By Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Over a thousand people, including 300 children, benefited from the community outreach mission of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) in Ozamiz City, an official said Tuesday.
Rear Adm. Rene Medina, NFWM commander, said the humanitarian mission was held on Sunday in Barangay Doña Consuelo in partnership with the city government of Ozamiz and other stakeholders, including military units.
Medina said various services were rendered during the activity, including medical consultation, dental checkup and tooth extraction, and eye check-up and eye glasses distribution. NFWM volunteers also offered free haircut, free circumcision on children, feeding program, and distribution of sardines to 300 family-beneficiaries.
Used clothes were also distributed to the residents and trash bins were turned over to barangay officials.
Medina said the NFWM band and the Marine Battalion Landing Team-11 entertained the residents during the community outreach mission.
Medina said the outreach activity is one way of reminding the public that they can always trust and rely on the Philippine Navy, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a whole.
Doña Consuelo Barangay Chairperson Rey Lapar said it was the first time they benefited from such an outreach mission that offered basic services.
Lapar said they were very thankful that their village was the recipient of the services of the NFWM and its partner agencies.
A graduation rite of the Special Basic Citizen Military Training (SBCMT)-Class 24 was held in the afternoon.
Medina said the 134 reservists were trained and equipped by the Naval Reserve Center-Western Mindanao with basic military doctrine.
He said the activities of the NFWM is consistent with the stand of the Philippine Navy to sustain and strengthen its maritime patrol to protect and secure the Philippine waters, while helping the community to progress and attain better quality of life.
