THE 60TH Infantry Battalion (60IB) and the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Davao del Norte have forged a formal partnership to enhance literacy, numeracy, and community development among Ata-Manobo tribal communities in Talaingod.
Military and education officials formalized the pact through a memorandum of partnership agreement (MOPA) signed on October 20, 2026, at Camp Morgia in Barangay Doña Andrea, Asuncion, Davao del Norte.
The agreement officially establishes the “Mediator Paglaum Program: A Partnership for Literacy, Numeracy, and Community Empowerment,” operating under the theme “Papel ug Lapis, Dalan sa Kalinaw ug Kalambuan” (Paper and Pencil, The Path to Peace and Progress).
The program focuses on delivering accessible, high-quality, and culturally sensitive basic education to indigenous learners residing in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas across Talaingod.
Under the MOPA, the 60IB and DepEd will coordinate to provide instructional support, handle logistics, monitor learner progress, and implement learning programs tailored to indigenous youth.
Lieutenant Colonel Jesus L. Rosete, Commanding Officer of the 60IB, and Rebonfamil R. Baguio, Assistant Regional Director and concurrent Officer-in-Charge of the DepEd Davao del Norte Schools Division, led the signing ceremony.
In a joint statement, both institutions emphasized that all program activities will strictly adhere to child protection policies and the “Schools as Zones of Peace” framework, preserving the cultural identity of the Ata-Manobo tribe.
The military noted that the educational drive aligns with the government’s “Whole-of-Nation Approach,” positioning accessible basic education as a fundamental pillar for long-term peace and socio-economic resilience in conflict-vulnerable IP communities.