ZAMBOANGA. Colonel Abdelhalim Sakilan, deputy commander of the 1103rd Infantry “Kalis” Brigade, warmly welcomed officials from the Office of Civil Defense-9 led by Lawyer Ruel Halanes during a courtesy call on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the brigade’s headquarters in Sulu.
Partnership Reinforced for Disaster Resilience
Lawyer Ruel Halanes, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-9, paid a courtesy call to the 1103rd Infantry “Kalis” Brigade of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division. The visit reaffirmed the strong partnership between OCD-9 and the brigade in advancing disaster preparedness and crisis management initiatives within the brigade’s area of responsibility (AOR).
The courtesy visit highlighted the significant accomplishments of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade in collaboration with OCD-9, local government units, government agencies, and security sectors across municipalities under the Kalis AOR. Through sustained coordination and partnership, seven Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (MDRRMCs) were successfully capacitated and strengthened through a series of Incident Command System (ICS) trainings.
Training Outcomes and Community Impact
A total of 349 participants, including representatives from local government units, government agencies, security sectors, and reservists, alongside 207 barangay chairpersons within the brigade’s AOR, successfully completed the training. This initiative enhanced their competencies in disaster response coordination, emergency management, and incident command operations.
The initiative demonstrates the commitment of local government units, OCD-9, and the 1103rd Infantry Brigade to building resilient and disaster-ready communities in Sulu province. The collaborative effort continues to gain momentum as preparations are now underway for the implementation of higher-level training in selected municipalities within the Kalis AOR in the coming months.
The continuing partnership underscores the shared mission of strengthening local disaster preparedness mechanisms, improving inter-agency coordination, and ensuring the safety and resilience of communities.
