Duterte urges illegal loggers, NPA to help cut fallen trees in Odette-hit areas
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has urged “small-time” illegal loggers and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to help cut fallen trees in areas hit by Typhoon Odette.
“I am encouraging the illegal loggers, ‘yung mga small time, go back there. Somebody will take a census or whatever and make it a formal document, at ako ang magbayad sa trabaho ninyo (and I will pay you). I will get it somewhere, sa opisina ko, opisina ko na ang magbayad (my office will pay for you),” Duterte said in part two of his pre-recorded Talk to the People aired on Tuesday.
Duterte said illegal loggers who want to help the government cut fallen trees should secure certification from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“If you go there to cut fallen trees for the benefit of the people there, I will pay you. Tapatan ko ang bayad ng Maynila doon. Mag-akyat kayo sa bukid, tulungan ninyo ang gobyerno (I will pay you with the rate here in Manila. Go to the forest and help the government),” he added.
Duterte then urged members of the NPA to surrender to the government and also help in cutting fallen trees.
“Ang mga NPA, hoy, makinig kayo, ibaba ninyo muna ang armas, ibigay ninyo sa Army for safekeeping [and tell them], ‘Ibibigay ko ito, surrender ko lang kasi may trabaho ako para kay Duterte,” he said.
(You members of the NPA, listen to me, surrender your firearms to the Army for safekeeping and tell the soldiers you will surrender your firearms because you have a job for Duterte.)
“Sabihin mo sa sundalo, magsurrender ako sir, may dala akong ano dahil magtrabaho ako na I cut trees. Baka I will accept you, walang kaso, wala lahat. Wala akong ifile sa inyo. Bumaba kayo. This is my order to the military: If they want to surrender, give them the chance to surrender properly,” the President said.
(Tell the soldiers you will surrender and work to cut trees. I may accept you without filing a case. I won’t file anything against you. Just go down from the mountains. This is my order to the military: If they want to surrender, give them the chance to surrender properly.)
Duterte promised to provide housing and skills training for members of the NPA who will surrender.
“Just go to the Army. Alam na ng Army kung saan ka idedeliver. I can give you a house, bahay na, parang apartment, marami ako diyang maibigay. I will give you a house. I will give you a job. Temporary, may sweldo ka na,” he said.
(Just go to the Army. The Army knows where to take you. I can give you a house like an apartment. I can give you a lot. I will give you a house. I will give you a job. You will have a salary temporarily.)
“Kung wala kang alam sa skills, mag-enroll ka muna kay General [Isidro] Lapeña at ang Tesda (Technical Education And Skills Development Authority) ang magturo sa iyo kung anong klaseng trabaho ang gusto mo,” Duterte added.
(If you don’t know any skill, enroll first to General Lapeña and Tesda will teach you the job you want.)
RELATED STORIES:
Duterte to NPA rebels: Surrender, get houses, jobs
