1st CAV Squadron bags Best Battalion award for 2015

By Gideon C. Corgue

LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur – The 1^st Cavalry (Tagapanguna) Squadron, Mechanized Infantry Division, Philippine Army bagged two (2) awards from the Army Governance Pathway during the 9^thActivation Anniversaryat Camp O’Donnel,  Capas, Tarlac recently.

Lt.Col. Charlemagne F. Batayola, Jr., commanding officer of the 1^st CAV received the awards as Best Cavalry Squadron for 2015 and the Governance Strategy Management Office (GSMO) award for being the only battalion who implemented the first stage of the Philippine Army’s Performance governance system (PGS) particularly, the initiated stage.

The PGS is a performance management tool that assesses government agencies.

Batayola received the plaque of recognition from LtGen. Eduardo Ano, commanding general of the Philippine Army, for having demonstrated the commitment to pursue genuine transformation and reform as manifested by its exemplary progress to governance and strategy management.

The award was bestowed by 1^st Mechanized Infantry Division commander MGenMayoralgo M. Dela Cruz and assisted by Engr. Fernando Limbitco, chairman of the Multi-Stakeholders Advisory Board (MSAB) and city administrator of San Fernando.   

It is the second time that the 1^st Cavalry Squadron received the award as Best Cavalry Squadron, the first was in September 2013.

Batayola said the Army Governance Pathway lauded the overall operational readiness of the unit saying that the armor personnel are more capable and responsive to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ needs and are operationally ready to perform its mission.

He added thatunder the Army Transformation Roadmap, the 18-year transformation and governance program, all line units are mandated to implement four (4) stages of PGS, namely: initiated, compliant, proficient, and institutionalized.

Asked if the unit can sustain the next stages of PGS, Batayola said the armor personnel were more inspired and motivated to perform their duties and responsibilities to attain its goal to become a more credible, dynamic, responsive, capable and professional Army by 2028.

“Our collective efforts and hardwork as members of the Tagapanguna team has finally paid off,” Batayola proudly said, as he congratulated them.

He said the awards they received will serve as a challenge for them to do more and perform better in the fulfillment of their duties and responsibilities of serving the people and securing the land.