AT LEAST 200 families from Sinubong village, Zamboanga City benefited from the outreach program conducted Tuesday, August 10, by the military troops and other civilian volunteers.
The outreach program, held at Sinubong Elementary School in Sitio Mountain View, was facilitated by the Western Mindanao Command’s (Westmincom's) Office of the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operations, in coordination with the 4th Civil Relations Group, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, and the village officials.
Dubbed as “Tulong Bayanihan Para sa Katauhan,” the Westmincom said the activity aimed to uplift the morale and ensure the well-being of the populace amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
During the activity, the team distributed a total of 200 hygiene kits and food packs and offered medical services to the residents of Sinubong.
Additionally, 59 residents availed themselves of the eye examination and received free eyeglasses while 50 others were given a new haircut.
“Your presence is a manifestation of your support to the less fortunate. We are very happy about that. My heart is filled with gratitude, with happiness because you chose Mountain View to help the community. Thank you for making our learners and their parents who are the ultimate beneficiaries of this activity happy,” said Raponzel Manalo, school head of Mountain View Sinubong Elementary School.
Sinubong Village Chairperson Enricleto Casepe expressed his gratitude to all facilitators for choosing his constituents as the beneficiaries of the outreach program.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Westmincom chief, through Colonel Randolph Rojas, Joint Task Force Zamboanga commander, said more than fighting against the terrorists, “the military is here to serve and help the people.”
“We are here to lend our helping hand to the needy. This is also our little way of expressing our gratitude to all the peace-loving people who genuinely support us in our campaign against terrorism and lawlessness,” Vinluan said in the message read by Rojas.
“Rest assured that the armed forces will remain steadfast in sustaining the peace in your community,” he added.
The successful conduct of the outreach program was made possible through the support provided by the Junior Chamber International, Zamboanga City El Animo Eagles Club, Zamboanga City Peacemakers Eagles Club, Zamboanga City Medical Center, Department of Health-Zamboanga Peninsula, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, City Health Office, Languyan Mining Corporation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of Civil Defense, Zamboanga City Interagency Task Force, Crystal Vision Optical, Sophil, YL Fishing, and other participating agencies.
The Wesmincom continuously conducts outreach programs as part of its civil-military operations to be able to reach out to ordinary citizens and win their trust. (SunStar Zamboanga)