Gwen ‘first woman battalion commander’

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia was installed as battalion commander of the ready reserve force, making her the first woman battalion commander.

She was given the rank of lieutenant colonel of the First Ready Reserve Battalion, 7th Regional Community Defense Group (7RCDG).

During her installation last Tuesday, the governor also signed agreements with government officials and the private sector for the province’s various projects and programs.

The first agreement was signed between Capitol and the Tan family.

The family donated to the province a house and lot considered to be a heritage structure in barangay Ilaya, Dumanjug town, southwest Cebu.

The signing was graced by Victor Tan who inherited the family’s ancestral house, Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia and second district Rep. Pablo Garcia.

Victor thanked the province for including their house in its municipal-wide heritage projects.

Victor said this will help preserve the legacy of their family.

The second agreement signed with Cebu Normal University, Cebu Technological University (CTU) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is for the implementation of the “Salutatorian Scholarship” program.

Under the program, salutatorian graduates can get scholarship grants from CNU and CTU.

They will be given a living allowance by the DBP, while the province will shoulder their miscellaneous fees.

Rosalier Dagondon, DBP head for Super Region Management Office,  said DBP takes pride in partnering with the province on this program as well as with CNU and CTU.

The other agreement entered into was with the 7RCDG.

Capitol has granted them free use of the 47,680 sqm lot in Sudlon, Lahug that was formerly occupied by the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

The occupancy is for an indefinite period but once the province needs the lot, the 7RCDG will voluntary leave the place within 60 days after receiving the notice to vacate.

The agreement provides that the 7RCDG will maintain the area and secure the property.

“I’m sure that this support will go a long way in the development of our reservists,”  Brig. Gen. Alex Nolasco Albano, Commander of the Army Reserve Command, said in his speech.

Gov. Garcia was installed as the battalion commander of the ready reserve force of Cebu making her as the first woman battalion commander. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus