The Philippine Army installed Col. Benito Noel M. Rivera as the new Acting Chief Dental Surgeon in a ceremony on November 10, 2023 at the Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Outgoing Chief Dental Surgeon Col. Rosendo B. Pasicolan officially relinquished his post to Col. Rivera in a Change of Chief of Office and Retirement Ceremony presided by Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Potenciano C. Camba. Prior to his new post, Col. Rivera served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Army Chief Dental Surgeon. He also held leadership positions in the field units, including the 1362nd Dental Dispensary, Army Station Hospital, 2nd Infantry Division; 1301st Dental Dispensary, General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines; and Dental Detachment, Fort Magsaysay Army Station Hospital, 7th Infantry Division. Col. Rivera is a graduate of Dental Medicine from Centro Escolar University and holds a Master's in Public Management major in Development Security from the Development Academy of the Philippines.
On the other hand, Col. Pasicolan will retire from the organization after 30 years in the service. He served in the Office of the Army Dental Surgeon and held various positions from 2018 before taking the helm in 2020. He also served as the Commanding Officer of the 1354th Dental Clinic, Headquarters and Headquarters Support Group, Philippine Army. Col. Pasicolan is a graduate of Dental Medicine from De Ocampo Memorial College. Since he entered the military service in 1991, he continued to enhance his capabilities to provide quality service to the Army personnel and their dependents.
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Camba congratulated both Col. Pasicolan and Col. Rivera for their new endeavors in their military career. He also encouraged the troops to support their new chief and continue to put premium on their services for the unit's stakeholders.
Photos by Pvt. Divino Lozano, OACPA