Church Donates Zodiac Military Grade Rubber Boats to The Philippine Marine Corps

Latter-day Saints Charities Country Director Brother Jairus Perez, Area Welfare and Self-Reliance Manager Brother Abenir Pajaro, and Humanitarian Missionaries of the Church Elder Steve Leniniger together with his wife Sister Marilyn Leininger; met with Chairperson of Naval Multi Sectoral Linkaging Committee Brigadier General Rodylyn Manzano, and Commandant of Philippines Marine Corps Major General Charlton Sean Gearlan at the Philippines Marine Corps Fort Bonifacio Headquarters to turnover two Military Grade Zodiac Rescue Boats which will be used for humanitarian and rescue and relief operations.

The main beneficiary of the two Military Grade Zodiac Rubber Boats is the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 under the 4th Marine Brigade under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Julius Yncierto stationed at Sta. Ana, Cagayan in Region 2.

Lt. Co. Yncierto expressed his gratitude saying, “We are delighted of the blessing that has been shared to us by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through the two Military Grade Zodiac Rubber Boats.” The project started when Bishop Roosevelt T. Cayaba of Tumauini 2nd Ward of Ilagan Philippines Stake (diocese), underwent training as a marine reservist under Lt Col. Yncierto’s unit. During the training Bishop Cayaba saw personally that the unit would need a piece of equipment that would further the capability of the unit in their service. Lt Col. Yncierto then wrote a letter to the Welfare and Self-Reliance Department of the Church seeking assistance in providing the needed equipment. According to Lt Col. Yncierto, the two rubber boats “would enhance our capability not only for territorial defense operations, it will also have an impact in our response to humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, as well as in our training,” he added.

Chairperson of Naval Multi Sectoral Linkaging Committee Brigadier General Rodylyn Manzano also expressed her gratitude to the Church and on how the partnership between the Church and the Philippines Marine Corps has grown since 2010, when the marines assisted the Church in conducting a livelihood program in Cagayan, which was then experiencing a drought. Brig. Gen. Manzano also recalled the PPE donations done by the Church that assisted the Philippines Marine Corp during the pandemic.