AFP honors partners in counterinsurgency project

MANILA, Philippines - The military honored 20 individuals and groups that have contributed to the success of security plan “Bayanihan,” which seeks to end insurgency through development projects.

The awardees were cited during the Bayanihan Awards Night held last Monday evening at the Armed Forces Commissioned Officers’ Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has a long list of valuable partners in its quest to win the peace for the Filipino people. We wanted to thank all our partners but we can only pick 20. You all know how important you are to us,” said AFP chief Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa.

Among the awardees was Sara Soliven de Guzman, chief operating officer of O.B. Montessori and columnist of The STAR.

De Guzman, daughter of the late STAR publisher Max Soliven, was chosen for her “genuine and heartfelt realization of the mission of Bayanihan.”

O.B. Montessori has donated books and computers to schools in depressed communities being assisted by the military.

The military said these books and computers complemented the structures constructed through the efforts of the National Development Support Command (NADESCOM).

NADESCOM is the military unit tasked to undertake development programs in conflict zones and underdeveloped areas.

Also feted was Norberto Formento, broadcast journalist of dzRH and former reporter of The STAR.

Formento, a long-time member of the Defense Press Corps, was cited for his efforts to promote the welfare of ordinary soldiers through his radio program.

Other awardees were TV-5 anchor Cheryl Cosim, Castilla, Sorsogon mayor Olivia Bermillo, Vic Cheng Young of Lions Club District 301D1 Service Foundation, Johnny Pimentel of the provincial government of Surigao del Sur, and Amb. Bienvenido Tan Jr. of the Angelo King Foundation and Salome K. Tan Foundation.

Also honored were Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto, Jolanta Baac, director of Kalinga Provincial Hospital and Jocelyn Limkaichong of the 1st District of Negros Oriental.

Organizations that were feted during the awards night were the ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation, Philippine National Red Cross, and GMA Kapuso Foundation for their humanitarian missions to conflict and disaster-hit areas; Oriental Negros Children’s Advocacy Network, D. M. Consunji, Inc., Balay Mindanao Foundation, Inc., Gawad Kalinga Foundation, Bato Balani Foundation, Inc. and SM Foundation, Inc. for their housing, education and livelihood projects.

The Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), a group of local singers, was also recognized “for building a culture of peace through the performing arts.”

The nominees were recommended by the AFP major services, unified commands and wide service support and separate units. The shortlist of nominees was subjected to a screening process before the list of Bayanihan awardees was finalized.

“We strongly believe that the more people work for peace the faster we can meet our goals of having a stable and secure nation. And hopefully, as time passes, more will follow your example,” Dellosa told the award recipients.