Army helps out in humanitarian work

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 9): Army helps out in humanitarian work

The Philippine Army personnel in Samar are busier after the focused security measures in the midterm elections.

Troops from the 63rd Infantry Battalion (IB) encountered New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents on June 4 in Barangay Poponton, Las Navas and Northern Samar. The clash resulted to the death of one state enemy and the recovery of two M16 rifles.

Members of the 43rd IB also recently engaged with the NPAs in a 15-minute firefight in Barangay Ligaya, Matuginao, Samar.

“Our mission and goal is to make the island of Samar a manageable conflict and development-ready area just like Biliran, Bohol, Leyte and Southern Leyte,” 8th ID Commanding Gen. Gerardo Layug said in a statement.

Meanwhile, during 8th ID’s anniversary, 32 officers and enlisted men donated blood through a bloodletting activity which generated 14,400 cc of blood. Dr Michieko Malou Modesto, Philippine National Red Cross Leyte Chapter head said that the collected blood will benefit the dependents of the donors in the region.

Army troops under the 8th ID also assisted in the renovation, repainting of facilities, repair of school furniture and declogging of drainages and canals in several schools in the province.

Meanwhile, the 43th IB distributed books and personal computers donated by a civic group Rotary Club to a school in Barangay Sto Niño, Gandara and two other schools in Gandara town. 

“The 8th Infantry Division has evolved from doing purely military operations to performing non-military operations such as medical missions and humanitarian work,” Layug said.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1221370572781