By Ruben A.Veloria
Cong. Doris”Nanay Bing” Manoquiz (2nd District,Zambales)(3rd, R), together with (L-R) LtCol. Mark Anthony Ruelos, Commander 69th IB; Botolan Vice Mayor Atty. Nick Manzo, Board Member Jun Rundy Ebdane, DPWH Region 3 Director Engr. Arnold Ocampo, Zambales PENRO, and BGen Ronald Bautista PA, showing the plan of the camo, perspective, and the newspaper, before inserting inside the time capsule. (RAVeloria)
BOTOLAN, Zambales, Philippines — Congresswoman Doris “Nanay Bing” Maniquiz, (2nd Dist., Zambales) led the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a P260 million Philippine Army base camp in Barangay San Juan here.
Military officers and local government officials attended the ceremony, including 702nd Infantry Brigade Commander BGen. Ronald Bautista PA, 69th Infantry Battalion Cdr. LCol. Mark Anthony Ruelos PA, DPWH Region 3 Director Engr. Arnold Ocampo, DENR-PENRO Marife Castillo, Zambales Board Member Jun Rundy Ebdane, and community leaders.
Cong. Maniquiz said the presence of the 69th Infantry Battalion in the province does not only invite tourists, but also promotes a peaceful environment that will attract investors due to the secured area.
The new Army base camp shall be constructed on the hilltop of Sitio Alao, Barangay San Juan in Botolan where the new Battalion administrative building, officers’ quarters, company barracks, motor pool building, munition dump, and multi-purpose hall will be constructed.
The base will be named Lt. Francis Villanueva PAF, a Botolan-born helicopter pilot who was killed while trying to bring supplies and troops in a base camp in the mountain of Kalinga amid strong wind.
A total of 12 ha. of land was donated for the base camp. Ten ha. of which land will be donated by the office of PENRO Officer Marife Castillo upon request of Cong. Maniquiz to be used as a training ground for new recruits and refresher course for active personnel.
For his part, DPWH-R3 Director Engr. Ocampo said, “This project is under the TIKAS Program which aims to bring forth to the defenders of democracy the facilities with the most quality for operations in building infrastructures for peaceful community, development and security,” Ocampo said.
TIKAS Program or “Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad” (Strength of Infrastructure for Peace and Security), is a joint DND-DPWH convergence initiative designed to build and rehabilitate military Facilities nationwide using DPWH funds to enhance AFP facility readiness, improve personnel welfare, and support the “Build Better More” infrastructures program.
For BGen. Bautista recalled that in the past, soldiers suffice themselves with only makeshift barracks which they improve with what materials they could avail.
“But today, through the initiative of Cong. Nanay Bing, we will be transferring to all new facilities-barracks, admin office, quarters and more. These will not only boost the morale of the soldiers, they make them feel that the support of the community and by the government. Thank you, Nanay Bing,” Bautista said.
Meanwhile, Cong.Maniquiz expressed her wholehearted gratitude for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro for supporting the project, and to Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane for trusting her projects and for the technical assistance she needed.
