ARMY personnel in Eastern Visayas have strengthened their crisis response capabilities and combat readiness through the recently held launching of “Pagparig-on” Exercise.
“’Pagparig-on,’ a Waray word meaning ‘to strengthen,’ lives up to its name by projecting power and tactical proficiency in both natural and human-induced crises,” said Major Jefferson Mariano, chief of 8th Infantry Division (8ID) Public Affairs Office based in Catbalogan City, Samar.
“Through Pagparig-on, we can broaden our reach and strengthen our defensive posture across our area of operations,” added Lieutenant Colonel Joemar Buban, assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations and spokesperson for the Pagparig-on Exercise.
The military exercise includes multi-layered staff coordination in enhanced territorial defense operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), and synchronized movement of battalions across strategic points in the Eastern Visayas region.
“Pagparig-on was geared toward honing crisis action planning and command decision-making within the context of territorial defense operations,” 8ID said in a statement to the media.
During the event, the army also incorporated the reserve force of the Ready Reserve Battalions under the 8th Regional Community Defense Group (8RCDG) “to test their readiness to complement frontline units not only in times of conflict but also during peacetime HADR efforts.”
“This is how we build ironclad strength and interoperability among our units. This is us, the Stormtroopers, gathering strength and ensuring the war is won before it begins,” Buban added. (Ronald Reyes/SunStar Philippines)