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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Agreement boosts disaster response in Luzon, other areas – reservists

Agreement boosts disaster response in Luzon, other areas – reservists

Published Aug 27, 2025 06:03 pm
The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines (ARRAPI) have collaborated with the National Guard Association of the United States on defense modernization and disaster response in Luzon and other provinces.
COL. Mikee Romero (right) and ARRAPI delegates to the NGAUS conference pose with Major Gen. Gerold Gagan (second from right), Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Force Development, beside the logo of the National Guard Association of the United States.
COL. Mikee Romero (right) and ARRAPI delegates to the NGAUS conference pose with Major Gen. Gerold Gagan (second from right), Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Force Development, beside the logo of the National Guard Association of the United States.
“We reaffirmed our strong partnership with the Guam and Hawaii National Guards, strengthening defense cooperation, disaster response, and modernization efforts. This mission has deepened our ties with the US National Guard and renewed our commitment to building a stronger AFP alongside our allies,” Major Gen. Gerold Gagan, who headed the Armed Forces delegation, said during the recent 147th National Guard Association of the United States General Assembly and Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“Our participation in the 147th NGAUS General Assembly was a resounding success,” he said.
“It strengthens the cooperation between Filipino reservists and the US National Guard. We learned a lot from the assembly especially about disaster response, and national resilience,” Col. Mikee Romero, chairman of ARRAPI, said.
Romero and association president Lt. Col. Vladimir Mata met NGAUS chairman Major Gen. Paul Rodgers of Michigan and discussed cooperation under the State Partnership Program (SPP) with the Guam and Hawaii National Guards.
The mission underscored the strong defense and security cooperation between the two nations while the conference provided a venue to strengthen ties, exchange expertise, and foster collaboration on defense modernization, disaster response, and national resilience, key priorities for the Armed Forces and the US National Guard.
Other members of the AFP delegation were Major Gen. Arvin Lagamon, with Major Gen. Doroteo Jalandoni (Navrescom), Brig. Gen. Geminic Ramirez (AFRESCOM), and Brig. Gen. Onorlie Brilantes (AFRC).
Other ARRAPI officials who joined the event were Board of Trustees members Lt. Col. Peter Negrido and Lt. Col. Meliton Agpaoa.
Military leaders and other partners from across the globe took part in the gathering.

Related Tags

ARRAPI Disaster response
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