• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army will conduct live-fire artillery exercises in Barangay Manlocahoc, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Oct. 29 and 30, with cannon rounds expected to land six to eight kilometers from the firing site.
The 3rd Field Artillery Battalion of the Army’s Artillery Regiment, through its Artillery Unit Alpha, also known as “Big Banger,” will conduct the exercises from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Maj. Jecey Batiller, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the city government has issued a resolution authorizing the activity while the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office has also granted clearance.
The 3rd Field Artillery Battalion, together with the 15th Infantry Battalion, has conducted a community dialogue in the barangay to inform residents about the scheduled exercises and the safety precautions they must observe.
The activity aims to test and enhance joint tactics, techniques and procedures, particularly in command and control, information sharing, mobility and force protection.
The public has been strictly prohibited from entering or crossing the designated impact area in the mountains, as well as from conducting farming and grazing activities within the restricted zone until the live-fire exercises are completed.
The military urged residents to cooperate with the restrictions to prevent accidents during the artillery firing.
The Sipalay exercises will take place as the Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force conduct their own field training exercises in Antique to test their operational readiness and coordination in responding to simulated threats.
The Philippine Army-Philippine Air Force Interoperability Exercise 05-2026 began on Oct. 19 in Barangays Ilaures and Camangahan in Bugasong, Antique, and is scheduled to end on Oct. 23.
The opening day scenarios included air support, artillery operations, ground maneuver, aviation mobility, casualty evacuation, airborne insertion, search and rescue, and a simulated counter-amphibious landing operation.
The exercises are intended to strengthen coordination between ground and air forces in responding to operational threats. | GPB
