TROOPS of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade provided assistance to the Provincial Government of Maguindanao in the distribution of relief goods amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis, officials said Monday, April 13.
Maguindanao Governor Miriam Sangki-Mangudadatu led the launching of the distribution on Saturday, April 11, at the Old Capitol Ground in the Municipality of Shariff Aguak.
The truckloads of relief goods will be sent to the different towns and villages of Maguindanao for the further distribution of the relief goods to families who are severely affected by the enhance community quarantine.
Mangudadatu congratulated the frontliners like health workers and law enforcers, as well as volunteers "who became part of this endeavors harnessing our efforts to contain the Covid-19 and be responsive to the needs of my constituents in the whole province."
"As public servants, it is our sole responsibility to instill awareness and enforce all guidelines in order to normalize our situation and as we join together to prevent the spread of Covid-19," she added.
"Your Army is on top of the situation, rendering 24/7 duties to monitor, update, and strictly enforce Covid-19 implementing guidelines on the ground to further ensure that the Maguindanao inter-agency task force (IATF) are timely and totally imposed. Further, the 601st Infantry Brigade (IB) as IATF support-agency likewise optimize its capabilities and give full commitment in these endeavors as we go hand in hand to fight the spread of Covid-19," said Colonel Joel Mamon, officer-in-charge of the 601st IB.
For the first wave of distribution, 24 vehicles were dispatched to distribute relief goods in the municipalities of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Talayan, Talitay, Guindulungan, and South Upi that will aid 9,909 households in the province.
"As the national campaign says, We Heal as One, your armed forces will always be here to aid and abet the people and the government until our beloved Philippines will be totally healed from the Covid-19 crisis," said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
Sobejana said that Westmincom continuously conducts military operations to ensure that peace and order in its area of operation are sustained. (SunStar Zamboanga)