OUTREACH PROGRAM. A soldier of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion (53IB) hands over a food pack to a housewife during an outreach mission in Barangay Duelic, Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur. Some 250 poor families benefited from the outreach mission jointly held Sunday by the 53IB and the office of Congresswoman Divina Grace Yu of the first district of Zamboanga del Sur. (Photo courtesy of 53IB)
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Some 250 poor families have benefited from the joint outreach program of the military in a remote village of Zamboanga del Sur, amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, an official said Tuesday.
The beneficiaries of the outreach program are the residents of Barangay Duelic in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur. It is a joint undertaking of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) and Rep. Divina Grace Yu of Zamboanga del Sur’s first district.
Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, 53IB commander, said in a statement that the outreach program held Monday will help alleviate the plight of the beneficiaries amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Herrera said it will also let the people feel that the government is concerned about their plight despite the distance from the urban center.
He also expressed gratitude to the office of Yu for its initiative to help the community. Each of the family-beneficiaries received food packs and other items.
“I thank the office of the good Congresswoman for helping this community, and hopefully more government programs, services, and initiatives will soon enter this far-flung barangay,” he said.
Yu expressed gratitude to the 53IB for their untiring effort and selfless dedication to duty to help the communities even in far-flung areas.
Both Herrera and Yu encouraged the residents of Barangay Duelic to support the programs of President Rodrigo Duterte and urged them to stop supporting the activities of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Recently, the 53IB troops have clashed with NPA rebels while on security operations in Barangay Duelic, Midsalip. (PNA)
