Troops in Abra provide basic services ala-Balikatan style

Lagangilang, Abra – Winning their hearts and minds!

Sans big guns and armaments, government troopers “engaged” Langiden townfolks, said to be a rebel stronghold in Abra province, with basic services ala-Balikatan style that everyone including them won’t ever forget in their lives.

Perhaps one of the first “government services program into the barrios,” 41st Infantry Battalion troopers demonstrated their commitment to peace and development by facilitating a general assembly highlighted by free medical and dental services at Barangay Malapa-ao, over the weekend.

Bringing in Iluko students from the University of Northern Philippines ala US soldiers led by Dr. Marciana de Vera, Langiden townfolks had their first seminar ever – on reproductive, maternal, child health and birth giving. 

First Lieutenant Eduardo Sia-ed, spokesman of the Abra-based 41st Infantry Battalion said 651 residents can now smile happily with their newly cleaned teeth and already in the pink of their health from the free medical and dental services.

Sia-ed said the weekend program was a culmination of the one month-long “Special Operations” by the 41st IB within the barangay.  “We are focused on destroying the political infrastructure organized by the CPP/NPA/NDF and removing the influence of the communist terrorists,” he said.

The military plans to declare the highland and remote barangay free from communist influence. Then, it will receive various development projects from the government through the military, Sia-ed said.

The collaborative efforts by the Langiden local government unit and provincial government who donated assorted medicines, the Abra Provincial Hospital which also gave out medicines and shared the expertise of their medical doctors and nurses, the 107 CDC, 1st RCDG, ARESCOM who mobilized their reservist doctors and medical volunteers, the 503rd Infantry Brigade which provided a dental team, the project was a tremendous success.

Villagers also “heard” from government agency units like the PNP, the town’s health and agriculture offices their programs and projects for the barangay’s progress.

In behalf of the villagers, SB member Amelia Palecpec thanked everyone remarking in native Iluko, “Dakkel unay ti panagyaman mi kadagiti kameng ti Army gapu ta haan met gayam nga giyera la-eng ti amu da nodi ket ti pagsaya-atan met gayam ti umili ti biruken ken ipa-ay da, sapay kuma ta maulit manen daytoy.” (We gratefully thank the Army because instead of bringing war, they brought development and progress.  We hope there will be another like this.)

Lt. Col Raul Bautista, commanding officer of 41IB specially thanked the commitment of the Langiden local government and the government agencies “for bringing in the government into the barrios.”