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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH Army troops train with Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur reservists to bolster Northern Luzon defense

PH Army troops train with Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur reservists to bolster Northern Luzon defense

Published Mar 4, 2026 04:53 pm
⁨A reservist squad takes part in the mortar gunnery exercises and pre-assessment of Observe Fire Procedures – Call for Fire Exercise as part of Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) "KATIHAN" 03-2026 at a training area in Northern Luzon. (Photo: Philippine Army) ⁩
⁨A reservist squad takes part in the mortar gunnery exercises and pre-assessment of Observe Fire Procedures – Call for Fire Exercise as part of Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) "KATIHAN" 03-2026 at a training area in Northern Luzon. (Photo: Philippine Army) ⁩
Reserve forces from Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur took a frontline role in the Philippine Army’s (PA) ongoing Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) “KATIHAN” as they reinforced soldiers in a demonstration of seamless integration and operational readiness at various training areas across Northern Luzon on Wednesday, March 4.
PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said reservists play a vital role as force multipliers and as the base of expansion for the Army’s regular units.
He explained that the exercise was designed to test division-level coordination, simulate real combat scenarios, and strengthen the Army’s operational readiness across multiple terrains in Northern Luzon.
In Burgos, Pangasinan, 25 reservists and three enlisted personnel from the 104th Civic-Military Coordination (104CDC) participated in a military decision-making process (MDMP) briefing and opening ceremony.
Simultaneously, 33 reservists and two enlisted personnel of the 102nd Civic-Military Coordination (102CDC) joined training participants from the 5th Infantry Division (5ID) in division-level training efforts in Ilocos Sur.
Meanwhile, reservists from the 102nd Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion (102nd RRIBn) carried out key activities at the Logistics Support Area (LSA) Paredes Air Station in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
Another squad completed mortar gunnery exercises and pre-assessment drills on observe fire procedures and call for fire.
At the Local Support Area in Burgos, all reservists underwent tactical combat casualty care (TC3) continuation training.
“The reservists’ involvement highlighted their capacity to contribute meaningfully to high-stakes military processes,” Dema-ala explained.
“The seamless integration of the Army's reserve component in the large-scale CATEX Katihan highlights the vital role of reservists,” he added.
CATEX Katihan assesses the Army’s ability to deploy, maneuver, and support large-scale forces in combat operations. The third iteration of the exercise was launched on Feb. 23.
The exercise includes a range of drills covering displaced civilian operations, where soldiers practice helping civilians forced to flee from danger, littoral defense drills which focus on securing coastal areas and ports, mobile defense and retrograde operations which train troops to fight strategically by moving or pulling back as needed to protect key areas, and area defense exercises which focus on holding and protecting specific locations.
The exercise also puts into practice the Army’s Land Defense Concept (LDC) and its role in the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Operations (CADC). The frameworks guide how the Army, Philippine Navy (PN), and Philippine Air Force (PAF) coordinate to defend the country’s islands.

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