Plans to mobilize reservists with medical backgrounds now afoot

FILE: EXERCISE RESTRAINT AROUND PH WATERS. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana appeals to foreign nations to exercise restraint while their warships pass through the West Philippine Sea and waters near the country, during the media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (June 10, 2019). Lorenzana said any imprudent behavior could lead to an international incident or conflict, as he cited the two incidents between US, China and Russian warships in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea in October 2018 and in June 2019. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday announced plans to mobilize reservists with medical background to help healthcare workers in the efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

He made this announcement during a virtual press briefing shortly after the assumption ceremonies of newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff, Lt.

Gen. Gilbert Gapay.

Initially, President Rodrigo R. Duterte wanted all military reservists mobilized but Lorenzana said he suggested to the Chief Executive that only those with medical background as they are the ones urgently needed in the fight against Covid-19.

“It will be good if we can bring them to active service so that they can help in the fight against Covid-19,” he said.

At present, Lorenzana said the AFP has 380 medical officers as reservists and another 5,368 enlisted reservist personnel with some medical training.

He added that he has already directed AFP headquarters to determine who among these individuals can be called into active duty.

Lorenzana also clarified that those reservists already working in the medical field and helping in Covid-19 containment efforts will not be activated.

“They are already doing their work so they will not be called to active duty,” he said.

He added that once the DND and AFP identifies reservists who can be called for medical duty, Duterte will be informed and a recommendation will be made to call them to active duty

“Now once we identify them, we will make the recommendation to the President to call them to active duty, kasi kailangan ng approval ni President (this needs the President’s approval) because this will entail some funding while they are in active duty,” Lorenzana said.

Aside from this, he added there are also plans to improve AFP medical facilities so that these can support hospitals outside once these become fully occupied.

In the virtual briefing, Gapay said they will seek the help of private hospitals affiliated as AFP reserves to help in the national effort against Covid-19.

“There are private hospitals out there that are considered as affiliated reserves and they will also be mobilized to help out in this total national effort (on) the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. So (the) direction will be also a comprehensive one, total effort, all hands on deck, all force multipliers and those reservists which the Armed Forces could mobilize will be asked to help out and contribute to really address this pressing requirements and concerns as far as Covid pandemic is concerned,” he said.