10 civil-military operations units face abolition next year

MANILA, Philippines - Ten civil-military operations (CMO) battalions and the National Development Support Command (NADESCOM) would be abolished next year as part of the efforts to rationalize the management of the resources of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), a military source disclosed yesterday.

The source said the NADESCOM would be abolished within the first half of 2012.

On the other hand, the 10 CMO units would be dissolved gradually starting next year until 2013.

The CMO units and the NADESCOM are responsible for undertaking development projects in remote areas. These projects are intended to address the roots of rebellion like poverty and lack of access to basic services.

The source said the Department of National Defense (DND) is in favor of abolishing these units.

“The objective (of the abolition) is to save resources and fill up unfilled units,” the source told The STAR.

The move reportedly surprised the military’s private partners, who believe that the current set-up is effective in helping depressed areas.

“Some civil society groups are lobbying against the abolition (of these units),” the source said.

The various AFP area commands would take over the development projects once the NADESCOM and the CMO battalions were dissolved.