A new three-storey building dedicated to education will soon be available for the use of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Philippine Army in Capas, Tarlac.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar, together with Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana and TRADOC commander Maj. Gen. Cornelio H. Valencia Jr., on Friday, led the inauguration and blessing of the PHP117-million Army Leadership Development and Education Center (ALDEC) Phase I building located inside Camp O’ Donnell.

Also present during the event were select key officials of the Philippine Army and from the DPWH Regional and Tarlac 2nd District Engineering Offices.

“This will serve as a learning facility for the conduct of leadership development and education, and will also house offices and a multi-purpose hall,” Villar said in a statement.

Meanwhile, DPWH Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino said the project funded under the General Appropriations Act 2020 was implemented by the Regional Construction Division.

To ensure that the training and education of the Army will remain uninterrupted, a generator set, as well as a water tank, was included in the project’s scope of work – apart from the usual civil, mechanical, electrical and sanitary/plumbing works.

Aside from ALDEC Building, the DPWH also completed other projects inside the TRADOC devoted to strengthening the skills and capabilities of the military.

The Tarlac 2nd District Engineering Office started construction of infrastructure projects for TRADOC in 2019.

Among those completed are a training pool, classrooms and a mess hall for the School for Candidate Soldier (SCS), and an Army Transient Facility (ATF).

“The second phase of the concreting of TRADOC Road Networks was completed in 2020. However, additional funds amounting to PHP15 million was released to ensure that the upgrading of the entirety of the road networks would be achieved,” Villar added.

The inauguration and blessing ceremonies were carried out in strict compliance with the health and safety protocols to ensure the safety of all present in the event against coronavirus disease. (PNA)