PMA 3rd placer’s family CCT beneficiary

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, Philippines – Cadet Billy Casibi Codiam, who belongs to a tribe in a remote village in Kalinga, is expected to be a bright star in today’s graduation ceremonies of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Codiam, from the highland village of Pangol-Lubo in Tanudan town, would be the first beneficiary of the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program to land in the PMA’s top 10.

President Aquino, as guest of honor and speaker in today’s graduation ceremonies of PMA “Siklab-Diwa” Class of 2014, is expected to highlight Codiam’s feat as a beneficiary of the CCT who survived the tough military training at the PMA.

Although Codiam will graduate third in his class, he is expected to outshine class valedictorian Jheorge Llona and be even more popular than dismissed cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia.

From a poor peasant family in the upland Tanudan town, the 25-year-old Kalinga lad is the first PMA-er from his village, and the first from Kalinga to land in the top 10 at the PMA.

The soft-spoken but towering Codiam said, “Here I am, for this I pray that others like me who came from a poor family may have the courage to try and struggle for the ideals at PMA.”

“My family is happy that I have reached the goal,” the soon-to-be Army second lieutenant said.

The Codiam family has been a CCT beneficiary since 2009, according to Irene Bungay, regional program coordinator of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Cordillera region.

The 4Ps is a priority poverty alleviation program of the Aquino administration.

“Probably, he is the first among millions of CCT beneficiaries in the country to be in the prestigious PMA top 10 graduates,” Bungay said.

DSWD-Cordillera regional director

Leonardo Reynoso said the Codiam family is proud to be a 4Ps’ beneficiary while Bill, as the PMA cadet is called by his parents, is himself proud of his roots.

He is a model for the Cordilleran youth, Reynoso added, saying his feat has caught the attention of DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman, who in turn told President Aquino.

Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac also expressed his congratulations to his provincemate.

“You are a living testimony that we can still be one of the best even though we originated from a low-class province. As long as there is perseverance in us,” Baac said.

“And with guidance from God, we can achieve success. The young officer made us and Kalingas proud,” Baac said. – With Alexis Romero