Since 2004, Philippine peacekeepers of UNMIL have been offering services and initiating programmes for the benefit of the host population in addition to their tasks of providing security to the mission’s top leadership, protecting the perimeters of PAP and Star Base, and providing clerical support to many UNMIL offices.

Keeping up the tradition of their predecessors, Logistics Branch and Motor Pool Section of the Philippine contingent, led by Maj. Joseph C Revilla, launched a new initiative, “Make a Liberian Smile.” This project originated as an informal campaign to allocate a portion of their blessings to a worthy undertaking. 

They collected old and new clothes, shoes, toys, school materials and food stuff from fellow contingent members, colleagues and friends through Drop Boxes displayed in their HQ camp. The donations were handed over to Helen-Senyon Howard, a national staff in our Finance Section and active officer of Tahor Incorporated and Mantu Caucus, local community and humanitarian based organizations, to benefit Liberians in the remote Dayokpoh community of Sasstown, Grand Kru County.   The handover took place at the Philippine military headquarters in Camp Abuja on 31 May.

  
Contingent Commander, 17th PCL Col. Fidel Igmedio T. Cruz, Jr. and Deputy Commander, 17th PCL Lt. Col. Stevenson J. Lamarca urged fellow peacekeepers to contribute to this noble endeavor, which is expected to be carried forward by succeeding contingents.  The 17th Philippine contingent arrived in Liberia in August 2012. The donations were a fitting farewell gift before their impending departure from the Mission.