ZAMBOANGA. The 1103rd Infantry Brigade based in the first district of Sulu continues its efforts to enhance the capabilities of reservists by integrating them into inter-agency capacity building programs, recognizing their vital role in socio-economic development, community resilience, and peace building.
Reservists Level Up Skills in ICS Training
Reservists are currently participating in the Integrated Planning Course on Incident Command System (ICS) Level 2 Training in Patikul municipality, which started on May 25, 2026, and will end on May 30. This higher-level capacity building program highlights their crucial role in strengthening disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities in the municipality and the province of Sulu.
The training brings together reservists, disaster response stakeholders, local government personnel, and uniformed units to enhance coordination, leadership, and operational readiness during emergencies. Participants deepen their understanding of disaster management principles, incident command operations, resource coordination, and emergency decision-making.
Colonel Abdelhalim Sakilan, deputy commander of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade, emphasized the importance of training reservists. “Prepared and well-trained reservists are valuable assets during emergencies. Their ability to augment response units and assist communities during disasters greatly contributes to saving lives and ensuring faster response operations,” he said.
Whole-of-Community Approach
The ICS Level 2 Training serves as an advanced platform to strengthen competencies in incident command organization, communication systems, coordination procedures, and crisis management. It reinforces interoperability among reservists, local government units, military units, and disaster response agencies.
By integrating reservists into disaster preparedness initiatives, the program promotes a whole-of-community approach to building resilience. Previous training for reservists included casualty care and evacuation, water search and rescue, communications interoperability, and environmental protection.
The activity demonstrates strong partnership among the Local Government Unit of Patikul led by Mayor Kabir Hayudini, Office of Civil Defense-9, Sulu PDRRMO, the 1103rd Infantry Brigade, 35th Infantry Battalion, and other agencies in advancing disaster risk reduction and management in Sulu.
