In a significant boost to disaster response capabilities, the Marine Battalion Landing Team 9 (MBLT-9) of the 3rd Marine Brigade has been equipped with two new rubber boats, complete with outboard motors. These essential assets, donated by the Humanitarian Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were handed over during a ceremony at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on February 19, 2025.
The donation event, which took place at Brown Hall, Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown, was overseen by Brig. Gen. Gregorio Hernandez, the Combat Support Brigade commander. The ceremony underscored the vital role of civilian-military partnerships in enhancing national resilience, facilitated by the Philippine Marine Corps Foundation Inc. (PMCFI), under the leadership of retired Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban.
1st Lt. Jenny-May Rey, the Public Affairs Office chief of MBLT-9, emphasized the strategic importance of these boats in enabling rapid response during natural disasters. She highlighted that the rubber boats will play a crucial role in the unit’s humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations.
The Philippine Marine Corps and MBLT-9 expressed their gratitude to the Church’s Humanitarian Missionaries, represented by Elder Joel Gardner, for their contribution. This donation is seen as a critical support to the PMC’s mission to protect and assist communities in times of crisis.