TACLOBAN CITY —As Eastern Visayas braces for the year’s peak typhoon season, 28 Army personnel completed a two-week Disaster Response and Rescue Operations (DRRO) training at the 8th Infantry Division headquarters in Catbalogan City.
The training aims to strengthen the 8ID’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to natural and human-induced disasters, positioning the division as a frontline partner in humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the region.
Colonel Luzelito Betinol, officer-in-charge of the 8ID Office of the Chief of Staff, said the program ensures troops are better prepared to protect communities when calamities strike.
“As you go back to your respective units and offices, extend to your fellowmen all the learning, the wisdom, and especially the skills you have acquired,” Betinol told the participants.
He emphasized the Philippine Army’s role beyond traditional security duties, saying its personnel must embody “selfless service for the people, for God, and for the country — para sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
The DRRO training reflects the Philippine Army’s broader push to institutionalize disaster preparedness across its ranks, reinforcing its reputation as not only a defender of peace and security but also a reliable partner in rescue and relief operations during emergencies.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
