capability demonstration held Sunday at the Poblacion Beach in Sipalay
City, Negros Occidental. (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
SIPALAY CITY — About 100 reservists of the 81st Marine Battalion in Western Visayas showcased their amphibious raid capability during a demonstration held Sunday at the Poblacion Beach in this southern Negros city.
“We conducted this for the seamless integration of our reservists with the regular force, so that they will become a mirror image of our regular force,” said Brig. Gen. Arthur Biyo, commander of the Naval Reserve Command.
Biyo said the capability demonstration, initiated by the Naval Forces Central, was a culmination of the several months of training the reservists have underwent.
“We train them so that in the event of war invasion or rebellion, we can mobilize them to assist the Armed Forces,” he said. “They showed their capability to neutralize possible threats to our security.”
During the activity, the Marine reservists initiated a response to a security threat with support from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council rescue unit, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion-6 and Sipalay City Police Station.
Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, flag officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy, in a speech read by Biyo during the program, said the reserve force are reliable partners that their troops could rely on in times of war; and in surmounting obstacles and challenges imposed by the changing environment.
“They are Philippine Navy’s source of confidence in facing our challenges head-on, assured by the continuing presence of a highly-reliable competent and ready reserve force who can always back us up whatever the need may be,” Empedrad added.
Lt. Col. Francis Raymund Martin Yulo, commanding officer of the 81st Marine Battalion Reserve, said the demonstration illustrated the capability of the Philippine Navy through the reservists; and the interoperability of support from various government agencies and local government units.
“So that in times of calamity, disaster and security, we can respond accordingly as one seamless unit,” he added.
Yulo said the activity was held for the first time in Negros Occidental, and Sipalay was chosen to be the site of the capability demonstration being a thriving tourist destination.
“We need to communicate through our capability that your Philippine Navy, your Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other government line agencies are here to protect the environment and national security,” he further said.
For his part, Mayor Oscar Montilla said the demonstration is very important for Sipalay’s security preparedness, and to gauge the capability of the Armed Forces to address possible security threats in this city.
“We were made aware of the actual scenario in case it will happen,” he added. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
