The Philippine Army turned over a water system project to a New People’s Army-cleared villagein sabela town, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
Brgy. Sikatuna received an elevated water tank from the Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative (PAFCPIC) through the 62nd Infantry Battalion, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reported.
Sikatuna is one of the eight insurgency-cleared villages in Isabela and also a recipient of the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
The ceremonial turnover was attended by Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla, Col. Marces Gayat – Civil-Military Operations Regiment deputy commander, and Lt. Col. William Pesase Jr. – 62IB commander.
The potable water system project in the barangay was accomplished with the assistance of the Community Support Program (CSP) Team of the 62IB.
“Despite the mountainous terrain of our barangay, the project still reached us. You did not abandon us, and you found a way to provide us with support,” Sikatuna Barangay Captain Dionaldo Asuncion said.
Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID Commander, commended the 303rd Brigade, 62IB, and partner stakeholders for their collaborative effort that resulted in the completion and turnover of the project.
BGen. Orlando Edralin also, 303rd Brigade Commander, said that the project is a major step towards enhancing health and progress in the barangay.
“Through our collaboration, we are not only creating a water system but also laying the foundation for hope and positive change for our people,” he said.*