Army, Paracelis LGU hold med mission for 353 folks

By Andrew Doga-ong

PARACELIS, Mountain Province -- Some 353 indigent villagers in remote barangay Palitud here were beneficiaries of a recent medical and dental mission by the 54th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and municipal government here.

Of the 353 beneficiaries, 304 were provided with medical services such as consultation and circumcision while 45 others were given dental services mostly on tooth extraction.

The Army’s skilled “soldier-barbers” also provided free haircut to some of the residents.

The Philippine Army provided the medical and dental doctors coming from its 5th Infantry Division under the command of Maj. Gen. Rommel Gomez while the local government unit of Paracelis provided medicines.

The LGU of Paracelis saw the need to collaborate with other sectors such as the military to realize one of its programs of bringing health services to its barangays.

In its report, the 54th IB based in Mt. Province under Lt. Col. Steve Crespillo, said medical-dental outreach programs of the Army in partnership with LGUs and other sectors was a way of expressing the Army’s concern in promoting and supporting programs that enhance living condition of the populace.

Captain Victor Leopoldo, Civil Military Operation Officer said the 54th IB participated in about eight medical-dental missions mostly conducted in far-flung barangays of the province.

Meanwhile, Leopoldo said the Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. together with the Philippine Army will distribute this month relief goods to about 1,000 typhoon affected families in the towns of Natonin and Paracelis.