LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) – More than 500 residents of Barangay Tawang and neighboring barangays in La Trinidad benefit from the medical and dental mission conducted on Valentine’s Day.
Dubbed “Love, Health and Wellness Community Service” with a theme, “A Valentine’s Gift for All”, the mission provided essential health services including dental and ophthalmic check-ups, psychological consultations, and minor surgical procedures such as circumcision.
“Hindi lang po bilang isang sundalo na we are mandated to serve and protect our people. Aside po doon, hindi lang poprotektahan bilang sa seguridad, pati na rin po sa seguridad ng kanilang kalusugan,” said 1LT Rhenmar Yandog of the Civil Military Operations (CMO) Regiment, Philippine Army .
The activity was part of the Civil Action Program of the 5th Civil Military Operations (Kabalikat) Battalion, CMO Regiment, Philippine Army in partnership with the Bigkis Lahi Ladies Club and Joint Task Unit Panagkaykaysa and other volunteers.
The event also served as an avenue to raise awareness about national security concerns particularly on the West Philippine Sea through videos, leaflet distribution, and WPS photo display.
“Nagbibigay po tayo ng information o heads up about po sa West Philippine Sea, para aware po sila ano po ba ‘yung West Philippine Sea, ano po ba ang meron dito, at bakit po natin poprotektahan at bakit dapat po natin i-maintain ang ownership po natin sa West Philippine Sea,” Yandog said.
Punong Barangay Julius Tiyap expressed his gratitude to the organizers and sponsors for bringing the initiative to their community.
“Maganda ito dahil napunta dito sa barangay. ‘Yun ang kinakailangan, lalong lalo na sa mga senior citizens na nangangailangan ng mga gamot at naihahatid sa beneficiaries directly sa aming barangay. Hindi lang mga senior citizens, ‘yung mga iba pang may sakit at may karamdaman, directly din na nagbe-benefit sila,” Tiyap said.
Psychiatrist Daisy Artuz, a representative of Bigkis Lahi ‘90, shared that they collaborated with the 5th CMO Battalion to give back to the community.(JDP/DEG/Trisha Reign Batoon-PIA-SLU Intern)
