GenSan, Sarangani military exercises underway

MANILA, Philippines - More than 400 Navy regular forces and reservists are participating in military exercises in General Santos City and Glan town in Sarangani to boost their maritime security capabilities and disaster preparedness.

Navy spokesman Col. Omar Tonsay said 280 personnel from the regular forces and 127 reservists joined the “Pagsasama,” which will be held until Friday.

Tonsay said the Naval Forces-Eastern Mindanao and Naval Reserve Command initiated the annual exercise to test and enhance the troops’ interoperability and readiness to respond to security and humanitarian operations. 

“It is focused on the conduct of naval tactical maneuvers at sea, maritime surveillance exercise, search and rescue, visit, board, search, and seizure and humanitarian assistance/disaster response,” Tonsay said in a statement.

The activity will also test the communications interoperability of naval regular forces and reservists to ensure enough manpower in times of emergency.

The activity was held in La Union last year.

Two Navy ships – the BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Salvador Abcede – and a Navy Islander plane are being used in the exercises.

The participants will also use two ships from the Navy’s affiliated reserve units.

“This exercise highlights the Navy’s commitment to improve its reservist force operational readiness,” Tonsay said.