By
Franklin P. Gumapon
LABANGAN,
Zamboanga del Sur – One hundred fifty soldiers belonging to the
Philippine Army’s (PA) 1st Civil –Military Operations Battalion of the 1st
Infantry (Tabak) Division have attended a capability enhancement training held Friday
at the Tabak’s Club House, Camp Sang-an, Barangay Pulacan this municipality.
Invited
as resource speakers were Regional Director Noemi B. Edaga of the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA)-9 and her assistant, Franklin P. Gumapon, who talked
on development communication and basic newswriting, respectively.
Director
Edaga underscored the importance of development communication in carrying out
the tasks and programs of civil-military operations (CMO).
Edaga
said that any soldier could be a development communicator, as “development
communication involves communication practitioner who helps disadvantaged
people.”
Gumapon,
on the other hand, discussed the basics of newswriting before the participants.
He presented a sample news story and pointed out the important elements that
make for clear, interesting, complete news article.
Some
tips on preparing broadcast releases were also given to the participants.
The
1st Infantry (Tabak) Division covers the entire Western Mindanao including the
provinces of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte of Region 10 and Lanao del
Sur of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It is confronted with
all types of terrorist threats, according to its commanding officer, MGen.
Virigilio Trininidad, citing the presence of the Communist Party of the
Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), and Moro
rebels in the area.
Trinidad
finds it expedient to strengthen civil-military operations in every nook and
cranny to protect the people against terror groups and to fulfil the army’s
core purpose: “Serving the people, securing the land.” (PIA9)