Philippine Army Reserve Command

History

Philippine Commonwealth

By 1935, the Philippine Commonwealth, under the leadership of President Manuel Luis Quezon enacted the very first legislature of his government. Commonwealth Act Nr. 01 ensured that Philippines will be prepared to thwart off any invasion or aggression of some sort by any nation, or entity and thus called upon its citizens to provide manpower to then fledgling Philippine Army. The National Defense Act of 1935 heralded the creation of what would be the Armed Forces of the Philippines and very first documented account of voluntary citizen enlistment.

World War II

Main article: Hunters ROTC

Reservists fought hard during the 1940s and saw action on almost all parts of the country in World War II. Regular and reserve members of then Philippine Army/Philippine Army Air Corps (forerunner of the Phil Air Force), the Philippine Constabulary, and the Philippine Offshore Patrol (what would become the Phil Navy later on.) were incorporated with US units and rallied under the banner of the USAFFE.

A ragtag group of former ROTC Cadets, Guerilla Fighters and draftees of the Philippine Army Reserve Force formed units among themselves and fought gallantly against the Japanese invaders. Collectively, they were known as the Hunters ROTC Unit.

Post World War II

Post WWII saw the re-organization of the AFP and the further need to rebuild the defense of the nation. Reserve units were then organized to Battalion Combat Teams with the sole purpose of force augmentation in the eventuality that another world war ensues.

On September 1, 1977, the Army Reserve Command was activated pursuant to General Orders No. 250 of the Philippine Army, after consolidating various Regional Community Defense Units (RCDUs). Army officers were tasked to organized, train, and manage a reserve force that will equate or surpass the current strength of its regular forces.

1986 EDSA Revolution

By 1986, after the EDSA Revolution, the unit was shortly deactivated since the AFP at that time was undergoing retraining and re-organization.

Birth of the modern AFP Reserve Force

1991 saw the birth of a new reserve force when Republic Act 7077 (Reservists Act of 1991) was signed into law on July 1, 1991. This new legislation directed the AFP to organize and create units with the sole purpose of reservists management.

On May 12, 1992, the Reserve Command, Philippine Army, was again reactivated pursuant to HPA General Orders No. 392 and was later again renamed as the Army Reserve Command on October 1, 1999 (HPA GO Nr 1300) and was given its marching orders to maintain, administer, develop, train, and organize reservists units to help enhance and sustain National Security and Development.

Future of RESCOM, PA

In the 21st century, the unit is modernizing itself pursuant to the directives of Headquarters, Philippine Army's transformation roadmap to 2028.

Legal Mandate

Commonwealth Act 1

Main article: National Defense Act of 1935

Commonwealth Act No. 1, particularly Section II, cites the responsibility of each and every citizen of for the defense of the nation. Citizens may be mobilized in the event the national government declares an act of war or emergency.

Republic Act 7077

Republic Act No. 7077, also known as the Citizen's Armed Force Act or Reservist Law of 1991, is an act passed in to law by the joint house of representatives which clearly provides the policies and procedures in the creation and administration of reservists and reserve units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Republic Act 9163

Main article: National Service Training Program

Republic Act No. 9163, also known as the National Service Training Program Act or National Service Law of 2001, defines the policies and procedures in administration/training of ROTC Units in relation to the other two components, Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and Literacy Training Service (LTS), of the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

Training

Training is the major task handled by RESCOM. Its primary arms are the university/college-based Department of Military Science and Tactics-administered mandatory basic and the optional advanced Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC); and the territorial unit-administered Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT).

Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC)

Main article: Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Philippines)

Basic ROTC is the only component required by a tertiary (college) level student to have completed as requirement for completion of the National Service Training Program. Military subjects are provided similar to how military instructions are conducted in the service academies and graduates are automatically enlisted in the reserve force of the particular service branch (Army) administering the training. Advance ROTC is purely voluntary in nature and that Advance ROTC Cadets are provided a modest allowance after passing the requirements for their respective Advance ROTC Examination (PAARE). Completion of Advance ROTC is considered a graduate qualification in Military Science, and such graduates who subsequently progress to the Probationary Officer Training Course (POTC) are commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants.

Other than time-in-grade and merit promotions, rank adjustments are authorised depending on civilian qualifications, as well as their reciprocity to the operating environment.

Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT)

Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT) is a military training course conducted by the Philippine Army through RESCOM, PA. It is an entry-level training course undertaken by Filipino citizens wanting to enlist in the reserve force.

BCMT instruction is administered by a joint training pool of military instructors from both regular and reserve forces and is usually conducted inside any of the Philippine Army's training camps. Guest instructors are requested from other government agencies and non-government organizations (NGO) for specialized instructions.

Special Basic Citizen's Military Training (SBCMT) is a special course conducted by the Philippine Army in response to a request from a Local Government Unit (LGU). Funding is usually provided for by the requesting agency as compared to regular BCMT which receives funding from the Army.

Military Orientation Training (MOT)

This is specialized training provided by the AFP, through RESCOM, PA for volunteer employees of private or public organizations of utility service providers assigned as a Philippine Army Affiliated Reserve Unit (PAARU).

Types of Army Reservists

There are currently three types of reservists in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Force:

Categorization of Reservists and Reserve Units

Section 12, Article 5, of Republic Act 7077 breaks down and categorizes reservists and their units based on various criteria cited by this law.

• First Category Reservists - Able bodied Reservists aged 18 up to 35 years of age, inclusive.
• Second Category Reservists - Able bodied Reservists aged 36 up to 51 years of age, inclusive.
• Third Category Reservists - All able-bodied Reservists aged above 52 years of age.

Classification of Reservists and Reserve Units

Section 13, Article 5, of Republic Act 7077 clearly cites the classification of reservists based on their operational readiness for immediate deployment or mobilization.

• Ready Reserve - physically fit and tactically current reservist personnel that are always on constant alert and training; ready to mobilize once a mobilization order has been given. Reservists who belong to/work for a PAARU is also classified under the Ready Reserve.
• Standby Reserve - Reservists who do not maintain currency in specialization qualifications but the base for expansion, support and augmentation to the Ready Reserve Force as needed.
• Retired Reserve - composed of citizens who are qualified for retirement either by length of service or age.

Lineage of commanding officers

Commanders of RESCOM, PA are drawn from both the ranks of Called To Active Duty (CAD) Reserve Officers and Regular Army Officers that graduated from either Officer Candidate School (OCS) and the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Organization

RESCOM's unit are divided into several base units, regionally into 15 Community Defense Groups, having three or more Community Defense Centers incorporated into them, and nine Reserve Infantry Divisions. Army ROTC Management falls under their respective RCDGs.

Base units

• Headquarters & Headquarters Service Battalion
• ARESCOM Training School
• ARESCOM Reservist Personnel Management Center (Provisional)

Line units

Source:

• 1st Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Lt Tito B Abat, Manaoag, Pangasinan)
• 2nd Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz Annex, Soyung, Echague, Isabela)
• 3rd Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Gen Servillano S Aquino, San Miguel, Tarlac City)
• 4th Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Gen Macario Sakay, Los Baños, Laguna)
• 5th Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Gen Simeón A Ola, Legazpi City, Albay)
• 6th Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Gen Adriano Hernández, Dingle, Iloilo City)
• 7th Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Lapu-lapu, Cebu City)
• 8th Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Downes, Ormoc, Leyte)
• 9th Regional Community Defense Group (Kuta Dao, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur)
• 10th Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City)
• 11th Regional Community Defense Group (Camp San Gabriel, Mintal Tugbok District, Davao City)
• 12th Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Siongco, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte)
• National Capital Region Regional Community Defense Group (Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City)
• 14th [CAR] Regional Community Defense Group (Brgy. Mabatobato, Lamut, Ifugao)
• 15th [CARAGA] Regional Community Defense Group (Camp Romualdo Rubi, Butuan)

Ready Reserve Infantry divisions

Source:

• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 2nd Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Lupi, Camarines Sur)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 4th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Camp Natividad, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 5th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Elpidio Quirino, Bulag, Bantay, Ilocos Sur
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 6th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp BG Gonzalo H Siongco, Tacurong, Maguindanao del Norte)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 8th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Vicente Lukban, Catbalogan, Western Samar)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 10th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Bancasi, Libertad, Butuan, Agusan del Norte)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 12th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Juan Villamor, Bangued, Abra)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 15th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Fort Andrés Bonifacio, Metro Manila)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 16th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Tito Abat, Manaoag, Pangasinan)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 17th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Eldridge, Los Baños, Laguna)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 18th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Jizmondo, Libas, Banga, Aklan)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 19th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Cp Lapu-lapu, Cebu City)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 22nd Infantry Division (Ready Reserve), PA (Quimpo Boulevard, Almendras Gym Davao City)

Ready Reserve Light Armor divisions

• [[File:The Philippine Army Cavalry Branch Class.jpg|30px]] Light Armor (Ready Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Riego De Dios, Tanza, Cavite)

Standby Reserve Infantry divisions

Source:

• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 11th Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Tito Abat, Manaoag, Pangasinan)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 21st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Melchor Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 31st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Servillano Aquino, Luisita, Tarlac)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 41st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Eldridge, Los Baños, Laguna)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 51st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Simeon Ola, Legazpi City, Albay)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 61st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Hernandez, Dingle, Iloilo)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 71st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Lapu-lapu, Lahug, Cebu City)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 81st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Downes, Ormoc City)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 91st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Dau, Pagadian City)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 101st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 111th Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Cp San Gabriel, Davao City)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 121st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (PC Hill, Cotabato City)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 131st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (Fort Andrés Bonifacio, Taguig City)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 141st Infantry (Standby Reserve) Division, PA (CARAGA Region)

Reserve regiments

• [[File:Philippine Army Artillery BC.jpg|30px]] Artillery (Ready Reserve) Regiment, PA (Fort Andrés Bonifacio, Metro Manila)

Deactivated units

The Following Divisions were subsequently de-activated due to the activation of the two Regular Infantry Division with the laters divisional numerical designation.

• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 9th Infantry (Ready Reserve) Division, PA (Makati)
• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 3rd Infantry (Ready Reserve) Division, PA (Cebu City)

Reserve Brigade

• [[File:Philippine Army Infantry BC.jpg|30px]] 1502nd Infantry (Ready Reserve) Brigade, PA (Quezon City)

Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST) Groups (Army ROTC Units)

• University of the Philippines Diliman - 1303 CDC, NCRRCDG - the first, and the oldest ROTC unit still existing in the country
• University of the East Caloocan - 1301 CDC, NCRRCDG
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines - 1304 CDC, NCRRCDG
• Isabela State University - 202 CDC, 2RCDG
• National College of Science and Technology, Dasmariñas, Cavite - 402 CDC, 4RCDG
• University of Perpetual Help System DALTA - Molino Campus - 402 CDC, 4RCDG
• Cavite State University - Silang Campus - 402 CDC, 4RCDG
• Olinsterg College, Tiaong, Quezon - 404 CDC, 4RCDG
• University of Rizal System - 408 CDC, 4RCDG
• Camarines Norte State College - 501 CDC, 5RCDG
• Iloilo Science and Technology University - Miagao Campus - 604 CDC, 6RCDG
• Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology - 701 CDC, 7RCDG
• Eastern Samar State University - Guiuan - 802 CDC, 8RCDG
• University of Mindanao - 1105 CDC, 11RCDG
• University of Southeastern Philippines - 1105 CDC, 11RCDG
• University of the Philippines Baguio - 1401 CDC, 14(CAR)RCDG

Philippine Army Affiliated Reserve Units (PAARUs)

• 2nd Metro Davao Signal Battalion (Reserve) (SMNI)
• General Santos City Water District (GSCWD) PAARU
• Polomolok Water District PAARU
• Linaheim Properties, Inc. PAARU

Prominent Filipino Army Reservists

Commissioned officers

• BGEN Herbert Constantine M Bautista, MNSA, PA(Res) - actor; former Mayor of Quezon City
• COL Sara Z Duterte-Carpio, GSC, PA(Res) - current Vice President of the Philippines
• COL Margarita R Cojuangco, MNSA, PA(Res) - former Governor, Tarlac; former President, Philippine Public Safety College
• COL Emmanuel D Pacquiao, Sr., GSC, PA(Res) - boxer, former Senator; the only eight-division world boxing champion in history
• LTC Rosalinda D Baldoz, MNSA, PA(Res) - former Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment
• LTC Gwendolyn F Garcia, PA(Res) - former Governor, Cebu
• LTC Richard Frank I Gomez, PA(Res) - actor, TV host; Representative, 4th District, Leyte
• LTC Lucy Marie M Torres-Gomez, PA(Res) - actress; Mayor, Ormoc City, Leyte
• LTC Robinhood Ferdinand C Padilla, PA(Res) - actor, current Senator; incumbent President, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino
• LTC Marlene Ruth S Sanchez, MNSA, PA(Res) - Deputy Executive Director; NCCA
• 1LT Ronnie DG Liang, Ph.D., MNSA, PA(Res) - singer, actor
• 2LT Gianmatteo Vittorio F Guidicelli, MNSA, PA(Res) - actor; received specialized training from the Scout Rangers, and the Presidential Security Command
• 2LT Zahra Bianca Saldua, PA(Res) - winner, Miss Earth Philippines Air 2018

Non-commissioned officers

• MSG Jennivev S Tamayo, PA(Res) - former actress, former Corps Commander of UE ROTC Unit Class of 2002.
• MSG Maria Lourdes Carlos-Fernando, PA(Res) - former Mayor, Marikina
• MSG Maria Regina Corazon Weigh Donaleigh Sevilla-Sibal, PA(Res) - first female Corps Commander of UP ROTC Unit Class of 2000.
• PFC Charly C Suarez, PA(Res) - Asian Games silver medalist (lightweight), 2014 Asian Games
• PVT Aeign Zackrey V Aguas, PA(Res) - actor; former Councilor, Cavite City
• PVT Gerald Randolph O Anderson, Jr., PA(Res) - actor, director; also a commissioned Auxillary Captain in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxillary
• PVT Yves Romeo C Flores, PA(Res) - actor
• PVT Elmo Moses A Magalona, PA(Res) - actor; son of King of Filipino Rap Francis Magalona
• PVT Joseph Jerome G Porciuncula, PA(Res) - actor
• PVT Princess Tinkerbell Cristina Marjorie P Snell, PA(Res) - actress

Awards and decorations

Campaign streamers

Badges

Gallery

File:QC Task Force CASPER 2009.jpg|TSg Virgilio S Ferrer II (Res) PA; 20IB(RR) Sergeant Major, briefs the personnel assigned for deployment during Security Operations at Holy Cross Memorial Park, Quezon City (Undas 2009). File:QC Task Force Casper 2010.jpg|Reservists from the HHC, 1502IBDE(RR) and 20IB(RR) manned the Tactical Command Post at the Holy Cross Memorial Park in San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City during (Undas 2010) Security Operations. File:QC Army Reserve - MEDCAP 2010.jpg|Reservists provide security and assist medical personnel during the conduct of Medical and Dental Civic-Action Program (MEDCAP) at Bgy Nagkaisang Nayon, QC. File:Clean-Up Drive (CMO) Bgy Old Capitol Site.jpg|Army Reservists from the 20IB(RR) conduct Clean-up Drive (CMO) at Bgy Old Capitol Site, QC. File:SAR Operations Bagong Silangan QC.jpg|QC Reservists conduct rescue operations at Bgy Bagong Silangan, QC during the height of torrential rains brought by Southwest Monsoon in June 2011.

References

Bibliography

• Official Site ARESCOM
• The Training Committee, Military Science 21 ROTC Manual, 2001, NCRRCDG, ARESCOM.
• The Philippine Army Public Affairs Office, The Philippine Army: First 100 Years, 1997, OTAPA.
• Pobre, Cesar P. (2006). History of the Armed Forces of the Filipino People. New Day Publishers..

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