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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Group wants more reservists tapped for territorial defense

Group wants more reservists tapped for territorial defense

Published Mar 2, 2026 06:29 pm
THE ARRAPI has sought more Filipino reservists as tensions erupt around the world.
THE ARRAPI has sought more Filipino reservists as tensions erupt around the world.
The Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines Inc. (ARRAPI) has reiterated its call for the activation, organization, and full integration of more Armed Forces reservists from the provinces to reinforce the country’s territorial defense posture amid the turmoil in the Middle East and West Philippine Sea.
ARRAPI, led by former Deputy Speaker and Air Force reservist Col. Michael L. Romero as chairman and Marine reservist Lt. Col. Vlad Mata as president, underscored the urgent need to strengthen the nation’s total defense strategy in response to evolving global and regional security challenges.
The country must significantly augment its defense capability through the mobilization of the Ready Reserve and Standby Reserve components, they said. “Through structured activation and sustained development, the Philippines can build a credible total defense force of up to one million personnel.”
With approximately 180,000 regular active-duty personnel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), territorial defense must now be elevated as a national security priority. “Protecting sovereignty, securing maritime domains and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), deterring external aggression, and strengthening archipelagic defense capabilities require a scalable and resilient force structure.”
ARRAPI emphasized that the Reserve Force must be properly organized and fully integrated into the regular force – no longer treated as a secondary component, but as an operational extension capable of immediate mobilization.

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