BARRIGADA, Guam - The Guam National Guard recently hosted key leaders of the Philippine military to share strategies on disaster preparedness.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command and Retiree Affairs toured the Guam Army and Air Guard facilities, received a brief from Chuck Ada of Guam Homeland Security and visited the National Weather Service in Tiyan during their three-day stay as part of the Guam National Guard’s State Partnership Program.
"We learned a lot about your disaster response and about the land and air components of the Guam National Guard,” Maj. Gen. Jovencio Magalso, deputy chief of staff for retiree and reserve affairs for AFP told a Guam National Guard member.
In addition to learning about the military, Philippine soldiers learned about the day-to-day lives of their neighbours.
"I was impressed by Guam as a whole, the warmness of the people here and the hospitality,” said Magalso. "It’s not difficult to adjust to the environment here.”
The visit came after a Thanksgiving trip to the Philippine city of Puerto Princesa by Guam National Guard personnel last year. There, Guard members supported a humanitarian outreach program.
"The Guam National Guard has really contributed a lot, especially in the activities such as medical and dental programs in the Philippines. The governor of Guam, during our visit with him, told us to continue this State Partnership Program.” Magalso said.