Army pushes trainings for OSYs to prevent them joining the NPA

By Larry Lopez

PINUKPUK, Kalinga – To prevent out-of-school youtha from being recruited to the New People’s Army, the army sought assistance from the provincial government for the conduct of skills training for them.

Lt. Col Prudencio Dimas of the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion said because OSYs stay idle, they are prey to the recruitment campaign of insurgents.

Making the youth productive by giving them livelihood skills is an effective deterrent for them to join the communist movement, Dimas said.

He proposed that trainings be conducted here explaining that participants could not afford the expenses of going to training centers in Tabuk.

Seeing the increasing demand for labor by the booming construction industry, Dimas proposed trainings on masonry, plumbing and welding to the youth here. 

He offered army assistance for the training.