DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines (PNA) -- The first Oplan Bayanihan of the Philippine Army was successfully conducted in Buenavista, Guihulngan in northern Negros Oriental on Sunday, through a convergence of government, private, and non-government organizations, including the presence of volunteer lawyers for a free legal clinic.

Lt. Col. Ramil Bitong, 11th IB commanding officer, considers it both an inspiration to be able to gather all the stakeholders in one event and a challenge to look forward to another event of such kind.

Bitong thanked the people behind the success of the project in living up to the Bayanihan spirit, in making the people feel and taking cognizance that insurgency is not just a problem of the military but by the whole populace.

The project was initiated by the Negros Oriental High School Class ‘94 and Class ’95 who sourced out funds for the medicines as well as volunteer nurses headed by Simoun Yumul.

With the success of the first Oplan Bayanihan, Col. Bitong said he is even more confident that the insurgency can be solved although it may not be soon in Guihulngan, which is known for being a guerilla base of the New People’s Army.