Army soldiers promotes “bayanihan” to remote villages

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 30): Army soldiers promotes “bayanihan” to remote villages

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, UPI, Gamu, Isabela -- Soldiers of the 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army through the civil military operations battalion is promoting bayanihan in the remote places in its area of operations to win peace.

86th Infantry Battalion- civil military operations officer Captain Roderick Pani-agua said his team is closely coordinating with the 5th Infantry Division’s civil military operations (CMOs) battalion in rendering services to remote places and in bringing social and infrastructure services to the people.

Pani-agua said the spirit of bayanihan especially in rendering services and in building schools and other infrastructure projects in the remote villages aim to bring development so that the people which are underserved due to its distance to government centers will benefit from the programs, projects and services from the government.

He said the CMOs are encouraging the people to help in the construction of schools and concreting of roads and other infrastructure projects that are brought in their places.

Pani-agua said the people are receptive to the development programs and projects that are brought in their respective places and very much willing to cooperate in such development undertakings.

The “Bayanihan” is a project initiative of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Emmanuel Bautista aimed at encouraging the people to join in the development efforts of the government especially in far flung areas and as a measure to end insurgency problems in the country.

It was Bautista who crafted Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan, the military’s blueprint in winning the peace in the countryside, when he was deputy chief of staff for operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The IPSP Bayanihan was unveiled by President Benigno Aquino III during the celebration of the military’s foundation anniversary in December 2010. The campaign plan was implemented by government troops on Jan. 1, 2011.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=481375155292