The Philippine Army recently awarded Operation Blessing (OB) as Non-Government Organization (NGO) of the Year for 2007, for its efforts in promoting peace and nation-building in impoverished provinces in the country.

For many years, the Philippine Army has been OB’s partner in most of its out-of-town efforts. Together, they arrive at far-flung and hard-to-reach areas in the Philippines, bringing livelihood, medical, educational and even spiritual assistance to those who are in need.

Committed to its thrust in reaching out to the most neglected and economically disadvantaged people groups in the Philippines and the rest of Asia through a wide range of holistic programs and assistance, OB conducts massive humanitarian outreaches serving more than 200,000 people in 2007.

OB livelihood projects benefited nearly 1,000 families and trained more than 300 students through its Mobile Out-of-School Training program. OB volunteers and staff also attended to 30,000 individuals who need medical assistance and feeding.

It was also in 2007 that 21 disaster relief operations were carried out by the team and almost 170 wells and cisterns were dug up in the different provinces to provide potable water to the locals.

The NGO of the Year Award is a back-to-back recognition by the Philippine Army for OB, having given the same award for 2006. In 2002 and 2003, OB also received a citation for Peace Efforts all over the Philippines from The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Operation Blessing has various ongoing humanitarian programs across the country. To know more about OB, its projects and giving opportunities, call (632) 812-0581, (632) 812-0592 or (632) 840-3176 or log on to www.obphil.com.