The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is tapping charitable organizations and individuals who may provide them support in the implementation of P131 million “Bayanihan” projects in 160 identified conflict-affected areas in Negros and Panay island.

Maj. Enrico Gil Ileto, regional Army spokesman, yesterday said the Rotary Club International District 3850 in Panay expressed its support to help finance the more than 130grassroots projects forsocio-economic development , presented to them by Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3ID commander, during their sectional district assemblymeeting in Iloilo on Saturday.

As stated in the nation’s Internal Peace and Security Plan ‘Bayanihan”, Ileto, the newly-designated 3ID Public Affairs Office chief, said the Army should support community-based efforts, with its Peace and Development Teams now in the forefront of securing this for conflict-affected communities.

The socio-economic projects, identified by the Army’s PDTs deployed in these areas, estimated to require a budget of P131 million.

Ileto said the socio-economic projects that need support are for empowerment and improvement of their living conditions of the people.

Theseinclude the construction of health and day care centers, farm to market roads, waiting sheds, water systems, sports facilities, pre and post harvest facilities, hanging bridges, electrification facilities and water irrigation systems, educational assistance, adult education program, reforestation, medical mission, procurement of farm machineries, handicraft-making and food-processing, and carabao raising seminar, among others.

In Negros Occidental, the 303rd Infantry Brigade has identified 111 conflict-affected communities, which also their targets of their peace and development programs, in tandem with the provincial government, concerned local government units, government agencies, among others.

Mabanta expressed his appreciation for the positive response of the Rotarians, after he presented to them the projects of the 3ID.

With Rotary District 3850’s theme of ‘Peace Through Service’ and the Philippine Army’s ‘Winning the Peace’ combined, we will be ‘Winning the Peace through Service’”,Mabanta said.

Rotary InternationalDistrict 3850 has about 1,200 Rotarians from 51Rotary Clubsin Iloilo City,Bacolod City,Zamboanga City, and the 12 provinces of Aklan, Antique, Basilan,Capiz,Guimaras,Iloilo, Misamis Occidental, Negros Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Ileto said RI District 3850 has enthusiastically responded to calls to eradicate polio, save the sights of thousand of cataract patients, bring life and livelihood to unreachable villages, improve health and living standards, and bring help to communities affected by natural calamities. * GPB

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