AS A result of its continued convergence and collaboration efforts to finally end local communist armed conflict in its area of operations, the Army's 54th Engineer Brigade (54EBde) recognized the 53rd Infantry "Matapat" Battalion (53IB) during its 30th Founding Anniversary celebration on Monday, August 16.
A simple but fitting ceremony marked the 54th EBde anniversary celebration held at its headquarters in Cabatangan village, this city.
The Command Plaque, signed by Brigadier General Anthony Cacayuran, 54EBde commander, was awarded by Major General Generoso Ponio, Army's 1st Infantry Division commander, to Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, 53IB commander, in grateful appreciation of battalion’s outstanding commitment as complementary efforts by heightening the security in the project sites and advocating the engineering support capability of 547th Engineer 'Agila' Battalion of the 54EBde.
The 54EBde also recognized 53IB's accomplishments in the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 70, which institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict on road opening projects in CY 2018 in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas and Conflict-Affected Areas in Zamboanga del Sur.
The road opening projects have significantly contributed to the attainment of public trust, sustainable peace and national development.
Herrera expressed his gratitude to Cacayuran for the recognition, saying that the 53IB will continue its mandate of serving the people, especially those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and conflict-affected areas.
“We will continue and further intensify our efforts in implementing the EO 70 especially in far-flung barangays to help the communities in the hinterlands and release them from the clutches of communist lies and deception,” Herrera said. (SunStar Zamboanga)