By Bong Garcia

THE Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 5 and the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) conducted a joint Medical and Dental Civic Action Program (Medcap) that benefited 350 people in an island municipality of Sulu, a top military official said Wednesday.

Colonel Eugenio Clemen, chief of the 3rd Marine Brigade, said the joint mission was held last Sunday in Bangas village in the island town of Panglima Tahil.

Panglima Tahil is a sixth class municipality that is made up of five villages with 5,314 people in 807 households based on the 2000 census.

Panglima Tahil town is said to be one the poorest municipalities in the Philippines with a poverty incidence estimate of 89.7 percent as of 2000.

During the one-day mission, the residents were given free health assistance that included medical consultation, dental services, pediatrics, cyst operation, malaria smear, pregnancy natal care, immunization, and circumcision, according to Clemen.

Clemen said wheelchairs, school tables, and benches were also distributed to the concerned beneficiaries.

Vice Mayor Galib Datan expressed his thanks to the military and local health representatives for the initiative meant to promote the well being of his constituents.

Datan noted that the military and health officials acted on the people's needs despite the security concerns in Panglima Tahil.

Datan said he is grateful to the officials for the concern they extended to his constituents.

Clemen said it is not only the security of the residents that can be protected and upheld, but basic needs can also be promptly delivered if people work together.

The 42nd Civil Relations Unit (CRU) of the military's 4th Civil Relations Group (CRG) conducted an information drive on ways to deter terrorism.

"Peace and order is not only the responsibility of police and military forces, it is everyone's concern," said 42nd CRU chief Major Mabini Aduhadi.

Aduhadi also assured residents of Panglima Tahil that the military intends to fulfill its mandate to defend the people.