CHILD FRIENDLY ARMY CAMP NOW OFFICIAL CAMPING SITE FOR THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AURORA

BALER, AURORA – The child friendly camp of 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion based at Barangay Calabuanan, Baler, Aurora is now declared an official camping site for the Girl Scouts of Aurora after the successful six (6) day 19^th Provincial GSP Aurora Chapter Encampment with a theme of: Girls Worldwide say, “Together we can change our world”, that was held yesterday inside the three (3) hectare army camp attended by around one thousand (1,000) junior and senior campers from different municipalities of the Province. It was the second time that the GSP council requested for the Army to host the encampment.

LTC ESCARCHA said that the level of trust and confidence of the people of Aurora to their soldiers is really getting high. “It’s so wonderful to see soldiers being the role model of the Girl Scouts and granting the request of the council, this camp will now be their official camping site.” LTC ESCARCHA added. Prominent guests and speakers like Hon. Arthur Angara, Municipal Mayor of Baler, Mr. Alex Ocampo, the Provincial Administrator and representative of Hon. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Governor of Aurora, Dr. Gereno Antonio, GSP-Commissioner on Administration Schools Division Superintendent and Mrs. Erlinda Esteban, the GSP Aurora Chapter Council President imparted lessons to the participants during the opening and closing ceremony. Angara said that the kind of reformation that the Army has established made a significant change in the perception of the people towards a typical army soldier. Esteban also said that the reason why they wanted to hold the encampment inside the military camp was due to the safety of the participants and the parents feel secured for their children to be guarded by the members of 48IB.

During the encampment, the soldiers shared their skills in basic first aid lessons, survival training, obstacle and rope courses, knot tying and other team building activities. The Girl Scouts even had the experience riding the V150 armored vehicle around the camp’s vicinity. One significant event hosted by the unit was the film showing activity regarding the recruitment of minors perpetrated by the Communist Terrorist. The young campers were also   taught on how to protect themselves from identified left-leaning student organizations that is considered as sources of Communist Terrorist cadres.         

LTC ESCARCHA said that making the camp an official camping site for the Girl Scouts will eventually end possible NPA recruitment of minors in the far flung barangays even if the Communist bandits will attempt to recover the Province. “We will always protect these children by teaching them on how to protect themselves and help them achieve their goals in making Aurora a better place for them.” LTC ESCARCHA added.