Journal Article

July 11, 2011

A joint effort in addressing the medical and dental needs of Maragatas, Lupon Lupon, Davao Oriental the bayanihan effort of the Government Agencies is once again witnessed as the folks from Brgy Maragatas, Lupon, Davao Oriental benefited from free dental services, medical check-up, medicines and vitamins from the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental, Local Government of Lupon and Medical and Dental Team from the 28IB, 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army entire day of July 9, 2011. LtCol Leopoldo A Imbang Jr, commander of the 28IB, themed the Joint Medical & Dental Mission with Kalusugan ay Ingatan Para sa Kinabukasan. Ltc Imbang said, our effort in bringing the Government closer to the people through the delivery of basic services was highly supported by the Provincial Government under Gov Corazon Malanyaon, Mayor Doming Lim of Lupon, Provincial Medical Team led by Dra Joy Sanico, Municipal Health Office (MHO) of Lupon with Dra Belen Larrobis, Municipal Nutrition Action Office (MNAO) under Ms. Maricel Deo of Lupon, Dep-Ed, PNP Lupon and other functionaries in the said Barangay. During the short opening ceremony, B/Capt Romeo T. Masinggit of Maragatas mentioned the importance of the soldiers in the barangay as part of peace keeping and bringing in basic services with the Local Government Agencies. Dra Sanico highlighted in her message that the Provincial Government continues to extend medical services up to the farthest barangays in the province. To note this is not the first time they were in partnership with the medical and dental teams of the Philippine Army even when she was still a Municipal Health Officer. She also mentioned that it is also necessary that the community will also cooperate and do their part in keeping a healthy lifestyle. The joint medical team accommodated all 742 patients for the medical consultation and free medicines and food supplement. The provincial governor also

funded the medicine for dental surgery allowing the Army dental team led by Ltc Sofronio P Marquez Jr. to accommodate a total of 116 dental patients for free checkup and free tooth extraction. A total of 858 patients were accommodated during the joint medical-dental mission. While the medical and dental consultation is on-going, the feeding spearheaded by the MNAO-Lupon also served porridge specially prepared for malnourished children for more or less 1050 participants of the said activity while watching the Information and Education Communication (IEC) of Health & Nutrition thru film showing. Ltc Imbang expressed his thanks for the untiring support of the local and provincial medical teams on the several joint undertakings to address the needs of the people in Davao Oriental. He also recognized the advance welcome of Hon. Masinggit to the Peace & Development Teams who will be deployed to all barangays in Lupon as the 28IBs Peace & Development Outreach Program will be extended to the Municipality of Lupon after its program in the Municipality of San Isidro. The success of our activity relies on the collaboration and coordinated efforts of the stakeholders whether inside or outside the AFP organization. We support the President of the Philippines in implementing private-public partnership (PPP) to fully attend the needs of the Filipinos, Ltc Imbang said.

Released by: 1LT CHRISTY ISIS A ACHANZAR 4th Comm. & Info Company Commander H701Bde, So. Magay, Brgy Don M. Marundan, Mati City, Davao Oriental Contact nr: 09177192882 / 09075535447 Email: christyisis@gmail.com