CHAIR of the City Council committees on trade and commerce and on ways and means Councilor George S. Goking has requested the government to provide technical and even extend financial support to reservists in this time of pandemic and on disaster relief missions.

“Extending help mostly in challenging times like this pandemic for reservists are needed,” said Goking.

He said reservists depend solely on the willingness of its members to fulfill their commitment to help their community.

Mostly barangay captains are asking the AFP for more troops to enforce provisions during community quarantine in the city.

Currently, Goking said on top of the regular troops, military reservists have volunteered to render COVID-19 duties since last year.

“These reservists even though are all under the supervision of regular military members, some of them have no single cents on their pockets, but still they are currently deployed in the city, helping enforce quarantine,” Goking said.

He said that aside from helping the LGUs in delivering and distributing relief goods, these reservists are also mandated to assist barangay officials restore discipline and order in their respective communities.

"Giving aid not only for frontliners but also for our reservists (who are also front liners) are also in need in this time of crisis,” said Goking.

He said usually reservists are instilling of discipline, patriotism and love of country in our current youth and the other generations to come,” said Goking in one of the reservists' graduation rites in Barangay Lumbia recently.

Goking maintained that the local government in a little way support reservists who are ready at all times to give their services to the people.

“During man-made and natural calamities, reservists are there to assist and help,” he said.

Goking added that in this time of pandemic, reservists can be seen in checkpoints, hospitals and even during flooding incidents.

He said the group serves as a multiplier to the LGU of the city, whose hands are full and busy working out things to contain these COVID-19 challenges.

“While the reservists are volunteering on limited resources, they focus mainly on what they can extend,” said Goking.

The role of reservists in helping the Armed Forces and communities are very vital.

Goking said the services they rendered are voluntary and they don’t receive salaries at the expense of their lives and away from their families during the times they are needed.

He added that reservists are also called citizen armed forces.

They are voluntary civilians who learn knowledge of war, and also efficiency in performing government support roles during disaster or development activities, he said.

“The act of giving by the government in whatever ways and terms can help also these reservists,” Goking said. (Ben Balce)