Soldiers visit gardening project in Diliman days after DND ended pact with UP

Troops from the 7th Civil Relations Group of the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday visited the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman to inspect their urban gardening project.

The visit was conducted days after the Department of National Defense (DND) decided to unilaterally abrogate the accord with the university banning military and police forces inside the campus if there is no coordination.

In a photo posted by GMA News reporter Chino Gaston on Twitter on Wednesday morning, military trucks and personnel could be seen entering the UP Arboretum.

Military trucks and personnel from AFP NCR COMMAND visit their urban gardening project inside the UP Arboretum in Quezon City a day after DND cancelled the UP-DND accord meant to keep troops away from the campus. pic.twitter.com/6SE6kl9otj

— Chino Gaston (@chinogaston) January 20, 2021

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, group commander Major Frank Sayson pointed out that the intention of their visit is for nation building.

“Nandito po tayo ngayon dahil gusto po nating ipakita na mali 'yung mga sinasabi at sa mga speculation na bawal talaga ‘yung military dito sa Barangay UP Campus,” Sayson said.

“Ang sabi nga namin, itong ginagawa natin sa nation building, nagre-reach out ang AFP sa iba’t ibang sector especially sa pamunuan ng UP,” he added.

Sayson said former UP chancellor Fidel Nemenzo approved the implementation of the project for six months, from July to December 2020. The project could be extended after review, the group said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the 7th Civil Relations Group said the “Raise to One Million Gardens in NCR” has expanded into six community gardens within Barangay UP Campus.

AFP NCR personnel get new lease on their six urban gardens within UP property in Quezon City. Project started last March snd aims to help informal settlers during time of pandemic. pic.twitter.com/8oOUbJMguf

— Chino Gaston (@chinogaston) January 20, 2021

“Amid the controversies surrounding the abrogation of the 1989 DND-UP accord, the 7th Civil Relations Group of the  Civil Relations Service of the AFP has been constantly entering Barangay UP Campus and the UP Diliman campus itself,” the group said.

“During the GCQ and new normal where almost everyone lost their income and sources of livelihood, the 7CRG introduced the ‘Raise to One Million Gardens in NCR,’” it added.

According to the group, the local communities in Barangay UP Campus accepted its “Hardin Hero Challenge” to maintain and sustain their gardens that will supply them vegetables, herbal and medicinal plants as well as fruits. 

On Tuesday, UP president Danilo Concepcion underscored that the unilateral termination of the DND-UP pact on the ban on entry of state forces in UP campuses was unnecessary and unwarranted.

Through a protest on Tuesday, the UP community denounced the termination of the decades-old agreement with the government.

They gathered at the Quezon Hall raising placards and banners with statements espousing academic freedom and denouncing militarization. —KG, GMA News