THE 1st Civil Relations Group (1CRG), Civil-Military Operations Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines (CMOC AFP) and Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 10 in partnership with the local government units of Lal-lo and Sta. Ana, Cagayan conducted a two-day Ugnayan Forum on Sept. 2-3, 2026.
The activity gathered 150 barangay leaders from the coastal municipalities of Lal-lo and Sta. Ana, Cagayan. It aimed to expand community knowledge on security, preparedness, and resilience; strengthen public awareness of national-security initiatives; and reinforce cooperation between communities, local governments, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
During the forum, participants attended discussions on the Philippines–United States partnership, the Balikatan Exercise, West Philippine Sea awareness, and the role of barangay leaders in promoting community security, disaster preparedness, and resilience.
The Municipal Local Government Operations Office (MLGOO) also supported the conduct of the activity, emphasizing the importance of local government participation in addressing community concerns and advancing coordinated preparedness efforts.
Designed to address information gaps and build civil-military trust in strategic coastal communities, the Ugnayan Forum provided barangay officials with an open and transparent platform to engage directly with defense and government representatives. The discussions enabled the Barangay Officials to raise local concerns, clarify misconceptions regarding troops presence and defense-related activities, and better understand the practical impact of security operations in Northern Luzon.
Through the activity, the AFP and the LGUs of Lal-lo and Sta. Ana reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining peace, enhancing disaster preparedness and strengthening civil-military collaboration. (UnliNews Online)
