Army soldiers reach
out to uphill barangays through medical-dental mission
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
April 10, 2008
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– Around 200 soldiers of the 34th Infantry Battalion of the
Philippine Army took time off to play medical workers to residents of
11 upland barangays in Calbiga town, Samar province.
The company led by Lt.
Col. Larry Mojica gave dental and medical services to some 500 folks.
According to Civilian Military Operations (CMO) In-Charge Jelynne
Unabia, the soldiers also circumcised 20 children.
According to
statements by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, medical and dental
missions conducted by the Philippine Army such as the one conducted in
Calbiga, are part of the soldiers role as 21st century soldiers.
Further, Arroyo said
that soldiers “are not just combatants but also partners in
development.”
The Arroyo government
aims to win the war against insurgency through investing in the people
and making them feel that the government is working for them.
Distance from the
Calbiga town proper and the lack of access roads make it hard for
basic services to reach folks residing in uphill barangays.
Yet, rather than
encouraging folks to travel to the center of the town, the Philippine
Army instead travels to reach the barangays and deliver basic health
services to the folks.
Major Tito Vicario and
Capt. Rizalino Anasarias attended to the 104 dental patients while Dr.
Carlito Viojan and Dr. Rosemarie Rodriguez attended to the 337 medical
patients.
The Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes (PCSO) through Ms. Zenaida Delantar provided some of the
medicines.
In addition, the
provincial government of Samar through Gov. Mila Tan also provided
some medicines.
Barangay folks from
the upland hills led by Borong Barangay Captain Joel Ocasla and Minata
Brgy. Captain Tiburcio Ocasla were ever so grateful.
Brgy. Captain Ocasla
said that the gathering of several rural folks made the barangay look
like having their annual fiesta.
“It is only during
fiestas that big crowds are drawn,” added Ocasla.
Meanwhile, two
youngsters named Rexon Caspi, 9 years old, and Darel Nardo, 11, are
grateful that the soldiers have been instrumental in the Filipino
ritual of circumcision – their passage to manhood.
