President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista, inspects the troops during the 78th AFP Founding Anniversary at the AFP General Headquarters Grandstand in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Friday (December 20). This year’s theme is: “Tagumpay Noon, Bayanihan Ngayon, Karangalan Nating Lahat Bukas”. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The government will be acquiring more ships, choppers, and cargo planes for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), President Benigno Aquino III said Friday.
“Hindi na po manhid ang gobyerno sa pangangailangan ninyo. Ang tugon natin tuloy-tuloy na modernisasyon,” Aquino said during his speech at the AFP 78th founding anniversary celebration in Camp Aquinaldo.
He specifically said that the Aquino administration will be purchasing two more C-130 cargo planes to add to the existing three and two more naval helicopters in addition to the three they recently purchased worth P1.33 billion
He also said that they will be adding more ships to BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz .
“Malaki ang inaasahan sa ating mga kawal kaya naman marapat lang na bigyan kayo ng estado ng sapat na kapasidad upang tumugon sa inyong tungkulin,” he said.
Aside from the new equipment, the President also assured soldiers that the government is working on other benefits for them and their families.
“Sa maayos na pamamahala nasusuklian natin ng makabuluhang suporta ang pagmamalasakit ninyo sa ating bayan makakaasa kayong… isinusulong ng gobyerno ang makakabuti sa inyong kapakanan,” he said.
In his speech at the same event, AFP chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista thanked Aquino for his “unwavering support” to their modernization efforts.
He likewise committed to “develop” their capabilities and “further professionalize” their troops.
“We will be a world-class armed forces, a source of national pride. We may have a long way to go but we have already set our transformation direction as inspired by the lead and steady vision for reform of President Benigno Aquino,” he said.
Bautista, however, also asked the help of the public in “winning just and lasting peace for our nation.”
“Join us in building a stronger armed forces that we can all be proud of. After all this is your Armed Forces, our Armed Forces, the Armed Forces of the Filipino people,” he said. (MNS)