8ID press corps gain grasp of Army Transformation Roadmap

By DPAO, 8ID PA
November 17, 2015

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – Around 48 members of 8th Infantry Division’s press corps now have a deeper understanding of the Army Transformation Roadmap (ATR) following a two-day seminar and fellowship event in Camp Lukban in Samar last November 13 to 14.

Members of the press representing the tri-media of Samar and Leyte gathered in the Multi-Purpose Hall of 8ID in Catbalogan City, Samar to participate in the activity which sought to further acquaint them with the objectives and steps being made towards realizing the goal of a “world-class Army that is a source of national pride” through the ATR.

The media practitioners, coming from as far as Tacloban City, Calbayog, Basey and Ormoc City, were given the opportunity to hear about the ATR and the Philippine Army’s plans of further developing itself for the benefit of the Filipino from Brigadier General Demy T Tejares AFP, Assistant Division Commander of 8ID, Philippine Army.

“Together we can really transform the army into a more credible, dynamic, responsive, capable and professional force committed to its mandate of ‘serving the people and securing the land’,” BGen Tejares told the gathered media during the first day of the event.

Also discussed during the course of the activities were the internal security operations (ISO) in Samar, the partnership between the Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) against insurgency, feedback mechanism between the Army and the public, the role of the Division Public Affairs Office to the media and vice versa and other concerns related to soldiers’ performance.

During the second day, the Division Commander’s Scorecard, ATR Updates and ATRSEP Survey Results were presented to the media to instill more understanding of the ATR and update them on where the Philippine Army is on the ATR today.

Current issues concerning 8ID, its programs for the communities under its area of responsibility and its relationship to media were also tackled during the open forum.

Team-building activities were also organized in order to further seal the camaraderie between the participants and the organizers of the activity.

At the Closing Ceremonies, BGen Demy T. Tejares AFP, Assistant Division Commander of 8ID, once again joined the participants. The event was concluded with a Cocktail Dinner.