(Photo courtesy of AFP)
MANILA – In line with efforts to improve its medical and health services for its troops, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) started the construction of a three-story hospital building at Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) headquarters in Lucena, Quezon.
"AFP chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro led the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building of Camp General Nakar Station Hospital on Wednesday, September 14, at the Headquarters of the Southern Luzon Command in Lucena, Quezon," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement Thursday night.
The hospital building will have a 25-bed capacity with the full complement and capability of a Level 1 hospital that can provide in-patient, outpatient, emergency, and ancillary services.
The project was made possible through the joint efforts of the Department of National Defense and the Department of Public Works and Highways through the "Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad" (TIKAS) program.
“Our job as soldiers entails great perils and risks to our lives, especially for our operating troops who confront armed threat groups to protect the communities here in Southern Tagalog,” Bacarro said.
“Thus, it is imperative that they be given top-notch medical and health services for them to maintain ‘fit bodies and sound minds’ and receive the best immediate medical treatment should their lives be put on the line in the performance of their duties,” he added.
Meanwhile, the two-month urban operations training between 500 Filipino and Australian troops is now taking place at the First Scout Ranger Regiment base at Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan.
This training activity is part of "Exercise Kasangga", Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said Friday.
He added that Scout Rangers and their Australian counterparts are currently training on tactical combat casualty care and close-quarter battle.
"The Philippines-Australia Exercise Kasangga 22-2, participated by Scout Rangers and members of the 3rd Royal Australian Regiment, started on August 22, 2022, and will culminate on October 30, 2022. The exercise is part of the approved bilateral engagements which aim to strengthen defense relations of both countries and boost the interoperability of their militaries," Trinidad said.
Scout Rangers during the exercise, will share their skills and knowledge on jungle operations with Australian servicemen.
"Meanwhile, Australian troops are helping Scout Rangers sharpen their urban operations capabilities," he added.
Last week, the Philippine and Australian armies concluded the month-long "Exercise Carabaroo" in Australia's northern city of Darwin that bolstered participating units' combined arms capabilities. (PNA)
