THE Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) over the weekend activated the Joint Reserve Task Force Oro (JRTF), a combination of reserve units from the Philippine Army, Air Force, and Philippine Navy tasked to assist in humanitarian crisis and disaster response.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal, Eastmincom commander, said there is a need for the involvement of the citizenry especially the reservists to ensure the continuous development in Mindanao.

He said there is also a need to secure Cagayan de Oro especially since "the city is very near to where the crisis is happening.”

"It is very hard to organize and deploy troops if they are not trained and other agencies are not coordinating. We need to be prepared for when contingencies will arrive, like humanitarian assistance, natural or man-made," Madrigal said in a ceremony last Saturday, November 17, at the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) headquarters, Camp Evangelista, Barangay Patag, this city.

The JRTF Oro's commander is reservist Jane Docallos, with the rank as Lieutenant Colonel. Docallos is head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Cagayan de Oro.

In her message, Docallos said the JRTF activation marks a unified and coordinated effort among reserve units armed force.

"Our city is facing challenges such as environmental hazards, we must confront and we will be prepared. As battalion commander, I urge all to serve the best way we can notwithstanding our limitations," Docallos said.

The first JRTF was activated in General Santos City, and Madrigal said they plan to establish a JRTF per region.

Asked if this is a prelude to the martial law extension, Madrigal only said the JRTF is meant to respond to humanitarian and disaster crisis.

The reservists will undergo training on basic military skills and understand the culture of military.