Recognized for excellence in operational readiness, discipline, training, and the impact it has made in communities not only in supporting peace and security initiatives but also in various civic and community efforts, the 503rd Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion (RRIBn) of Catanduanes was hailed as the Best Ready Reserve Unit in all of Southern Luzon for 2025.
The award was given by the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during ceremonies commemorating its 38th Founding Anniversary on April 25, 2025 at Camp Guillermo Nakar in Lucena City. There are more than 20 Ready Reserve Units in southern Luzon.
The Catanduanes 503rd RRIBn is under the able leadership of the Director, 503rd Community Defense Center (CDC), LTC JOSEPHUS EMAR M REMPILLO (INF) PA, and 503rd Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion Commander MAJ ALAN T SAPANTA (GSC) PA (RES).
True to the oath that our soldiers have pledged to the nation and the flag, the Catanduanes 503rd RRIBn has consistently shown its commitment not only to defend the country against threats and to help ensure peace, stability, and security, and in meeting emergencies brought about by calamities and disasters, but also to be part of nation-building where it participates in socio-economic development initiatives, partnering with LGUs, different agencies, NGOs, and people’s organizations.
It had recently taken an active role in the Gawad Kalinga Foundation’s “Bayanihan Challenge 2025” together with the provincial government of Catanduanes, supported as well by the ROTC Units of both the Catanduanes State University (CatSU) and the Christian Polytechnic Institute of Catanduanes (CPIC), and hundreds of Gawad Kalinga volunteers.
The “Challenge” consisted of the construction of forty houses, distribution of educational supplies, community feeding, coastal clean-up, and mangrove planting, among others.
These were conducted in Barangays Magnesia Del Sur, Magnesia Del Norte, Batag, and Marilima in Virac from April 9-12, 2025.
The 503rd RRIBn was also in the forefront of rescue and relief efforts during the onslaught of Super-typhoon Pepito in November of 2024.
It has participated and facilitated emergency drills in partnership with disaster risk reduction and management offices and other agencies.
In a landmark move, the 503rd initiated the registration of ROTC graduates in Catanduanes and organization of platoon-sized units per municipality, thereby strengthening the reserve force of the island province.
It led a blood donation drive in March of 2025 at the CatSU which generated close to 70,000cc of precious blood.
It held the first ROTC Training Staff Summit in Catanduanes, also in March 2025 where various concerns were discussed particularly in the administration and conduct of the ROTC program in the sole university and different colleges in the province.
The 503rd continues to promote, organize, and conduct the Basic Citizen Military Training or BCMT to bring in more reservists to the command and build a stronger army reserve force for the province and the country.
Those who have not taken or finished their ROTC Military Science Course and wish to take the BCMT and serve our country as an army reservist, you may visit the 503rd at Laang Kawal Catanduanes headquarters at the Sports Center in Barangay Rawis, Virac, or reach them through their hotline: 0963_9522063.
Those who finished their ROTC MS Course, register at the headquarters and make yourselves known. You are already part of the army reservists corps.