LAGANGILANG, Abra, Sunday March 13 – The 28-man platoon of soldiers led by 1Lt. Eddie Alcima graduated from their month-long training dubbed Oplan Bayanihan training course at the Tingguian Park of the 503rd Brigade Headquarters in Tagodtod,this town last March 11.

The certificates of training were awarded by Mayor Patrocinio B. Abaya Jr., who served as guest of honor and speaker during the graduation rites, and Col. Danny P. Pabunan, commanding officer of the 503rd Infantry “Justice and Peace” Brigade.

Pabunan also awarded certificates of appreciation to the guest lecturers during the training. The pool of lecturers from the local community was composed of Pol/Insp. Judy Palicos of the Abra Police Provincial Office, Prof. Ramelda B. Begnalen of the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology – Lagangilang Campus, Dr. Maria Teresa B. Beñas of the Philippine Information Agency, and Pastor Rodrigo P. Bandolin of the Abra Ministry Association.

The Bayanihan Training of the 503rd Brigade is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippine’s (AFP) way of “winning the peace” through civil military operations (CMO) rather than combat operations to prevent bloodshed. Since the military recognizes the great support that the civilians could contribute to this unique mechanism, Capt. Eduard Sia-ed, CMO officer continuously sustains the brigade’s linkages with the community.

The Bayanihan training is actually designed as a one-year training course with various components and modules. The lectures and workshops are given only at a certain time during the training period. Community immersion is also integrated in the training design to give the trainees a holistic perspective of the concept of the Bayanihan training which leads to a more intensified and realistic approach of winning the peace through civil military operations.

The training also takes into account how the military could support the efforts and initiatives of the local government units (LGU) where they are assigned.

Since the LGU of Lagangilang as well as that of the provincial government is working towards the promotion of local tourism that would contribute to the theme “WOW Abra” of the provincial government’s annual festival, the trainees also put up their own mini park which they named the “Tingguian Park in the 503rd Brigade Headquarters”, something that would catch the eyes of passers-by. *(PIA CAR/Abra)