CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The commander of the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija has assumed his post as chief of the combined armed forces Northern Luzon Command.
During the turnover ceremonies held Friday in Camp Aquino in Tarlac City, Maj. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr cited the need for “enhanced collaborative efforts of the Armed Forces with stakeholders in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Cordillera regions” against what he called ”non-traditional security threats.”
He identified these threats as “climate change, transnational crimes, global terrorism, and maritime security.”
Catapang replaced Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara who retired from the service effective July 8.
A testimonial review and parade was held by selected Nolcom units during the change of command ceremony at Nolcom Grandstand, with Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista presiding.
Catapang will still remain concurrent commander of the 7th ID until his replacement is named. He will then turn over his post to the new commander in rites slated at the 7th ID headquarters in Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
Catapang has become the 24th Nolcom commander. He belongs to the ”Di Malupig” class ‘81 of the Philippine Military Academy.
“I consider Northern Luzon as the next bastion of national economic activity after Metro Manila. We are all witnesses to big-ticket projects in this part of the country. We have world class roads such as the North Luzon and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressways as well as the soon to be completed Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway which would connect Region 1 with 3 and the Central Luzon Link Expressway- which would connect Region 2 with 3,” he said.
“These government projects only imply that President Aquino has set his eyes on Northern Luzon, recognizing its potentials. As such, we need to strengthen our ‘bayanihan’ against non-traditional security threats to continue the climate of peace and enriching economic development in the area,” he added.
He also noted that “as far as insurgency is concerned, most of the provinces in Regions 1 and 3 except Bulacan have been declared as peaceful and ready for further development.”
“The challenge now lies in Regions 2 and Cordillera. My target is for all provinces within the Nolcom Area of Responsibility to have such declaration before I step down,” Catapang added.
Among Catapang’s noted accomplishments as 7th ID head include the transformation of certain areas of Fort Magsaysay into eco-tourism sites, agricultural livelihood program for retiring officers and enlisted personnel, bamboo propagation and plantation, memorandum of understanding signing with Bases Conversion and Development Authority regarding the training of CAFGU units that would secure the soon to be built Clark Green City project, and establishment of a cooperative for soldiers.
Apart from 7th ID, other units under Nolcom include the 5th ID of the Army based in Isabela, 1st Air Division of Air Force based in Clark, and Naval Forces Northern Luzon based in La Union.
