Social Hall, Bonifacio Naval Station (BNS) Officers’ Clubhouse, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City
November 7, 2017
“Hindi ko kayo iiwan. May hanapbuhay kayo. I will make sure na ang mga anak ninyo ay okay na yan. Sagot na yan ng gobyerno,” said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to wounded-in-action (WIA) soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the launch of the Karne, Isda Supply Suporta sa Masa at Ekonomiya (KISS ME) project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) at the Bonifacio Naval Station (BNS) Officer’s Clubhouse Social Hall, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City.
President Duterte said he released 500 million pesos to provide WIA soldiers from Marawi City and in other theaters of war with proper and comfortable housing, rehabilitation, medical and livelihood support.
“Just give me until March, matatapos din ang village ninyo,” reassured the President and added, “There is life after Marawi.”
President Duterte also expressed his confidence that wounded or disabled soldiers would live relatively normal lives using prosthetics that will be provided by the government, and that they will be given the chance to work again, either in the Armed Forces or in other government offices.
The President also stated his continued support for both the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP), and promised the administration’s persistent efforts to provide only brand new and quality equipment for its forces to continue the fight against criminality and terrorism.
The KISS ME project aims to establish neighborhood outlets that sell poultry products, meat and fish sourced directly from farmers and fisher folks to by-pass resellers or middlemen, thus ensuring good profit for both the source and the seller while maintaining competitive prices.
During the program, DA Secretary Manny Piñol, in partnership with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, provided five (5) decorated WIA soldiers with KISS ME livelihood packages that included freezer units donated by Sanden Philippines.
The partnership between the DA and the DND aims to continue giving more wounded soldiers the opportunity to manage their own KISS ME outlets to further support their livelihoods.
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