The Armor (Pambato) Division, Philippine Army innovates programs and

actions to be responsive to the requirements of the modern times. Innovations and

best practices ranges from the establishment of a Mental Health Resiliency Facility
that will take care of our personnel’s mental health, the use of the Matrix of
Resources Monitoring which ensures timely delivery of logistics and programming of
needed supplies for efficient and effective distribution with minimal cost and
utilization of resources, the observed role of the Special Bids and Awards Committee
that maximizes our purchasing power and minimize our costs, the observance of
gender equality and recognizing the talent and potential performance of our Enlisted
Women assigned as drivers and gunners of our Armored Vehicles and the
improvement of our battlefield situational awareness brought about by the Battlefield
Management System.

The Armor Division (AD) Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) headed
by BGEN PEDRO C BALISI JR PA, Assistant Division Commander, has been
instrumental in the implementation of armor spares and infrastructure projects
through public bidding. Since its creation in 2018, it lessened the load of the load of
the PA Bids and Awards Committees (BAC), generated servings for PA and
facilitated the timely implementation of programs, activities, and projects (PAPs),
including aircraft spares projects of the Army Aviation Regiment.
The SBAC has assisted the PA BACs in the execution of procurement
projects exceeding one million pesos. For the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, the SBAC has
worked closely with the different Technical Working Groups of various armor spares,
aircraft spares and infrastructure projects of the Armor Division and Army Aviation
Regiment. Its Early Procurement Activities has resulted in the successful bid of 10
armor spares projects and the three (3) aircraft spares projects amounting to 108.3
Million Pesos and 13.9 Million Pesos, respectively by yearend 2022. The SBAC has
also facilitated the awarding of two (2) lots of the Light Tank Maintenance Facilities
amounting to 142.4 Million Pesos funded by the current year General Appropriation
Act.
Aside from ensuring the timely obligation of funds, the technical expertise and
prudence of the SBAC Chair and members have also generated savings for the PA.
For this year, 27.4 Million Pesos in the residuals from the successful conduct of
biddings were realized for armor spares, aircraft spares, and infrastructure projects.
The aforementioned savings were used by higher headquarters to fund priority and
high-impact projects of PA.
Lastly, the efforts of SBAC have resulted in the timely delivery of spare parts
required to maintain the Mission Essential Equipment (MEE) of the Command.
Logistics-related PAPs for the Armor Division were completed on time, resulting in
the achievement of the desired outcomes, i.e., high maintenance Readiness
Condition (REDCON) ratings for armor units. High maintenance REDCON would
imply that units are capable of carrying out its mandate and tasks assigned to it by
the force employers.
 Overall, the efforts of SBAC have indirectly contributed to the Armor Division’s
accomplishments. It ensured the prompt and efficient implementation of procurement
projects, resulting in the achievement of desired outputs and outcomes.

The Armor Division Mental Health Resilience Desk: The Armor (Pambato)
Division actively supports the mental health program of the Philippine Army.
Initiatives for this program led the Division in establishing a Mental Health Resilience
Facility staffed by a well-trained personnel and Psychometrician. The facility was
established to promote and maintain Armor Division personnel in a multidisciplinary
setting and assist them in the prevention, early detection, treatment and
management of mental disorders. Counseling, therapy, psychiatric services, and
support groups are readily available and easily accessible for our soldiers. The
facility provides services through face to face and on-line consultations via VTC in
order to cater all other personnel assigned in the far-flung areas/ units of the
Division. The Armor Division Mental Health Resilience Desk contributes to the
overall mental readiness and effectiveness of our soldiers and recognizes the
importance of caring and healing the invisible wounds of those who protect and
serve, honoring their sacrifices and supporting their journey toward mental well-
being.

On Resource Management, the Armor (Pambato) Division regularly conducts

Integrated Resource Managers consultative meetings to discuss the issues being
run into and promptly implement the agreed upon actions to be taken considering the
use of the Matrix of Resources Monitoring. Moreover, to monitor progress and track
resources utilization, the Programs Budget Advisory Committee (PBAC) of this
PAMU were also directed to maximize its functions. The Armor Division, through the
office of the Financial Management periodically conducts pre-audit and management
audit to the various offices and subordinate units. These activities enhance the
internal control system and the management policies of the units and more
importantly to instill the accountabilities of the Unit Commanders, Chief of offices and
Accountable
Officers.

On Gender Equality and Development of our enlisted women GAD Forums

are conducted to insure gender sensitivity and equality among are men and women
soldiers. The opportunity given to our EWs to be employed as driver and gunner of
our fighting vehicles displays the commitment of the Division to provide equal
opportunities for both men and women of the Armor Division to learn, perform and be
given the same opportunity for career advancement.

Another significant thrust of the Division to be at par with the demands of

modern warfare and in pursuit of operational excellence, we are now utilizing the
Battlefield Management System which integrates the C4ISTAR of our unit to other
operating troops during combined arms and joint operations. Under the BMS, our
battlefield situational awareness and integration of our Armored Vehicles to other
platforms provides our troops significant information that can influence the
Commander’s decisions and maximizes the chances of tactical victories. The arrival
of ASCOD 2 Sabrah Light Tanks further strengthens our strategic reserves
capability. This is complemented by several projects that will enhance the knowledge
and skills of our soldiers the Armor Readiness Training Area (ARTA), Light Tank
Maintenance Facilities are being prepared to support the capability build up of our
1st Tank Battalion.

The entire Armor Division has been constant in realizing its goal of becoming
a reliable, capable, modern, and mission-ready Army unit that is actively involved in
defending and protecting the country’s citizens and territorial sovereignty
Emphasizing Bravery, Excellence, Self-service, Trustworthiness, as our guide in the
performance of our duties and responsibilities. We will remain steadfast in fulfilling its
mandate and committed to subscribe to its motto, “We will always do our job the best
way we can,” towards a world-class Armor Division deserving of the people’s source
of national pride, guided by the virtues of excellence, service, and integrity.