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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider PH Army deploys one battalion to augment troops at frontline of COVID-19 crisis

PH Army deploys one battalion to augment troops at frontline of COVID-19 crisis

Published Mar 16, 2020 12:00 am
By Martin Sadongdong The Philippine Army (PA) has fielded one battalion of soldiers to help in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it said Monday. Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay (10th Infantry Agila Division Philippine Army / MANILA BULLETIN) Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay
(10th Infantry Agila Division Philippine Army / MANILA BULLETIN) Army Chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said the soldiers were tasked to augment the 3,000-strong contingent from the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) who were earlier sent to man the checkpoints at the borders of Metro Manila and its nearby provinces as the capital region was placed under community quarantine. "The Army will also render its support through the logistics and manpower from the troops when the need arises," Gapay said. The deployment of the augmentation forces started on Sunday night. The military official said Army disaster response units (DRU); chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) units; and doctors were placed on standby alert as he assured they are "ready" to be deployed once called. "Residents of Metro Manila and other affected communities are encouraged to adhere to the stringent social distancing measures to help prevent the spread of the virus to other communities," Gapay said. Meanwhile, health workers in eight hospitals and an Army checkpoint in Quezon City got a much-needed boost as they received food packs from the Army and a grocery store. Army soldiers and Landers Superstore teamed up to distribute food packs to health workers from Manila Doctors Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, Quezon City General Hospital, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Asian Hospital, Ospital ng Muntinlupa, Mother Regina Family Hospital, Army General Hospital, and to soldiers and cops manning a checkpoint along Mindanao Avenue. "Amid the fight against COVID-19, the health workers fom different hospitals and troops from checkpoints are placed in the frontlines to prevent the spread of the virus," Army Spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said. Zagala added that they are committed to help and provide the basic needs of the medical workers, soldiers, and other frontliners risking their lives to fight an unseen enemy.
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