The Philippine Army Reserve Command assured local government units (LGUs) in Antique province that its members are ready to assist them in times of emergency and calamities.

Lt. Col. Erwin Ilaya, Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Army Reserve Command 602nd Community Defense Center (CDC), said around 500 reservists in the province are enhancing their capabilities in responding to emergencies and disasters.

“On September 8 and 9, there will be eight reservists who will be sent to Dingle, Iloilo to be trained on disaster response,” he said in an interview on Monday.

He said they conduct quarterly trainings for reservists considering that Antique is prone to disasters, particularly flooding and landslides.

During the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December last year, the reservists helped residents in the Municipality of Anini-y by clearing roads of felled trees.

Maj. Gen. Fernando Felipe, Philippine Army Reserve commander, visited the 602nd CDC at Camp Leandro Fullon in Barangay San Fernando here on Saturday.

Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, herself a reservist, received the 602nd CDC resolution requesting for a four-wheel vehicle and vowed to also raise funds for the PHP5 million multi-purpose building inside the camp.

“We need the vehicle to be used in our rescue operations because there are areas that our big trucks could not penetrate,” Ilaya said. (PNA)