Farm-to-Market Road in Basilan Inaugurated; Local Execs Urge Public to Cooperate with the AFP

Tuesday, 03 November 2009
BY: LTCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

The ground works for a major road in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan that connects three barangays which has seen recent encounters between the AFP and the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group was inaugurated on Wednesday, 28 October 2009.

BGEN EUGENIO N CLEMEN AFP, Commander, 1st Marine Brigade, Gov. Jum J. Akbar, and Mayor Ingatun Lukman G. Istaru of Tipo-Tipo led the inaugural ground-breaking ceremony. The nine (9)- kilometer farm-to-market road project in Tipo-Tipo will connect the provincial road to the Barangay roads of Sungkayot, Silangkum, and Matata-- sites of recent bloody armed encounters between the AFP and ASG. The project was a joint undertaking of the AFP and the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P). The 1st Mobile Naval Construction Battalion of the Naval Construction Brigade leads the implementation of the project.

Governor Akbar of Basilan Tipo-Tipo Mayor Istaru expressed their full support in the project and conveyed their appreciation during the ground-breaking ceremony. The Governor urged the Basilenos to cooperate with the military in ensuring completion of the project and report all acts by threat groups that will derail its timely completion.

Mayor Istaru for his part attributed the roots of criminalities in his town to the absence of roads that will connect the people to schools, clinics, market, and other infrastructures necessary for development. The two officials jointly urged their constituents to support and protect all projects initiated by the AFP for the betterment of the province.

RADM ALEXANDER P PAMA AFP, Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao stressed in his remarks the economic and strategic value of the road rehabilitation which will redound to the well being and security of the community.



RADM ALEXANDER P PAMA AFP, Commander, NFWM giving his remarks on the groundbreaking ceremony.



Governor Jum J. Akbar listens to CNFWM briefing on the plan of rehabilitation.





RADM PAMA, Gov. Akbar, CPT CLAYPOOL and BGEN CLEMEN laying the time capsule marking the start of the project.






LT CADISAL of 1MNCBN explains the details of the road rehabilitation at the project site.