Around 120 reservists of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from Region 7 provinces are expected to gather in Dumaguete City today for the 32nd AFP National Reservist Week Regional Convention.

Expected to participate in the convention at the Negros Oriental State University Main Campus Gymnasium are 90 reservists from the army, 90 from the Philippine Navy and 90 from the Philippine Air Force, a Philippine Information Agency press release said.

This is the first time the province will play host to the regional convention, 2Lt. Glenn Cadeliña, commandant of the 58th Armed Forces Reserved Officer Training Corps Unit based at the NORSU Campus II in Bajumpandan, in Dumaguete, said.

The convention will be graced by AFP Vice Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Matagu, as the guest of honor and Gov. Roel Degamo as the keynote speaker.

Participating reservists will be briefed on the internal peace and security plan, disaster risk reduction management, and the current thrusts, policies and regulations of the RRA program, the press release said.

Cadeliña said the convention is in line with the observation of the National Reservist Week on this year's theme: “Laang Kawal: Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Pagsulong ng Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.”

“Reservists are civilians who get the privilege of supporting the AFP active personnel and they can also earn ranks equivalent to that of the AFP personnel,” Cadeliña said.

Although being a reservist is a voluntary service, once a reservist is called for active duty, he or she will receive the same financial compensation as that of an active duty personnel based on his or her rank, he added.

Cadelina encouraged professionals in the province to become an AFP reservist by visiting the nearest army or Philippine Navy headquarters or detachment unit, or the Air Force office at the NORSU Bajumpandan Campus, the press release added.*

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