The Tactical Operations Group 7 (TOG-7) headed by Col. Victorino C. Patricio, PAF (MNSA) conducted a community outreach project at Purok Base, Tarumpitao Point, Barangay Punta Baja, Rizal in cooperation with its local government unit (LGU).
Over 50 families and 110 individuals benefited the community outreach made by TOG-7 last March 6 in line with the goal to gain support from the local community.
TOG-7 collaborated with the LGU to support the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) in implementing social welfare development programs and services in the province of Palawan.
“Sinasabi namin na nandito kami para tulungan kayo (community), may mga programs activity kasi kami quarterly, pag meron kaming mga outreach, nagco-conduct kami sa school or sa community, so this quarter tinarget namin ang community naman. Alam naman natin sa Rizal, mas prone sa recruitment (ng leftist group), nakita namin ang area kasi vulnerable siya, minsan ang tini-take advantage ng mga leftist, yong vulnerability ng tao lalo na kung kulang sila sa mga pangangailangan or mga daily needs nila na di masuportahan. So ‘yon ang nakita namin na opportunity na makatulong sa kanila,” said Captain Mylene S. Ramirez, director of civil military operations, TOG-7.
Ramirez added the community is open minded and responsive with the message that they are trying to convey through these outreaches and said that they would also go further to the far flung areas especially to the indigent community.
“Okay naman sila, very open minded naman sila sa mga ganitong programa ng gobyerno kaya gusto din namin talaga na mapuntahan pa ‘yong mga lugar ng IP (indigenous people), mas malapit kasi sila sa leftist,” said Ramirez.
The outreach activity includes feeding program for 110 individuals, 50 families were given grocery packages, 30 males had their hair cut for free, sports equipment were given for the Purok residents and youths to use. They also gave 40 sets of assorted garden seeds, 20 packs of multivitamins for swine, and conducted an anti-rabies vaccination for 50 canines and felines.
Their purok president Ceasar Bylon was very thankful that they were chosen to be the beneficiary of the activity since they were not expecting of it because of their distance and that they usually hear these kinds of activity through radios.
“Hindi pangkaraniwan sa amin ang mabigyan ng ganitong serbisyo mula sa gobyerno dahil malayo po kami sa kabihasnan. Madalas po ay naririnig lamang namin ang mga gawaing tulad nito sa mga balita sa radio pero ngayon, ito ay kasalukuyan nang ginaganap sa aming purok. Napakaswerte namin at kami ang napili ng TOG 7 na makinabang sa gawaing ito. Napakalaking tulong po ito sa amin. Sana po ay maulit pa ito,” Bylon said.
