State security forces including the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be conducting large-scale simulation exercises in Panglao, Bohol next month in a bid to boost counter-terrorism measures of troops and other government agents in the Visayas.
“Pag-test ni sa capability sa atong mga sakop sa atong disaster council, kapolisan, kasundalohan, national government agencies, maritime police, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard. Gitinguha ang readiness, ang capability sa atong tanang sakop sa atong disaster council,” said Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio.
Personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and other government agencies will also be joining the exercises.
The daylong event will be held in Barangay Doljo, Panglao on August 10.
According to Damalerio, Bohol-based government offices and security forces have conducted similar activities in the past but the upcoming exercises are intended to further enhance preparedness in battling terrorism and criminality.
For his part, Lieutenant Norman Bilbao, operations officer of the navy’s Naval Forces Central, the exercises will train participants in responding to kidnapping, terrorism, natural calamities and man-made disasters.
Bilbao said that the state troops will be using air assets including helicopters from the PAF and vessels of the Philippine Navy during the exercises.
The activity was supposed to be held this month but was moved to August so as not to interfere with the Sandugo Festival which is being celebrated during the entire month of July.(rt)