GOVERNMENT soldiers turned over Thursday, November 29, the Alipuaton to Salahon road widening and farm to market road project to the local government of Salay, Misamis Oriental.

The 58th Infantry Battalion (IB) and 52nd Engineer Brigade said it started the project together with the local government to show people in the insurgency-affected communities that the government does not neglect its constituents "contrary to the NPA propaganda".

In a statement, the military said the road repair and widening project was a concern of the local officials which was conveyed to 58IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Roy Anthony Derilo during the launching of the 58IB's Development and Security Support Plan "Pangandoy MisOr" last April in Balingasag town.

The military said stakeholders that attended the launching realized that tactical units of the Philippine Army are not only about war fighting but it also help local government units improve roads in communities.

"These units, such as the 58IB also understands the constraints of LGUs and feels the concerns of the poor people in the remote areas," the military said.

After seven months of road works, it was finally turned over through a simple ceremony attended by town, barangay, and army officials.

"I have been involved in several big national projects. However, since I was a captain of the army engineers, nothing seems to give me the greatest satisfaction than helping in simple farm to market road projects such as this as I feel I am contributing with direct impacts to the more unfortunate communities in the hinterlands who needed our services the most," Brigadier General Dionisio Baudin, commander of the army's 52nd engineering brigade, said.