Biliran Province State University, through its 565th Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Unit, hosted the Local Annual General Tactical Inspection (LAGTI) on April 7.

LAGTI is an annual evaluation of Naval ROTC units, assessing their tactical proficiency and adherence to military standards, with the winning unit representing the region in the National Annual General Tactical Inspection (NAGTI).

Held at the university oval, a battalion of first year students enrolled under the Navy component of BiPSU’s National Service Training Program (NSTP) offering and NROTC officers participated in the whole-day tactical activity. 

The inspecting team from the Philippines Navy, led by Capt. Randy Japitana, commandant of the 565th NROTC Unit, includes CPO Rey P. Buenafe, PO2 Joel A. Mahinay, PO3 Jerome A. Arquillano, SN1 Jake Malimban, and SN2 Mark Rover Revilla.

The inspection covered various aspects, including military bearing, uniformity, adherence to standards, and tactical proficiency through drills and field exercises. LAGTI also evaluated the cadets’ skills to perform in specialties including M16 Assembly/Disassembly, line throwing, basic life support, knot tying, flag identification, morse code and flashing lights, and semaphore signalling.

Meanwhile, University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. was invited as Guest of Honor and Speaker (GOHAS). In his message, Dr. Cañezo posed a challenge to the officers to never stop in building future-ready Filipinos even if their works are not widely seen. 

“Your work may not make headlines, but it is the kind that produces future-ready Filipinos,” the university president said.  “I challenge you to continue building young leaders who understand that strength without discipline is chaos, leadership without service is self-promotion, and knowledge without attitude is noise.”

He also emphasized that the inspection may just end in a matter of hours, but the true test of discipline, leadership, and service will begin outside this ground. “How will you act when you’re no longer being graded? What will you do when no one claps?” Dr. Cañezo said. “That’s when it matters.”

The activity was also attended by Dr. Erwin G. Salvatierra, vice president for Students and External Affairs; Dr. Susan Bentor, vice president for Academics; Dr. Roland A. Niez, vice president for Research, Innovation, and Extension Services; Hon. Vennie Coton, acting dean of SCJE and member of BiPSU’s Board of Regents; Benedicto G. Batistis, NSTP director; NROTC reservists, and NSTP officials.

The Local Annual General Tactical Inspection is part of the ROTC program, which is mandated by Section 38 of Republic Act No. 9163, otherwise known as the National Service Training Program Act of 2001. 

This is the first inspection conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic.

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 4: Quality Education, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.]