PH Army reservists tapped for relief ops in 'habagat'-hit areas

By Priam Nepomuceno

MANILA--The Philippine Army (PA) has mobilized its reservists to help in the ongoing rescue and relief operations in communities severely affected by the severe weather.

In a statement on Wednesday, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the Reserve Command (RESCOM) was tapped to deploy its reservists for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) missions.

The deployment, he said, was instrumental in the rescue of 30 residents in Fairview, Quezon City and 20 individuals in Tumana, Marikina on Tuesday.

In Palawan, the reservists cooperated with active Army units and civilian volunteers to distribute relief goods to families in Roxas and El Nido towns affected by the continuous rains and rising floodwaters caused by the southwest monsoon ("habagat"), Dema-ala said.

"Additionally, reservists assisted in repacking and transporting relief supplies from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region III warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga, demonstrating their vital role in the logistics chain during emergencies," he added.

The PA spokesperson said this development highlights the importance of a responsive and capable reserve force to augment regular troops performing HADR operations during times of calamities.

Dema-ala also said the deployment aligns with Republic Act 7077 or the Philippine Reservists Act, which underscores the strategic value of a prepared and deployable reserve component in both peacetime contingencies and national defense. (PNA)

(2025/07/24-11:39)

Philippine News Agency: info@pna.gov.ph, pna.subscription2020@yahoo.com