The Philippine Army’s 525th Combat Engineer Battalion (525CEBn) has received Full National Accreditation as a Medium Urban Search and Rescue Team, becoming the first unit in the country to attain the distinction under the National Accreditation Process.

The accreditation was conferred during a ceremony at the Philippine Army headquarters in Taguig City on 26 June, marking the culmination of the battalion’s 100-day preparation campaign under the theme “One Mission, One Standard.”

Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete said the accreditation reflected the unit’s disciplined training, extensive preparation and compliance with nationally prescribed standards for disaster response operations.

He also underscored the importance of sustained interagency cooperation in strengthening the country’s disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities.

Nafarrete challenged the battalion to build on the achievement by pursuing international accreditation under the standards of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group.

“As soldiers, our duty goes beyond defending the nation from external and internal threats. We are also called upon to protect and assist our fellow Filipinos during times of calamities and crises,” Nafarrete said.

“At the end of the day, our purpose remains clear: Every risk we take, every effort we make and every sacrifice we endure is for the safety, security and preservation of human life,” he added.

The Philippine Army said the accreditation strengthens the capability of the 525th Combat Engineer Battalion to respond to urban search-and-rescue operations during natural disasters and other emergencies.