AFP gets busy with engineering projects for the community
Reshaping, crowning and ditching works
by an organic road grader.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, being an organization, has several departments apart from the ones that you see fighting against the enemy in war-torn areas.
One department is the 52nd Engineer Construction Batallion of the 53rd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army in Calinog. It does not only support the military's engineering needs but also works for the progress of the community. They call it the civil military operation (CMO) projects.
This year, it has embarked on several projects, which are as follows.
First, the lowering of the grade line of Toyungan Bridge in Barangay Toyungan, Calinog, Iloilo. The batallion provided one unit of TD86 bulldozer and manpower to lower the grade line of the said bridge. Earlier, it was higher than the main road.
Preparation of embankment for the
concreting or riprap at the eroded bank
of Jalaud River in Poblacion Calinog is
being done by an organic TD8G bulldozer
of the unit to avoid further erosion and to
prevent damage to the government and
private structures caused amid flooding.
Second, is the rechanneling of the Jalaur River, specifically the upstream of the said river in Poblacion, Calinog. The 200-meter rechanneling was made possible by the batallion's bulldozer.
Third, is the construction of a road net at the Gawad Kalinga (Kalahi) project in Barangay Baje, San Julian, Calinog. This will become a relocation site for 250 families that were affected by typhoon Frank. Some 50 families have already transferred in this site.
Fourth, is the clearing of the Calinog Municipal dumpsite in Barangay Ulayan, Calinog. The project encompassed 900 square meters.
Fifth, is the reshaping of the unpaved roadway in Barangays Toyungan, Cahigon and Binolosan, all in in Calinog. The roadways used to be unpassable.
Sixth, is the reshaping of the Cabugao-Banban Road in Calinog.
Seventh, is the reshaping of the Carvasan-Tabucan Road in Calinog. This three-kilometer road had been deteriorating, wherein tall grasses started growing, making it unpassable.
Eighth, is the reshaping of the Calinog municipal streets and last, is the reshaping of the farm to market road in Barangays Daud-Gama, all of Calinog.
The said projects were requested by Mayor Divinagracia of Calinog, and responded to by the said batallion under the leadership of Col. Arnaldo Fernandez, Jr, commander of the 53rd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army and through the efforts of Lt.Col. Nestor Abando, commander of the 55nd Engineer Construction Batallion.