CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine Army's Combat Engineer Regiment (PACER) conducted a deactivation/activation ceremony, formalizing the transition of six construction engineer battalions into combat engineer units.

MGen. Proceso Rebancos, Chief Engineer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, alongside PACER Commander BGen. Ulpiano Olarte, led the ceremonies on Friday, March 1, at the PACER's initial headquarters in Baloi, Lanao del Norte.

The reconfigured units, namely the 500th Engineer Combat Battalion, 551st Engineer Construction Battalion (ECB), 553rd ECB, and 554th ECB under the 55th Engineer Brigade, 525 ECB under the 51st Engineer Brigade, and 524th ECB under the 52nd Engineer Brigade, have transitioned into 500 Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB), 501 CEB, 502 CEB, 503 CEB, 504 CEB, and 525 CEB, respectively. Additionally, the Engineer Support Company and the Combat Engineer School have joined the transformation.

MGen Rebancos said the organization of these combat engineer units encapsulates the Philippine Army's strategy foresight for organizational resiliency amid evolving security complexities. "We strengthen the sustainment forces, including combat engineering capability to readily support our impending shift in our efforts from internal defense to external defense mode," he emphasized.

Pointing to the Marawi siege as a potential influence, MGen Rebancos noted that the 500th Engineer Combat Battalion played an indispensable role as a game-changer, possibly shortening the skirmishes between state actors and enemies of the state, ultimately securing victory."

MGen Rebancos also cited the transition as concrete proof that the Philippine Army and the AFP leadership believe in what the engineers can do, not only as a reliable partner in nation-building but as a reliable combat support provider on the battlefield. 

These combat engineer units will operate under the supervision of PACER, activated on February 15 at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. The regiment's mission is to develop, organize, train, equip, support, and sustain combat engineers to contribute to combined arms operations and assist civil authorities when necessary.

BGen Olarte assured continued support for stakeholders during the transitional period, particularly the Joint Task Force ZAMPELAN, while simultaneously advancing the development of its units' capabilities through progressive programs. He also said that the 500 CEB is set to remain in Marawi City until 2027 before relocating to Isabela.

Meanwhile, MGen Rebancos reminded the activated troops to perform their duties with utmost excellence, integrity, and professionalism. "Always be reminded of your new role, which is to provide engineer combat support to the Philippine Army and other AFP units through mobility, counter-mobility, and survivability efforts for more effective military combat operations." (APB/PIA-10)