The 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) of the Philippine Army has started distributing coconut seedlings as assistance to qualified farmers under their coconut dispersal project being implemented through the government’s End to Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program in the province of Aurora.

Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, commander of 91IB, in an interview on Wednesday said the troops target to distribute seedlings to 151 far-flung villages across the province.

He noted that they started the project by giving a total of 120 coconut seedlings to Solo Parents Association president Elizabeth B. Quijero and Indigenous Peoples Association president Carmina Q. Biag, both of Barangay Diteki, San Luis town last April 6.

The distribution was led by 1st Lt. Stewart A. Cerbo and Staff Sgt. Leonard M. Framil under the supervision of 1st Lt. Hamilton D. Dawaton.

“As part of the government’s ELCAC livelihood program, we at the 91IB could assure the public that appropriate government programs and services be delivered to respective communities. We will ensure that farmers will be well-empowered to actualize the government food sufficiency program amid these challenging times. Hence, we would like to give credit to Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), as one of our partner agencies, for providing this kind of contrivance and for the conscious efforts in improving agriculture in the province while encouraging the farmers to replicate the kind gesture by planting the seedlings given,” Rubio said.

The 91IB also facilitated the handing out of PCA enrollment forms to qualified coconut farmers that will help them avail of the different benefits under the agency’s programs.

Rubio also said through the ELCAC initiative, more farmers are eyed to be included in the projects and programs of various agencies in the agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, he renewed their call to remnants of the communist terrorist groups to “abandon the armed struggle and be with their families and loved ones”. (PNA)