FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija -- In line with the celebration of National Reservists Week this month, the Reserve Command, Philippine Army, in partnership with the Civil-Military Operations Regiment and 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army, conducted a 2-day Ready Reserve Unit Commanders’ Convention at Bulwagang Tinyente Bandong, Kaugnay Officers’ Clubhouse, Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, on September 21-22.
The convention of the Ready Reserve Unit Commanders, which was also attended by the Battalion Commanders of 7ID deployed in the Area of Responsibility, aims to ensure that they possess a comprehensive understanding and proficiency of the latest regulatory changes, policies, and procedures.
Lieutenant Colonel Edgel E. De Vera, Chief Plan and Research Branch, G9, PA, discussed the current Reserve Force Development Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. At the same time, Lieutenant Colonel Cyril A. Santander, G3, RESCOM, PA, briefed the participants on the command relationship and the roles of Ready Reserve Infantry Brigades and Battalions.
Major Patrick Kim Rijalde, Chief Operations, G3, 7ID, on his part, discussed the Campaign Plan and Reserve Force Development Program of 7ID.
On the other hand, Brigadier General Benjamin L. Hao, CMO Regiment Commander, discussed their efforts to support the Reserve Force as a whole.
BGen. Hao has served as the Assistant Division Commander for Reservist and Retiree Affairs in 7ID, wherein he initiated various innovations, programs, and activities that strengthened the implementation of the Reserve Force Development program of the unit in its Area of Responsibility.
During the activity, participants established a cooperative environment among RRU Commanders on reservist management, examined the roles and obligations of the RRUs in supporting the campaigns of their supported commands, and adopted innovative approaches and new technologies geared towards promoting and improving reservist management.
Meanwhile, Major General Romulo Manuel Jr. Commander, Reserved Command, Philippine Army, served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker during the Closing Ceremony, wherein ROTC Corps Commanders and Army Retirees personnel joined the activity along with the Ready Reserve Commanders in Luzon.
Major General Andrew D. Costelo, PA, Commander, 7ID, extended his support to the implementation of the Reserve Force Development programs of the Philippine Army and ensured that 7ID highly recognized the role of the reservists either in internal security, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response operations or in its preparations for territorial defense operations.
100 Army retired personnel and 45 ROTC Corps commanders from the 3rd RCDG joined the closing ceremony.
Before the ceremony, the 7ID conducted a mustering of the Army retired personnel in Nueva Ecija, which aims to strengthen the Standby and Retired Reserve Forces in Central Luzon, establish a communication line between the 7ID and the retired Army personnel, assess the roles of retired Army personnel in times of war and emergencies, and capacitate them to support the mission of the 7ID.