KBP Projects on Full Throttle:

AS ARMY COMPLETES 3 MORE SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN DONSOL
By: LTC LYNDON J SOLLESTA CE (GSC) PA 565th Engineer Construction Battalion, 51EBde, PA Camp Martillana, Pili, Camarines Sur


Donsol, Sorsogon – Three (3) more School Building Projects were completed by the Army Engineers last 19 June 2009 in Donsol, Sorsogon. The projects consist of a new Construction and a Repair of two (2) units School Buildings in Brgy Malapoc and new construction in Brgy Tuba.

The projects were started on 27 February 2009 and part of the Kalayaan Barangays Program (KBP) projects, with the intent of transforming former conflict affected communities in to a progressive, peaceful and productive one. The School Buildings caters to elementary pupils of the inland barangays that also doubles as an evacuation center for natural calamities and other emergencies.

The projects were undertaken by the Charlie Company, 565ECB under 1LT LESTER SINLAO and secured by the 22nd Infantry Battalion (CAFGU) and backed by elements of 9th Infantry Battalion. It was also being heartily supported by the Barangay Officials due to the fact that labor was sourced out from the local populace under the National Development Support Command’s “Hire Development” program.

A simple Ceremony held at the Municipal Hall of Donsol, Sorsogon on 22 July 2009, COL MARLOU SALAZAR, Commander of 901st Infantry Brigade turned over the School Building Projects to their respective Teachers-in-Charge, Ms Sheryl Nipay of Malapoc Elem School and Ms Florecel Arevalo of Tuba Elementary School as witnessed by Barangay Captains, Hon Santos Llaner of Tuba, Hon Roberto Novela of Malapoc and with the Hon Verome Alcantara, Municipal Mayor of Donsol as the Ceremony’s distinguished guest. In his message, Mayor Alcantara lauded the soldiers for their genuine concern to his constituents.

To further encourage the pupils, the 565th ECB and the 901st IBde gave free school supplies to the Grade 1 Pupils. Week’s Later, additional school bags requested from GMA-KAPUSO Foundation were again given to the school children.

It is easy to count the accomplishment of the Engineers if only to summarize in mathematical figures. But what matters most and makes the Engineer-Soldier feel proud of his noble achievement is the unquantifiable value of education accorded to the children in their pursuit for formal education, for we still believed that they are the future of this great nation.