200 bikers join bike for peace, medical mission in Digos

DAVAO CITY, Dec. 10 (PIA) – About 200 bikers from different organizations in Regions 11 and 12, as well as the Youth4Peace Movement organization joined the Bike for Peace and Medical Mission activity launched by the 39^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army on Friday (December 10, 2021) in Digos City, Davao del Sur.

 

The Bike for Peace and Medical Mission gathered the bikers at Rizal Park in Digos City by five in the morning, who pedaled their way to Sitio Bandera in Barangay Balabag, one of the remote barangays in Digos City, where the medical mission took place.

 

In the medical mission, several services were provided such as medical check-up for illnesses, free medicines, haircut and “operation tuli” or circumcision operations.

 

Apart from the Philippine Army, the other government agencies and organizations from the private sector also took part in the activity such as the Digos City local government unit, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay of the Philippine National Police, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and Dumper Party List, and among others.  

 

39^th IB Public Affairs Non-Commissioned Officer Sgt. Jefferson Asan explained that the activity was part of the continuing efforts of the different government agencies in pursuing the goal of putting an end to the communist movement especially in the affected communities.

 

The collaborative endeavor was a manifestation of a whole of nation approach to ending local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), Asan stated during Friday’s episode of Gobyernong Balitaan radio program of the Philippine Information Agency Davao del Sur over Energy FM Digos.

 

He said that the roads leading to the recipient barangay are now accessible to the public because of the significant improvements courtesy of the Barangay Development Project funded through the National Task Force ELCAC.

 

Brgy. Balabag is one of the eight barangays in Digos City which has been provided with the P20 million BDP fund being identified as NPA-infested area before. Improvements of farm-to-market roads and potable water systems are the chosen projects in said barangay.  

 

Asan said that with the established ELCAC program in the province, the insurgency concern has decreased rapidly. (PIA-XI/Franchette Delfin)