BUTUAN CITY -- The far-flung community folks, with the full assistance of the Army and police, successfully completed the road restoration project connecting Bendum to Nabag-o far-flung villages in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province.
Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion 2nd Lt. Danica Rose T. De Leon told The Manila Bulletin on Friday, Oct. 28, that the 8th IB crafted this concept of road restoration project called DAMAYAN Project which means ‘symphatize’ with the acronym standing for ‘DAan tungo sa MApayapang PamaYANan.’
“The Damayan Project was participated in by more than 60 volunteers from Sitio Nabag-o and 50 from Sitio Bendum and this completed (Saturday) road is now ready to serve our far-flung villagers today,” the 8th IB CMO officer said.
“This is a big help to us residents here in Sitio Bendum and Sitio Busdi because it will be easier and faster for us to transport our products to the market. We are also grateful to the 8th IB for giving us strength and for the sympathy, we will surely gradually reduce poverty due to this project,” said 2nd Lt. De Leon, quoting Puron Chairwoman Ms. Nina Sigayan of Sitio Bendum, Barangay Busdi, Malaybalay City.
Meanwhile, 8th IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Anthony A. Bacus commended the villagers for their unified effort for the government’s peace and development program.
"Ako po ay personal at taos pusong nagpasalamat sa lahat ng residenting tumulong, nakibahagi, at nakiisa at higit sa lahat nag laan ng kanilang oras sa pagsasakatuparan ng proyekto, ako at ang aking mga kasamahan sa 8th IB kasama rin ang mga kapulisan ay hinding hindi magsasawang tumulong para sa ika uunlad ng Sitio Bendum at So Nabag-o,” (I personally and sincerely thank all the residents who helped, participated, joined and most of all devoted their time for this community collaboration project, me and my fellow soldiers of the 8th Infantry Battalion along with the PNP will never get tired of helping for the development of Sitio Bendum and Sitio Nabag-o),” the 8th IB commander said.