PEACE Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ) officially turned over a six-wheeler truck to a Subanon tribal community in a simple ceremony held on Saturday, July 28 at its office along San Jose Road, this city.

The ceremony was led by PAZ President Fr. Angel Calvo and Subanon’s Gokum-Sog Pito Kodulungan Timuay Noval Lambo. Also witnessing were some members of the Subanon’s women group called Western Subanon Women Association of Zamboanga Peninsula (WESWAZPEN), a proponent of the project.

According to Fr. Calvo, the P600-thousand worth truck will be used for transporting goods of the Subanon community from Lintangan in Sibuco town and neighboring villages to downtown Zamboanga.

“This is to help them uplift their livelihood, in transporting their goods and hopefully improved their living status,” Fr. Calvo said.

“Daku na gud na siya’s tabang sa among community,” said WESWAZPEN’s Sulina Taugiag.

“This is really helpful for us, especially in transporting our products down,” added Ms. Elsie Mudai, project director of WESWAZPEN.

Magdalena Alviar added: “The WESWAZPEN will really maintain this precious gift we have received.”

The truck was financed by the Spain-based foundation Manos Unidas, which has been helping and funding poverty-alleviation projects in different parts of the country including the Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan province.

Leading the Subanon blessing was Timuay Nanding Mudai, while Fr. Calvo said a thanksgiving prayer.

Timuay Noval Lambo, gulang gukom, also said, “We assure PAZ that the truck will be taken cared of and that it will be property used to improve the Subanon’s way of living,” he said.

Also present during the simple ceremony were PAZ vice-president Dr. Grace Rebollos, PAZ executive secretary Sr. Emma I. Delgado, IRSMP’s Jaafar Kimpa, and other PAZ staff.

The vehicle will also have its formal blessing in Lintangan on August 13. The project is also supported by US-based Catholic Relief Services – Mindanao (CRS).