242 benefit from Expanded Caravan, Info Awareness Campaign in Zambales
Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija – In line with the celebration of the National Women’s Month, the troops of the 3rd Mechanized Battalion, Armor Division, Philippine Army conducted an Expanded Caravan and Information Awareness Campaign to the residents of Sitio Mapait, Barangay Bamban, Masinloc, Zambales on March 18, 2021.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Henry Z. Cabusao, commanding officer of the 3rd Mech Bn, a total of 242 individuals benefited from the activity. Of the 242 individuals, 80 of them received food packs, slippers, free face masks, and face shields.
Free haircut services were offered during the caravan and a feeding program was also conducted, while other residents applied and received their Police Clearance and availed of mobile voter’s registration of the Commission on Elections.
The said activity was made possible in collaboration with Masinloc Municipal Police Station led by Deputy Chief PLT Leoven Eduagen, together with PLT Kathryn Joy G. Miranda, Community Affairs Division Unit Officer of the Zambales Police Provincial Office; COMELEC-Masinloc headed by Ms. Fatima F Liquiran, acting COMELEC Officer; and, the Barangay Council of Brgy. Bamban headed by Barangay Captain Rey Eduad, with the assistance of the 23rd Special Action Company, 2nd Special Action Force Battalion of the PNP.
Simultaneous with the caravan was the conduct of an information awareness drive regarding the seven stages of deceptive recruitment of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) wherein 2LT Carina Joy Boado encouraged the residents to watch, like, share and comment on the movie “Memoirs of Teenage Rebel” (posted in the 7ID Facebook page).
Distribution of leaflets was also conducted. The leaflets contain information about the benefits of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) to encourage the members of the CTGs who want to return to the folds of the law and live a peaceful life together with their families.
“The 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, through the efforts of 33rd Mechanized Infantry Company, will continuously engage all government agencies and partner with various stakeholders to bring basic services for the people and promote peace and development in our area of operation,” said LTC Cabusao.
The commander of the 703rd Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Andrew D. Costelo, cited the importance of the information campaign in the Barangays to elevate the awareness of the public on the deceptive recruitment scheme of the CTGs that usually victimizing the vulnerable sectors of our society.
Meanwhile, Major General Alfredo V. Rosario Jr., commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army emphasized the importance of bringing the services closer to the people and the Army’s role in intensifying the information awareness campaign on CTG recruitment.
“Walang kinikilalang panahon ang serbisyo ng gobyerno, kung nasaan ang mga tao naroon tayo na tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho. Lalo nating pinaiigting ang ating mga serbisyo ngayon upang magsilbing tanggulan at lakas ng taong-bayan, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya na sinasamantala ng mga taong walang malasakit sa bayan,” Maj. Gen. Rosario Jr. said.
