From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 25, 2020): Army commends C. Visayas reservists for Covid-19 duties (By John Rey Saavedra)
BEST RESERVIST UNIT. Brig. Gen. Erik Miguel Espina, Commander of the 1901st Ready Reserve Infantry Brigade, receives a Plaque of Merit from 7th Regional Community Defense Group chief, Col. Ricky Bunayog, in a virtual awarding on Sept. 18, 2020. Bunayog on Friday (Sept. 25, 2020) said the 1901st Brigade was awarded as 2020's Best Ready Reserve Unit, in recognition of its quarantine duties at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of 7RCDG CMO)
CEBU CITY – A reservist unit in Central Visayas whose members went to the front line during the community quarantine in Cebu to curb the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has been hailed as the Philippine Army’s best ready reserve unit this year.
Col. Ricky Bunayog, chief of the 7th Regional Community Defense Group, in a statement on Friday said the Army recognized the “valuable contribution” of the 1901st Ready Reserve Infantry Brigade in the fight against Covid-19 in Cebu.
The unit headed by reservist Brig. Gen. Erik Miguel Espina rendered several tasks in support to the medical and law enforcement front-liners at the height of the health crisis, Bunayog said.
“Indeed, a unit whose mantra of existence is anchored on serving our God, country and people and composed of patriotic men and women, honors and recognitions like this is not surprising at all,” he said, as he urged the reservists to remain committed to help despite adversities.
The Army official said the 1901st Brigade reservists were among the first volunteer uniformed service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who repacked family food packs at the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Visayas Disaster Relief Center (DSWD-VDRC). The food packs were distributed to the poor families affected by lockdowns and strict quarantine protocols.
The unit also supported the Department of Health (DOH)’s effort to secure health care personnel from being infected with the coronavirus by providing them with improvised personal protective equipment (PPE) made of cellophane.
Bunayog said the 5th Technical and Administrative Service of the AFP Reserve Command also helped the Brigade in coming up with a PPE design before the production stage.
He also recalled the agony of 13 reservists of the Brigade who were sent to forced isolation and swab testing after they were exposed to a Covid-19 positive policeman tasked to man quarantine control checkpoints.
The reservists were, however, released after their swab test turned negative.
Also, a squad of reservists joined the Decontamination Ready Unit of the DOH at the height of the pandemic. They were trained to conduct community-wide decontamination in the event of massive Covid-19 transmission.
Apart from the quarantine duties, the Army also recognized the brigade’s medical and dental mission in Barangay Catarman in Liloan town in northern Cebu and their duties as crowd control personnel for the annual Sinulog.
Despite the hectic schedule of some reservists who belong to different professions, the Army noted that they were still able to join the air to ground operations seminar, gun safety and VIP security training, water search and rescue, and scuba diving.
Bunayog said the award was given on Sept. 18 although via virtual conference due to the existing quarantine status.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116646
Col. Ricky Bunayog, chief of the 7th Regional Community Defense Group, in a statement on Friday said the Army recognized the “valuable contribution” of the 1901st Ready Reserve Infantry Brigade in the fight against Covid-19 in Cebu.
The unit headed by reservist Brig. Gen. Erik Miguel Espina rendered several tasks in support to the medical and law enforcement front-liners at the height of the health crisis, Bunayog said.
“Indeed, a unit whose mantra of existence is anchored on serving our God, country and people and composed of patriotic men and women, honors and recognitions like this is not surprising at all,” he said, as he urged the reservists to remain committed to help despite adversities.
The Army official said the 1901st Brigade reservists were among the first volunteer uniformed service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who repacked family food packs at the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Visayas Disaster Relief Center (DSWD-VDRC). The food packs were distributed to the poor families affected by lockdowns and strict quarantine protocols.
The unit also supported the Department of Health (DOH)’s effort to secure health care personnel from being infected with the coronavirus by providing them with improvised personal protective equipment (PPE) made of cellophane.
Bunayog said the 5th Technical and Administrative Service of the AFP Reserve Command also helped the Brigade in coming up with a PPE design before the production stage.
He also recalled the agony of 13 reservists of the Brigade who were sent to forced isolation and swab testing after they were exposed to a Covid-19 positive policeman tasked to man quarantine control checkpoints.
The reservists were, however, released after their swab test turned negative.
Also, a squad of reservists joined the Decontamination Ready Unit of the DOH at the height of the pandemic. They were trained to conduct community-wide decontamination in the event of massive Covid-19 transmission.
Apart from the quarantine duties, the Army also recognized the brigade’s medical and dental mission in Barangay Catarman in Liloan town in northern Cebu and their duties as crowd control personnel for the annual Sinulog.
Despite the hectic schedule of some reservists who belong to different professions, the Army noted that they were still able to join the air to ground operations seminar, gun safety and VIP security training, water search and rescue, and scuba diving.
Bunayog said the award was given on Sept. 18 although via virtual conference due to the existing quarantine status.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116646
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