THE DEPARTMENT of Education in Agusan Del Norte has continued its collaboration with the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion to help out-of-school youth finish their studies through the Alternative Learning System.

The program aims to empower communities by making citizens more productive, self-reliant, and responsible.

“It also helps to alleviate poverty and sustain social and economic growth via the development of employable skills and the generation of self-employment,” the agency said.

Schools Division Superintendent Lorenzo Macasocol said that his agency is committed to work closely with the military to provide opportunities and develop basic and functional literacy skills of the out-of-school youth and adult learners.

23IB Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Balingao thanked DepEd-ADN, saying that peace and progress are needed for a community to prosper.

“If the community is peaceful, progress will follow. It’s not only the AFP alone that must address the issue on peace, security, and insurgency, it should be the whole nation where all stakeholders take part in it. Peace, Security, and Development is a shared responsibility,” he said.