1ID conducts “Operation Baklas”

KUTA SANG-AN – After successfully securing the historic May 10 elections, the 1^st Infantry (Tabak) Division, Philippine Army under the sterling leadership of MGen Romeo D Lustestica, AFP conducted a 2-day post elections clean-up drive dubbed Operation “Baklas” on the mess left by candidates to restore cleanliness and support the global campaign against climate change.

These were done on May 21, 2010 in 25 barangays of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur and on May 25, 2010 in the 44 barangays of Pagadian City, respectively.

The recent local and national elections resulted in the proliferation of campaign materials, including posters, streamers, flyers and billboards along main thoroughfares, structures and buildings that caused eyesores and spreading so much litter everywhere.

Six officers and 131 soldiers from different organic post units of this command to include 9^th Finance Service Unit, 1^st Light Armor Battalion , 9^th Field Artillery Battalion (OPCON Units) , 53^rd IB and 9RDG based in Dao headed by Lt Col Samuel L Leria PA , Deputy, G7 were deployed to conduct the said activity. ROTC cadets and CAFGUs also participated in the clean-up drive. The CAFGUs were in-charge of cleaning in the remote barangays of Lourdes and Lison Valley in Pagadian; and Noburan and Cogonan in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

The “Operation Linis / Baklas” was simultaneously conducted by all units in the field that covers the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City in coordination with concerned government agencies, local government units, and NGOs. The clean-up drive campaign in their respective area of responsibility was done in support to a healthy, orderly and pollution-free environment.

It was their own way of showing to the public how committed they were in their endeavor and expect the local folks will turn up and show their support for a common goal. It can be recalled that the clean-up campaign was in line with a COMELEC resolution aimed at tearing down and removing unlawful and unsightly election materials.

Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co in an interview over local radio station RMN-DXPR was very much grateful to Lustestica and his men for actively leading in the ‘Operation Baklas’.

“I commend MGen. Lustestica for the laudable efforts exerted by his men in removing posters, streamers, billboards and other remnants of the past elections in the main thoroughfares , thereby restoring cleanliness in the city,” Co said.

He, however, said that he was worried for not participating the ‘Operation Baklas’ because after the election, he went abroad with his family for a brief vacation. Despite his absence , he ordered his staff to

send snacks to the soldiers as his gesture of support.

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POC: MAJ ARNOLD L GASALATAN (INF) PA

Chief, DPAO, 1ID, PA

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