MARAWI CITY (PIA) — In line with the celebration of Labor Day and its founding anniversary, the 82nd Infantry Battalion (82IB) of the Philippine Army transported four (4) stranded teachers here back to their hometown in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental on Friday.
82IB provided one (1) military truck to ferry the teachers, one (1) working in Mindanao State University (MSU) Main Campus and three (3) from Marawi Smart Kids Learning Center Inc., to a designated quarantine facility in Oroquieta City.
On April 28, 2020 the Battalion received a call for help from the stranded teachers who wish to return to their homes.
The troopers then coordinated with the city government of Oroquieta through Rowena Magna-ong, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Assistant and the Deputy Operations Section Chief of Task Force COVID-19 Oroquieta City.
Magna-ong said Oroquieta Mayor Lemuel Meyrick M. Acosta approved the return of the stranded teachers and prepared the designated Quarantine Facility located at Habitacion Hotel.
The 82IB personnel immediately coordinated with the Lanao del Sur Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of COVID-19 and Marawi City Health Office for the release of needed medical certificates, quarantine pass, and travel clearances for the stranded teachers.
Lateral coordination with the 10th Infantry Battalion (10IB) in Misamis Occidental was also made for the safe passage of the teachers together with troopers from 82IB.
Lieutenant Colonel Rafman Altre, commanding officer of the 82IB, lauded the quick response of the COVID-19 Task Forces of Lanao del Sur and Misamis Occidental and the efforts of 10IB.
“We honor the sacrifices and contributions of teachers in shaping our future. Today is Labor Day at the same time the founding anniversary of our Battalion. Responding to the call of our people is our best way of celebrating Labor day and our unit anniversary,” said Altre.
To recall, 82IB together with 55th IB, 49th IB, and 12th Civil-Military Operations Battalion, all under 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade, deployed military trucks to ferry the stranded students from MSU back to their homes in 25 municipalities of Lanao del Sur on April 24. (LELA/ PIA ICIC)