HISTORY

The 514th ECB was organized on May 16, 1963 in Cagayan de Oro City under the 511th Engineer Construction Group (511 ECG),an engineer unit created in 1957 to undertake country-wide development tasks.The first Battalion Commander of the unit was Maj Vicente F Maristela. Its personal and equipment then was generated from units serving the III and IV military areas covering Visayas and Mindanao. On 19 December 1963, the unit moved its station to Santa Barbara, Iloilo and undertook road projects in Iloilo and Capiz provinces until 1966. When the 511 ECB was deactivated to a new and much bigger unit in 18 July 1966 – the 51EBde, the unit became one of the ten construction battalions of the said brigade. On 15 October 1966, its Hqs was transferred to Menasag, Capalonga, Camarines Sur and four years later, to San Gabriel, Carmona, Cavite. Its accomplishments earned praises in Bicol and Southern Tagalog Region. On 16 April 1974, the unit moved to Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila with the primary task of training 21 years old soldier applicants until it was redeployed to Palawan on 07 February 1977 to undertake the development of WESCOM and the surrounding municipalities including major projects in the Kalayaan group of Islands. After the February 1986 Revolution, the unit was given a short lived Construction mission in Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz and on 22 November 1986, the unit moved and established its Headquarters at Camp Upi, Gamu, Isabela to undertake the development of the 5th Infantry Division. On 16 August 1991, the unit was absorbed by the newly organized 54th EBde. On 08 February 1992, the battalion transferred from Gamu, Isabela to Luna, Apayao, where it stayed there for almost 8 years serving Region 2 and 3 particularly in the province of Cagayan. It also took numerous infrastructure projects in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. On 28 June 2000, when hostilities broke out in Central Mindanao, the battalion moved from Luna, Apayao to Matanog, Maguindanao where it undertook numerous projects like the repair and rehabilitation of a war torn mosque, buildings and health center.

On 17 November 2006, the Bn Headquarters transferred in Brgy New Visayas Sto Tomas Davao Del Norte. Its primary mission was to undertake the Kalayaan Barangay Projects in support to the internal security operations in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostella Valley and the construction of EASTMINCOM operational and support facilities at Camp Panacan, Davao City which was completed in just a span of ten months. Also, during the stay in Davao Region, the unit also completed the support facilities for the newly activated 10th Infantry “Agila” Division. On 01 August 2008 with its present stewardship marked another historical milestone as the unit returned to its former mother unit, the 51st Ebde. It left its station in Davao Region on 11 September 2009 aboard the BRP Benguet (LT 501) and reestablished it temporary based at Camp Atienza, Libis, Quezon City on 16 September 2009. In its almost 46 yrs of existence, the leadership of the battalion has passed twenty seven (27) Commanders. LTC JOSE GLEEN T ALCALA CE (GSC) PA, the present commander has led the unit in maintaining its Best during his term. With various enhancements and strict policy implementation, the unit is beyond doubt focusing in promoting the morale and welfare of the personnel in order to accomplish its mission. Traditions in excellence left by the Officers and Men who have served the unit have evolved to form the character befitting of what is being called the “ANG GUMAGAWA” Battalion. This has given the unit trademark of an effective working force.