Marines get aid

CEBU, Philippines - The 8th Marine Brigade Reserve, Philippine Marine Corps based in Lapu-Lapu City is assured of funds to pursue their Civil Military Operations for 2012, said the acting chief of staff and adjutant, 1Lt. Tito Ranara PN(M)(Res).

Ranara said that Acting Commander, Lt. Col. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City South District congressman), gave P1 million worth of medicines already bid out by the Department of Health.

Ranara said they already ironed out problems on documentary requirements with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office which hampered their CMOs in the past years.

Ranara said they are in better position this year to go fully in their medical-dental missions in rural areas.

Given the limited resources last year, the group was still able to conduct CMOs benefiting thousands of residents in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

The dental, nursing, barber, medicines dispensation and crowd control teams of the unit had successfully conducted a Medical-Dental Mission in Barangay Sudlon II, Cebu City on April 30, 2011 in coordination with the Our Lady of Lourdes Community of Tomas De Villanueva Parish of El Pardo.

The same activity was also conducted in Barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City in May 21, 2011 in partnership with the Headquarters Naval Forces Central and PCSO.

A medical outreach activity was conducted in Talamban, Cebu City in July 13, 2011 with the City Government in partnership with Yeosu City/Yeosu Global Charity Association of the republic of Korea and in Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City the following day.

The 8th Marine Reserve Brigade also participated in the medical dental activity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in partnership with the Guam National Guard in Barangay Poblacion Pardo, Cebu City in August 27, 2011 and in Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City the following day.

For the whole year 2011, the unit has claimed “highly meritorious accomplishments in the areas of CMO, disaster response, training and community related projects.”

“The various activities in Reservist and Reserve Force Development Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has contributed immensely to the CMO Programs of the government by providing basic services to the people making them closer to the government,” Ranara said.

Ranara said that their contributions for eight years, if computed and converted to a specific value, runs to millions of pesos if funded by the PN and AFP in general, thus a considerable savings were made.

“In totality, the various RRFD Programs helped in winning the hearts and minds of the Filipino people and enhanced the image of the AFP as a unit whose members are professionals that adheres to its constitutional mandates,” he further said. (FREEMAN)