03/05/2026
JUST IN | ๐๐
๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒโ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐ฑ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in collaboration with the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC), formally opened the Casualty Care and Evacuation through Military-Civilian Partnership today, May 3, 2026 at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac.
The Balikatan Exercise is specifically designed to bridge the gap between military tactical operations and civilian medical protocols through strengthening emergency preparedness, interoperability, and joint response capability.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, Medical Center Chief of MMMHMC, emphasized that the primary goal of the joint exercise is the elimination of bottlenecks by establishing relationships before disaster strikes. โEmergency response is not built in the moment of crisis, it is built long before, through rigorous preparation. When an emergency strikes, confusion costs time, and time costs lives. We must know one another before the call is made. We must understand our roles before the first patient is moved, and we must test our systems before those systems are needed in real life,โ Dr. Otayza stated.
Meanwhile, BGen. Fatima Claire Navarro, The Surgeon General of AFP, characterized the exercise not merely as a drill, but as a necessary evolution in how the state protects its people. She noted that the strongest defense a nation possesses is a well-coordinated, pre-synchronized response system.
On the other hand, Lt. Gen. Rey Alemania, Commander of the Joint Sustainment Command of AFP and the Keynote Speaker, underscored that the success of any humanitarian mission rests on the strength of its backbone. Drawing from his experience leading the AFPโs sustainment efforts, he also highlighted that civilian-military cooperation is the ultimate force multiplier.
Following the opening ceremony, Dr. Otayza joined BGen. Navarro and Lt. Gen. Alemania together with United States Army Maj. Gen. E. Darrin Cox for a walkthrough of the Forward Treatment Unit (FTU) and MMMHMCโs Emergency Room, Catheterization Laboratory, Operating Room, and Maharlika Suites.
