LEGAZPI CITY, Mar 5 (PIA) -- Civil-military cooperation plays a key role not only in disaster response but also on various risk reduction initiatives, proving its efficiency not only in Albay but also in other areas in the country and abroad.
Roderick Mendoza of the Albay Public Safety and Management Office cited the critical role of the military and other men-in-uniform in assisting civil authorities in building disaster resilient communities especially in remote and high risk areas. Mendoza noted, “Their understanding of their respective areas of responsibilities has also been important in developing contingency plans.”
He also said Albay has given equal importance on preparedness measure and the uniformed services should also be able to adapt to this paradigm shift being an integral component of the country’s disaster risk reduction management plans and strategies.
Disaster capability building component of Phl-US Pacific Angel 12-1“Bayanihan” kicked off today with lectures and interfacing with DRRM authorities of Albay, military and police personnel, and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile. Col. Arthur Ang, commander of the Army’s 901st Brigade, said Albay has given new meaning to “civil-military cooperation” as it was apparent how effective DRRM efforts of the province have evolved with the cooperation of the uniformed service.
Meanwhile. Col. Arthur Ang, commander of the Army’s 901st Brigade, said Albay has given new meaning to “civil-military cooperation” as it was apparent how effective DRRM efforts of the province have evolved with the cooperation of the uniformed service.
“Our technically challenged equipment has been preceded by active and complementing efforts of civil-military cooperation. Adjudged as a Hall of Fame awardee of Gawad Kalasag affirms this good practice that we do and advocate in the province,” he added.
For their part, US Personnel Capt. Michael Roberts and Lt. Col. Allan Delos Santos provided inputs on Humanitarian Assistance and Rapid Response Team focusing on Contingency Report Group and Medical Component.
“We are extremely happy for the assistance accorded us by Bicol University for facilitating a Cultural Sensitivity lecture to our visitors especially to Dr. Herbert D. Rosana. His lecture indeed will help our counterpart from the US Pacific Air Force on how to properly deal with our kababayans in this five-day humanitarian mission,” said Lt. Col. Augusto Gaite, Commander of Humanitarian Assistance Task Group.
Last week two US Air Force C-17 Globemaster Cargo planes already flew in to this city from Guam ferrying medical supplies, and military and civilian experts on CCA and DRR who will train Filipinos and lecture on their fields of expertise.
Operation Pacific Angel is a recurring joint/combined humanitarianassistance mission sponsored by US Pacific Command (USPACOM) designed to bring humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) and civil-military operations(CMO) to areas in need in the Pacific region.
The mission is conducted in locations throughout the Pacific theater to support the U.S. military charter of capacity building in partner nations.
US military participates in these operations to enhance relations with partner nations, build medical and civil assistance capacity in those nations, and to prove a commitment to support the nation’s efforts to assist their population in a time of need. (MAL-PIAV/DFN, Navforsol)
