernacular information-education materials on the eight consumer rights and five consumer responsibilities. This is to educate the children into becoming empowered consumers by teaching them their consumer rights and responsibilities at a young age.
Leopoldo Cadano, Jr., one of the beneficiaries, expressed how grateful he is for the assistance received for his family including the school supplies for his five-year old grandson.
“Malipayon kaayo ming mga tao diri nga nahatagan mi sa mga nagkalain-laing ahensya sa gobyerno. Dako kaayo akong pasalamat (We are very happy for the assistance given by the different government agencies. I am very grateful).”♦
Date of Release: 27 February 2023