ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (PNA) - The Army's 55th Engineering Brigade has completed the rehabilitation of a 30-kilometer road in the island province of Basilan, south of this city, a military official announced Tuesday. Lt. Col. Gamal Hayudini, chief of the 4th Civil Relations Group (CRG), said the newly rehabilitated road will be turned over on Monday to Gov. Jum Akbar by no less than Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz. Hayudini said that at the same time, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held after the turnover ceremony for the asphalting of the same with Ortiz as the guest of honor. The 30-kilometer road which stretches from Lamitan town to the municipality of Tipo-Tipo forms part of the Basilan circumferential road. Hayudini said that the newly-rehabilitated road gives new opportunities and convenience to the residents in the remote areas of Basilan.
"Similar road projects have been initiated by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) in the different parts of the country. This one in Basilan is just one of the many projects that our AFP is doing for the people since it has been one of the primary duties and responsibilities of the military not only to secure and protect the people from violence but more so to bring progress and development to the people that it is serving," Hayudini added. With more asphalted roads, he said the farmers will not have a hard time in transporting their farm and other goods to the market "since the road is already accessible to all forms of land vehicles." The engineering brigade of the AFP will continue building roads to bridge the people to a more progressive future and well developed communities, Hayudini said. The rehabilitation work of the 30-kilometer road was undertaken by the Zamboanga City-based Army 55th Engineering Brigade headed by Brig. Gen. Michaelo Salvacion.
