Saludo sa sundalo: Helping our troops heal amidst a turbulent year

SALUDO SA SUNDALO

Helping our troops heal amidst a turbulent year

By Maricar Savella-Villamil

OOur frontliners from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)—who led rescue, relief, and peacekeeping operations amidst the country’s toughest challenges— received aid worth PHP3.2 million from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The aid was given in various forms through BCDA’s Corporate Social Responsibility projects under the “Saludo sa Sundalo” program, which aims to honor and recognize the military for their service and sacrifice. The program gives the soldiers opportunities that can help improve the quality of their lives as they protect their fellowmen and their country.

Among the beneficiaries of the aid were the Philippine Air Force-Fernando Air Base-Air Education and Training Command (PAF-AETC); the 1301st Dental Dispensary under the Philippine Army’s Headquarters and Headquarters Support Group (PAHHSG); the 7th Civil Relations Support Group (7CRG) of AFP-Civil Relations Service (AFPCRS); the Army’s Civil Military Operations Regiment’s (PA-CMOR) 12th Civil-Military Operations Battalion based in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; the 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion based in Isabela, Negros Occidental; frontliners from the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Marine Corps.

Projects in 2020

In January 2020, tragedy hit the country when the Taal Volcano suddenly erupted, and affected at least 71,000 families living in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Cavite. Among the troops who were on the front line of the rescue and relief operations in Lipa, Batangas were our airmen from the PAF-AETC. Unfortunately, members of the Command and their families were also among those severely affected by the eruption.

To protect our troops from possible health complications caused by volcanic ashes, BCDA provided 5,000 N95 masks, 300 protective goggles, and gallons of safe drinking water.

Two months later, in March, the COVID-19 pandemic posed a new challenge. The health crisis prompted the BCDA to donate dental equipment to the 1301st Dental Dispensary. The donations, which were distributed in September, sought to ensure the well-being of army health workers, and their patients, while protecting themselves from the threat of COVID-19 infection during the conduct of dental services. Included in the donations were air filter machines, dental aerosol vacuum machines, dental aerosol isolation boxes, and disinfectants, such as UV lamps and misting machines.

PA-HHSG Commander Coronel Rosario G. Pompa expressed his gratitude during the simple turnover ceremony: “We are fortunate to have proactive partners in government, such as the BCDA, who continuously support and recognize our service through their corporate social responsibility program.”

The 7CRG, for its part, was given 1,000 health kits that contained face masks, face shields, and Isopropyl alcohol. These kits were distributed to the troops, who were deployed at different swabbing centers, quarantine facilities, and checkpoints throughout the National Capital Region (NCR).

During the Yuletide Season, BCDA partnered with the three AFP service branches by providing a total of 1,500 bags of Christmas food packs to troops from the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Air Force (PAF), and Philippine Navy/Marine Corps (PN). This activity stemmed from the “Pamaskong Handog 2020” organized by the Philippine Army-Civil Military Operations Regiment, a gift-giving activity for troops who are away from their families while performing their duty to the country. The Christmas food packs for the Army were distributed to troops assigned in Negros Occidental and Lanao del Sur.

Apart from organizing “Saludo sa Sundalo” programs, BCDA also partnered with the AFP Civil-Military Coordination Center (AFP-CMCC) to support the latter’s

outreach project called “Tulong Bayanihan.” The project intends to assist victims of Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses in the Cagayan Region. BCDA, through its 2020 Yuletide Committee, donated 100 sacks of rice worth PHP100,000 for the project.

“Tulong Bayanihan” is led by BGen Gabriel Cerdan Viray III, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of Civil Military Operations, AJ7. He thanked BCDA and the general public for their response to the AFP’s call for donations to help communities affected by calamities. He said “The AFP is grateful for the partnership and support of the BCDA. We are looking forward to future partnerships with BCDA, especially in extending services in times of suffering in calamites. The general public, too, has been very responsive.”

He added, “Your help altogether will go a long way to alleviate the lives of the people affected by the typhoons.”

Other landmark projects

The BCDA has allocated up to PHP5 million in revolving funds for the injured troops, whose medical cases cannot be treated in government and military

The AFP is grateful for the partnership and support of the BCDA. We are looking forward to future partnerships with BCDA, especially in extending services in times of suffering in calamites. BGEN GABRIEL CERDAN VIRAY III “ hospitals due to lack of facilities and/or specialists.

On top of the hospitalization assistance, BCDA also contributed a total of PHP15.16 billion to the modernization program of the AFP, during the first four years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

As of December 2020, BCDA has contributed a total of PHP46.6 billion to the AFP since the agency was created in 1992.

These activities and contributions amplify BCDA’s support for President Duterte’s commitment to upgrade the capabilities of the AFP under his leadership. The President has given our soldiers the assurance that the sustained modernization of the military is one of his administration’s top priorities.

BCDA is guided by its CSR philosophy: to “fulfill our mandate to our stakeholders by improving the quality of life of and giving dignity to our workforce, our families, and the communities that we develop through the conversion of former military bases and other properties into premier sustainable centers of economic growth.”