PH Army eyes stronger reserve force via community defense hubs

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 26, 2024): PH Army eyes stronger reserve force via community defense hubs (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala (Screengrab from Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing)

MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA) on Monday said it is beefing up its reserve force through the formation of regional and community defense centers.

"Currently, meron tayong mga bagong inorganize na mga regional community defense groups and community defense centers para ma-cater yung mga kababayan natin na gustong mag volunteer sa reserve force (we are now currently organizing new regional community defense groups and community defense centers to cater to our countrymen interested in volunteering their services to the reserve force)," Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.

These hubs are created for the sole purpose of reserve force management, procurement and organization.

To date, Dema-ala said the Army's reserve force has reached "almost a million".

Dema-ala said they are also looking at how to make the Reserve Officers Training Corps' (ROTC) curriculum more "responsive to the situation and security environment" faced by the country.

Senate Bill 2034, which pushes for the revival of mandatory ROTC for students in higher education institutions (HEIs) and technical-vocational institutions, is included in the Marcos administration's legislative agenda.

Dema-ala, meanwhile, said the Army has implemented a centralized recruitment procedure for aspiring soldiers.

"For this year, we have a quota of 800 for officers, and 4,029 para sa (for) enlisted personnel. Ang gagawin lang ng mga kababayan natin na gustong mag-apply is pumunta lang sa website ng Join the Army or the Army Personnel Management Center para mag-register (Those who would want to apply can just log in to the website of the Join the Army of the Army or the Army Personnel Management Center to register),” he said.

Dema-ala said some 800 new enlisted personnel are set to take their oath on March 1.

The PA will mark its 127th founding anniversary on March 22 with the theme "Matatag na Hukbong Katihan para sa Bagong Pilipinas" (Strong Army for a New Philippines).

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1219546