To win the people against insurgency

34th IB conducts medical-dental mission to 500 barangay folks in Calbiga

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
April 7, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  The Philippine Army through the 34th Infantry Batallion based in Calbiga, Samar will be trooping to remote Barangay Borong to conduct a medical-dental mission expected to serve some 500 rural folks.

In a text message by Lt. Jelynne Unabia of 34th IB, she said that they will be serving residents five barangays of Borong, Panayuran, Macaalan, Otoc and San Mauricio, all of Calbiga. The patients will be reporting to Barangay Borong on April 8, 2008.

She added that the drugs and medicines that would be dispensed come from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO), Provincial Government headed by Gov. Mila Tan and LGU Calbiga headed by Mayor Melchor Nacario. Military dentists are coming with civilian doctors from Calbiga Health Unit.

Barangay Borong can be reached from Calbiga town through a habal habal to travel bumpy roads for three kilometers, then, upon reaching Barangay Panayuran, one has to walk for thirty minutes to behold the remote barangay Borong.

Presently, the Bravo Company of 34th IB headed by Battalion Commander Larry Mojica has been in Barangay Borong to conduct reach out activities intended to make the barangay residents feel that the government is working for them.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in addressing then the latest batch of PMA graduates said that the “way to win (war against the insurgents) isn’t just through the barrel of a gun”.

PGMA added that “rather it begins with providing a person a job, food on the table and human dignity. Central to that success is to invest in the people – in education, health care, roads and bridges, not only by the departments primarily in charge of them but also by you, the soldiers, as you serve them in the field,” she said.

In her PMA commencement address, the President reminded the new graduates of the “multi-faceted roles of a 21st century soldier: not just as a combatant but a military professional, a manager, a partner in development.”