PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- The Philippine Navy through the Naval Forces West formally opened the Exercise Pagsasama 2023 on Saturday, July 29,  2023, held at Naval Station Carlito Cunanan, Brgy. Macarascas, PPC which was presided by Brigadier General Doroteo Jose M. Jalandoni PN(M), the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs, AJ9.

Exercise Pagsasama is a unilateral exercise conducted annually by the Philippine Navy which focuses on PN’s thrust to strategically utilize the Naval Reservists and PN Auxiliary Reserve Unit (PNARU) in maritime security operations and interagency operations, and continually evaluate the extent of their interoperability with the regular force. The objectives of the exercise are to enhance the capability and interoperability of the PN Reserve Force and, further test their integration with the Regular Force for the conduct of Amphibious Operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR), and Surface Events.

This year’s iteration of Exercise Pagsasama is hosted by the Naval Forces West which which was started on July 29 until August 4, 2023 and will focus on Maritime Security Operations (MARSEC), HADR, and Civil Military Operations (CMO) and will be conducted in different locations in the province of Palawan.

In his remarks, Jalandoni encouraged all the participants to continue to work hand-in-hand and persistently move forward in one strategic direction to enhance the Nation’s defense and security – and advance the AFP Reserve Force as a moving factor for a World-Class Armed Forces.

Following the Opening Ceremony, other events had also transpired such as the Reservists Assembly Test/Accounting held at WESCOM Grandstand; Marksmanship Training held at WESCOM Firing Range; Pre-Sail Brief, and Table Top Exercise held at NSCC, Brgy. Macarascas, PPC; and Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) over Brgy. Buenavista, PPC. Succeeding events, particularly the MARSEC Operations will be conducted At-Sea to be followed by the Amphibious Operations supporting the HADR operations event on August 3, 2023 at Brgy. Buenavista, PPC. The CMO activities will be conducted on July 31 to August 02, 2023 in Brgy. Macarascas and Brgy. Buenavista, PPC respectively. (Naval Forces West)