Phil Navy urges professionals, students to join reserve corps

By Connie Calipay

The commander of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (Navforsol) has urged the public, particularly young professionals and students to join the Philippine Navy’s reserve corps as a way of showing their patriotism and volunteerism for nation-building.

Navforsol commander Commodore Jose Ma. Ambrocio M. Ezpeleta cited recently the importance of the reservists during the “Exercise Pagsasama 2022” that aims to integrate the reserve and active/regular members thru training to enhance interoperability and develop their skills.

“This is also one way of encouraging the public to join the reserve force and showing their volunteerism, we would like to encourage everyone to join us,” Ezpeleta said in an interview in Barangay Sto. Niño, Bacon town in Sorsogon.

“Exercise Pagsasama 2022” is a unilateral exercise being conducted by the Philippine Navy to enhance the regular and reserve force’s capacity to work together in conducting naval operations.

The five-day exercise included civic actions and community relations activities, training on maritime operations, communication procedures, and information sharing.

Ezpeleta also said the exercise was intended to assure the public that in times of disaster and national emergencies, the Naval forces can employ regular and reserve forces.

“This exercise is for our reserve forces in the Navy, we teach and train them so that when times we need them, we can integrate them immediately with the regular forces. We are here to enhance our reserve force,” he added.

The Navy official also said the exercise aimed to bring the government closer to the people, particularly in far-flung areas. “I also encourage our men to help in all possible ways we can help,” he said.

Meanwhile, at least 120 residents of Sto. Niño benefited from the medical and dental mission as part of the said activity.