AFTER being closed for over a year, the terrorized Kamamburingan Elementary School in the town of Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan province, finally reopened on Thursday, July 25, through the efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) and military authorities.
The school was victimized by the terrorists, forcing its shutdown, in May 2018.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion initiated the conduct of community support program (CSP) that led to the establishment of an Integrated Territorial Defense System (ITDS) whose primary duty is to maintain peace and order in the area.
Sobejana said that the members of the ITDS included personnel of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu), policemen, soldiers and residents of Kamamburingan.
Through the Project Shoebox of the Army’s Civil-Military Operation Regiment, Sobejana said the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion has distributed school supplies during the opening ceremony that benefited more than 200 students.
“This activity depicts the success of the inter-agency collaboration and unwavering support from the civilians,” Sobejana said.
“Rest assured Team Westmincom, through the 18the Infantry Battalion, will sustain its peace efforts for the people of Ungkaya Pukan to live normally and tranquilly,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)