CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will construct five more military facilities in Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.
With a total worth of PHP75.76 million, the projects are under the DPWH - Department of National Defense (DND) Convergence Program, also known as "Tatag ng Imprastruktura Para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS).
The TIKAS program was initiated for the mutual benefit of the two agencies wherein the DND can mount projects with the DPWH while the soldiers shall safeguard infrastructure projects in conflict areas.
The five new military facilities up for construction are the 2nd Air Defense Artillery (ADA) battery basing facility, officers’ quarters, mobile structures for the 2nd 155MM self-propelled battery facility, training barracks, and higher headquarters (HHQ) battery.
"The entire Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) is excited at the scheduled construction of the five military facilities as these are the first projects that we have received under the TIKAS program," AAR commander Brig. Gen. Romulo A. Manuel Jr. said in a social media post on Friday.
He thanked the DPWH for addressing the AAR’s needs for infrastructure development.
The 2nd ADA battery basing facility and 155MM mobile structures are intended to house newly activated units of the regiment, such as air defense and self-propelled howitzers.
The training barracks, on the other hand, will house personnel undergoing various training courses and seminars, such as on specialization and in-service while the officers’ quarters will be used to accommodate different staff officers of the command.
Meanwhile, the HHQ battery transient facility is expected to ensure the billeting requirements of officers and enlisted personnel coming from the line units of AAR when coming to Fort Magsaysay.
Manuel said the projects aim to contribute to strengthening the country’s national defense and security by providing military personnel with conducive, modernized, and functional facilities.
“This regiment has nine battalions and seven separate batteries. Distributed din tayo nationwide. Kaya yung mga facilities na itatayo, pati yung mga personnel coming from different units as far as Jolo magagamit din nila (We are distributed nationwide. Thus, the facilities that will be put up will be used by personnel coming from different units as far as Jolo),” he added.
On September 25, a new Army Aviation hangar and a two-story administration building of the Light Reaction Regiment was inaugurated in Fort Magsaysay.
Likewise, a road network, barracks, and a new headquarters building for the Army’s 7th Infantry Division were constructed inside the sprawling military camp.
DPWH 3 (Central Luzon) Director Roseller A. Tolentino has assured that the implementation of all TIKAS projects, not only in Fort Ramon Magsaysay but also in other military installations across the region, will be supervised and monitored by his office in support of the national government’s strategy of building a modern military. (PNA)
