This was disclosed by Captain Marcel S. Jumawan, Civil Military Operations Officer of 102nd IB, in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Jumawan said the outreach program also included medical consultation, circumcision, haircut, ear piercing, shoe repair and dental services.
Some 2,500 residents from the different barangays benefitted from the said services.
Moreover, on Feb. 28 a total of 35 patients have availed themselves of free dental services (tooth extraction) initiated by Pastor Ricky E. Lagare, administrative pastor of the Metro Ipil Evangelical Church, in partnership with the 102nd IB Dental Team headed by Major Ester P. Austria at Barangay Tomitom, this municipality.
On Feb. 21, 23, and 26, during the commemoration of the 13th Araw ng Sibugay, a total of 1,786 individuals have benefitted from the medical and dental outreach program by the IPHO and the 102nd IB.
On March 7, a medical and dental outreach program was again conducted by the 102nd IB, IPHO, 44th IB and 16 Special Forces Company (SFC) in Barangay Dipala, Kabasalan, benefitting 679 individual.
The 102nd IB and 44th IB also participated in the medical and dental outreach program spearheaded by IPHO in Barangay Bulawan, Payao last March 14.
Captain Jumawan said in a text message that the active participation of the army in delivering community services is in line with the army “transformation road map.”
“We, the army are doing untraditional tasks, like the med-dental outreach to reach out to our less fortunate brothers in mountain barangays and offer them the basic service for free.”
He also said that these activities are to expand army’s roles such as disaster response, peace keeping operations and support to the national development through multi-sectoral alliance and LGU support.
“This rendering of basic services to the people in need is to make them realize that the government cares for them. The army is only a bridge in giving these services from the government to the people,” he said.