The 10th Forward Service Support Unit (10FSSU) of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division and Oplan Northern Mindanao frontliners has

turned over face shields to the Department of Agriculture - 10 for its “Kadiwa on Wheels” frontliners and vendors, a military official said Wednesday.

The “Kadiwa on Wheels” is a program rolled out by DA-10 to bring fresh produce from farmers to different barangays here during the quarantine period.

DA-10 regional technical director Carlota S. Madriaga received 250 pieces of face shields from 10th FSSU chief Lt. Col. Lawrence A. Aninag represented by Corporal Wine Ve D. Aumbo and PFC Arsielef Paul C. Cardines and Oplan Normin frontliners head Glenn Dael.

The 10 FSSU has been producing improvised face shields to help Northern Mindanao in its fight against COVID-19, according to 4ID civil military operations chief Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad.

Trinidad said aside from giving face shields,4ID units are continuously assisting local government units and national and local government agencies in the region in the distribution of food packs, implementation of quarantine measures, and information dissemination.

Maj Gen. Gacal, according to Trinidad served as co- chairman of Northern Mindanao Regional Task Force on Covid-19, has also commended health workers, volunteers, and other front-liners for their selfless services.

Earlier, Lt. Col. Lawrence Aninag, commanding officer of 10FSSU said they were able to manufacture 3,070 face shields to be distributed to different communities and organizations in Cagayan de Oro City and its neighboring municipalities.

“On behalf of our director, (Collado), I would like to extend my gratitude [to the group] for the support provided and considering our agency as one of their recipients,” said Madriaga.

The 10FSSU also plans to distribute around 1,300 additional face shields to front-liners in different areas particularly health workers and security forces.

Soldiers were also working double time to fast track another batch of 1,500 shields to cater to the needs of Army units and civilian health facilities in the 4ID's area of responsibility, which include the Caraga region.

The 10FSSU, which is headquartered in Camp Evangelista in the village of Patag in this city, also produced 200 face masks that were distributed to troops manning quarantine checkpoints.

Among the recipients of the face shields were Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), Oro Banker Association in Cagayan de Oro, various police units and offices, the Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard-Northern Mindanao District, Camp Evangelista Station Hospital, and various units of 4ID.

Meanwhile, 4ID commander Maj.Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal has lauded 10FSSU for its initiative, as he was saying 10FSSU is doing is another proof of the Filipino soldiers' ingenuity, dedication, and intense desire to help the people especially in times of crisis.

“I hope this will inspire other groups and sectors of our society to contribute whatever they can to our fight against a common enemy, the Covid-19," Gacal said. (Ben Balce)