Kalinaw News: Army Playround Project Brings Joy To Kids In Formerly Abandoned Barangay

Posted to Kalinaw News (Apr 2, 2021): Army Playround Project Brings Joy To Kids In Formerly Abandoned Barangay



MALUSO, Basilan Province — The formerly abandoned community of Barangay Muslim Area here is once again lively as the 4th Special Forces Battalion formally inaugurated the ‘Siklab-Diwa Playground’ together with the distribution of hygiene kits, soccer balls, and feeding program last Thursday, 01 April 2021, which brought joy to the kids and parents who are returning back in their community.

The ‘Siklab-Diwa: Project Playground’ consists of four apparatuses, namely; a twin slide, couple swing, seesaw, and a monkey bar, which were attractively painted in rainbow colors. Moreover, five soccer balls were likewise donated to the community for the soccer-enthusiast kids. Project playground intends to provide an avenue for psychosocial development of the children and for them to build friendship, unity, and cohesiveness in the community.

“Sa playground nagsisimula ang pagkakaibigan at pagkakaisa ng mga bata na siyang panghahawakan nila hanggang sa kanilang paglaki. Sa playground nagsisimula ang isang komunidad.”, First Lieutenant Alvin K. Balancod, the Commanding Officer of 14SFC, said in his speech.

Lieutenant Colonel Alex D. Ampati, the Commanding Officer of 4SFBN, also expressed high hopes for a brighter future of Barangay Muslim Area now that peace is at hand and the constituents have already returned after almost four years of being internally displaced due to the threat by the Abu Sayyaf Group roaming around its vicinity before.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan ng iba’t ibang sektor at ahensya ng lokal na pamahalaan dito sa Basilan, tiyak na manunumbalik ang sigla, saya, at kapayapaan ng inyong barangay. Asahan nyo po na ang inyong kasundalohan ay palaging narito upang magbigay seguridad at susuporta sa inyo.”, Lieut.-Colonel Ampati said.

Eighty (80) hygiene kits, which contain bath soap, laundry soap, fabric mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary napkin, shampoo, nail cutter, dishwashing liquid, and BIDA kit bag with BIDA, DOH, and USAID logos, were likewise distributed to every family by Nagdilaab Foundation Inc headed by its Executive Director, Ms. Miriam “Ate Deddette” Suacito.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a feeding program was likewise conducted to more or less sixty (60) children in the community by the Assembly of God Church led by Ms. Brenda Elnar.

“Tayo po ay taos pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyo Sir sa pagbibigay ng sigla sa aming lugar at sa aming mga kabataan. Sa bawat ngiti, saya nila, ganun din ang nararamdaman ng mga magulang nila.”, said Hon. Amin A. Pansulani, the Chairman of Barangay Muslim Area.

The Siklab-Diwa Playground was donated by the members of PMA Class 2014 for the peace-loving sons and daughters of Barangay Muslim Area, and as a memorabilia for the heroism of their fallen comrade, the late 1LT JUN G. CORPUZ (INF) PA. (4SFBN/7)

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