IRIGA CITY (PIA) – The Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board of the 9th Infantry "SPEAR" Division marked its first meeting for the 1st quarter of 2023 with a collaborative multi-service caravan organized by the division under the headship of Joint Task Force Bicolandia  (JTFB) and 9ID Commander MGen Adonis Bajao.

The meeting’s venue was the Ilian Resort, a few steps away from the Ilian Tribal Settlement Area in Brgy. San Nicolas, Iriga City where the 2-day Multi-service caravan was held in collaboration with the 49th Infantry Battalion, Camp Elias Angeles Station Hospital (CEASH), the City Government of Iriga, and various sponsors and donors, on April 10, Monday.

MGen Bajao expressed his appreciation to the MSAB for the continuous guidance given to the Philippine Army, which has yielded significant positive results that have benefited, not just the government troops, but more so, the grassroots community.

“Nagpapasalamat po talaga ako sa MSAB, sa pangunguna ni Msgr. Zañado. We truly appreciate the continued guidance, which allowed us to use our strengths constructively and work on our weaknesses as we strive to make a difference in the lives of our people,” MGen Bajao said.

The 2-day activity also put the spotlight on identifying opportunities to improve the existing mechanisms between the MSAB and the Philippine Army; and guarantee the protection of the Bicolanos against harassment and similar actions.

[Photo credit: 9ID, DPAO] 

The idea of combining the MSAB meeting with an outreach activity was the brainchild of MSAB Chairman Msgr. Zosimo Zañado, as a way of deviating from the usual “conference room engagement” of the advisory board members.

During the reaffirmation of their committment,  Msgr. Zañado accentuated the crucial role of each MSAB member in taking on a higher  level of responsibility, particularly in actively engaging the community in all peace-keeping efforts, alongside the Spear troopers. 

MSAB  members are  expected to help ensure that the implementation and integration of the Performance Governance System (PGS), as outlined in the Army Transformation Road Map (ATR), is effectively carried out.

One of their accountabilities is also to provide  guidance to the 9th ID in drafting its strategic blueprint and  assist the Army to attain an exemplary percentage in the Army's Second Level Performance Governance scorecard.

The Advisory Board should also strengthen the Philippine Army's engagement with other stakeholders, including forging partnerships with public and private organizations to fulfill its mandate of protecting the Bicolanos.  

LTC Siegfried Felipe Awichen, GSC G3 also discussed the recent Communist Terrorist Group’s (CTG) consecutive attacks near schools in the island province of Masbate and Brgy. Caorasan in Bula, Camarines Sur. These incidents have caused fear and trauma among the students, teachers, and villagers.

In relation to the recent CTG tactics of luring the government troops and bringing the encounter closer to school vicinities, 9ID 9GSMO Chief Col. Angelo Z. Lutera also centered his talk on enhancing responses toward developing community resiliency among students and teachers, including affected residents.

MSAB, he said, has a big role to play in creating inclusive response mechanisms and policies to enhance the resilience of communities when faced with said unfortunate situations. (PIA 5/Camarines Sur)