LUNA, Apayao – The Community Investigative Support (CIS) celebrated its 13th Founding Anniversary to commemorate the heroic actions of its members in helping the communities where they exist through volunteerism through the conduct of the CIS Luzon Summit held in Luna, Apayao on August 17.
CIS is a non-profit, non-government organization originally organized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) by then PDIR General Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr (Ret.), and whose work focuses on aiding communities.
Some of its volunteer activities are CIS Cares CIS Shares, Dugong CIS (Blood donation drive), One, Two, Tree Let’s Grow (Tree Growing), Oplan Kaluluwa, Clean-up Drive, Brigada CISkwela, Responsible Gun Ownership Advocacy, Balik CISkwela, CIS Rescue, Oplan Lakbay-Alalay, Balik CISkwela, CISCOLAR HOPE (Creating Opportunities for Learning Assistance & Responsibility-Helping Others Pursue Education), Safety Riding Advocacy Project/CIS Riders, Stakeholders Partnership and CIS Marshals.
During the event, the CIS Founding Father & Chairman Emeritus, Atty. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr., serving as the guest of honor and speaker, underscored the lessons learned and challenges faced by the organization as well as how God’s grace enabled each one to continue the work for the community.
“Anniversaries are moments to look back at the past, we should learn lessons, there were many challenges but despite that, we are still here by God’s grace, and we continue to give what is due to the community. Let us continue to do so”, Pagdilao remarked.
Moreover, some of the CIS’s stakeholders-partners such the local government unit of Lasam, Cagayan, Provincial Government of Apayao, Apayao Provincial Tourism Office, PNP units, 17th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army and CIS members who have exemplary contributions to the accomplishments of the organization were also given plaques of commendations.
Other guests present were Apayao Vice Governor Remy Albano and CIS Region 2 President Percival Atal.
Albano, who represented Governor Elias “Butzy” C. Bulut, Jr., hailed the CIS as the primary Civil Society Organization (CSO) partner of the Provincial Government of Apayao because of its various volunteering activities being initiated in the entire province.
Meantime, Apayao Police Provincial Office Director, Police Colonel Jefferson Cariaga said “CIS has been the only civil society organization who is easy to tap on and is very dependable during big events in the province. We will always be supportive of CIS’s programs and projects.”
Apart from the commemoration, various activities such as boating & trekking, cultural show and basic first aid training at Lussok Cave, tree growing and responsible gun ownership training at Apayao Police Provincial Office firing range were conducted.
Pagdilao commended the delegates for their active participation. He also commended the event organizers for the very successful event.
On the other hand, CIS Apayao President Sheila Thelma Dacumos, spearheading the hosting of the event, expressed gratitude to the Provincial Government of Apayao, saying “We have accepted the challenge to be the host for this year’s CIS Luzon Summit because we saw it as an opportunity for us to showcase how rich our culture is and how beautiful our province is in terms of its tourism potentials. We are grateful for the all-out support given to us by the Provincial Government of Apayao and Apayao Police Provincial Office.”
This year, the celebration carries the theme “Voluntarily serving our communities, any time, any day, the CIS way!” By Raymond Jade N. Sesuca
