TACLOBAN CITY — In a bid to strengthen the morale and emotional well-being of police personnel, the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) has launched “Project Kalinga,” a peer mentoring program designed to promote compassion and mutual support within its ranks.
The initiative formally kicked off with a five-day face-to-face Peer Mentoring Orientation Seminar held from February 9 to 13, 2026, bringing together 150 police officers from across Eastern Visayas.

Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, regional director of PRO-8, said the program aims to ensure that police personnel feel valued, supported, and guided as they carry out their duties.
“I am confident that our personnel, guided by trained peer mentors, will continue to serve our communities with dedication and care,” Capoy said.

Participants included representatives from municipal police stations, with 15 delegates each from the police provincial offices and city police offices. Personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 and the PRO-8 Regional Headquarters also took part in the seminar.

According to PRO-8, Project Kalinga will be implemented in phases. These include the orientation and training of peer mentors, the establishment of peer monitoring teams, regular mentoring and monitoring sessions, as well as evaluation and feedback mechanisms. Outstanding peer mentors and teams will also be recognized.

Capoy said the project underscores the regional command’s commitment to strengthening the welfare and professional growth of its personnel.

“Project Kalinga reflects our strong commitment to the welfare, morale, and well-being of our personnel while fostering compassion, understanding, and mutual support within our ranks,” he said.

PRO-8 emphasized that a motivated and well-supported police force is essential in delivering effective and community-centered service across Eastern Visayas.

(RONALD O. REYES)

BASEY, Samar-Far, isolated, and disillusioned. These were the words often regarded for the locals of Sitio Bagti, Barangay Mabini, Basey, Samar. As the tide continues to turn, communities previously corrupted with insurgency can now testify that government services do not always come with fanfare, but with soldiers and social workers who listen to the pleas of the common people.

In its continuing efforts to strengthen peace, development, security, and cooperation in geographically isolated areas, the 63rd Infantry (Innovator) Battalion, alongside the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), conducted the Turn-Over Ceremony of the Rice Mill Sustainable Livelihood Project to 25 farmers of Sitio Bagti, Mabini, Basey, Samar, on February 09, 2026.

For the locals, the livelihood project served as a contrast to the empty promises they had heard in the past that the insurgency groups used to exploit communities. Instead of intimidation and extortion, they experienced diplomatic dialogues, and fear was further replaced with reassurance.

Mario Cabigayan, President of the Bagti Farmers’ Association, shared his appreciation for the consistent government support for Sitio. Bagti. “Dako an amon pasalamat sa gobyerno ngan kasundalohan han 63rd Infantry Battalion kay waray ninyo kami pabay-e,” he said. (Huge thanks for the government and soldiers of the 63rd Infantry Battalion for they had never forsaken us.)

Lieutenant Colonel Ricky James L. Rosalejos, Commanding Officer of the 63rd Infantry Battalion, argues that sustained community engagement is essential in ensuring that residents remain educated and supported by legitimate authorities.

“Peace is best sustained when communities feel protected, heard, and connected to government services. Our engagement in Sitio Bagti reflects the Philippine Army’s commitment to a people-centered approach in security operations,” he said. (PR)

The Philippine Air Force (PAF), together with the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), conducted a Bilateral Bomber Air Patrol and Live Drop Exercise from February 2 to 6, 2026, at multiple locations, including Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base (CERAB), Tarlac City, and over the West Philippine Sea via the Luzon Strait, with support from the Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC).

The bilateral engagement featured a series of coordinated air activities aimed at strengthening cooperation and interoperability between Philippine and U.S. forces. On February 2, 2026, the PAF and PACAF conducted a Live Drop Exercise at CERAB, involving PAF FA-50PH fighter aircraft and U.S. B-52 bomber aircraft, supported by joint planning and coordination elements from SOCPAC and MARFORPAC.

The exercise continued with an Air Defense scenario on February 4 over the West Philippine Sea, focusing on airspace coordination, command-and-control integration, and joint operational response. On February 6, the activity culminated in a Joint Bomber Air Patrol over the West Philippine Sea and Luzon Strait, highlighting combined mission planning, airspace coordination, and operational readiness among PAF, PACAF, and supporting U.S. forces.

These activities enhanced bilateral interoperability, operational readiness, and strategic cooperation through joint planning, coordination, and execution in a realistic training environment. Through these combined air activities and multi-domain support, the PAF continued to strengthen defense partnerships and reinforce its capability to safeguard national airspace and uphold sovereignty. (PR)