HELPING UNDERSERVED: 53IB Holds Medical Mission and Community Service in Siayan, ZDN

The Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) Bravo “Boulders” Company held a Medical Mission outreach for at least Thirty-Six (36) CAFGU Active Auxiliary personnel (CAAs) and their dependents in Guigang Patrol Base and Guibo Patrol Base, Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte (ZDN) on June 2, 2021, as part of the unit’s “Better Life: Adopt a CAFGU Project” in partnership with the Municipality of Siayan, ZDN. “The ‘Better Life: Adopt a CAFGU Project’ is a comprehensive program of providing the necessary assistance, knowledge, and structural pathway for our CAFGU Active Auxiliary personnel for them to achieve personal and professional growth,” 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera said.“It is our way of expressing our gratitude and recognizing our CAFGU personnel in their dedication to service for helping our Matapat Troopers in maintaining peace and security in the area,” Lt. Col. Herrera added.Bravo Company Commanding Officer 1Lt. Niel Kim Garcia said: “We do this kind of endeavors that involve tapping our partners in the medical field to help us in addressing basic health care needs of our CAFGUs. We want to show them our gratitude because they are our first responders and the backbone of the Army. “The said activity was spearheaded by the Siayan Mayor Josecor Gepolongca with his team from Siayan Rural Health Unit (RHU), Nurse Victorino Labastida. Activity includes distribution of food packs, free medical check-ups, operation tuli, and giving of medicines, and haircuts. This activity is part of the 53IB’s drive to pursue transformation to become a world class Army that is a source of national pride by 2028 in line with the Army Transformation Roadmap (ATR).