Soldiers Once Again Lends a Helping Hand to Tondo Residence
by: Raven 

True to their calling, which is to serve and protect the people, the soldiers in Tondo once again proved their commitment to lend a helping hand in times of dire needs. Troops of the 1st Community Organizing and Development (CODE) Company of the Civil Military Operations Battalion, Philippine Army assisted the residents of Area H, Gate 1, Riles 1 and 2, Tondo, Manila during a fire which broke out Tuesday, January 2, 2008 that burned 50 shanties and affected more or less one hundred (100) families and injuring four people.

As concerned citizens reported the fire at around 3:30 pm, the troops together with the Barangay Volunteers quickly responded to the fire scene. With presence of mind, the soldiers alerted the residents in the neighborhood and helped them in evacuating and securing their belongings. Other troops assisted elements of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and civilian fire volunteers in putting out the fire which reached the fifth alarm with an estimated damage amounting to half a million pesos. Their combined efforts eventually put the fire under control at about 5:00 pm.  The troops of the 1st CODE Company and the local barangay officials temporarily evacuated affected residents at the nearby Del Pan Sports Complex.