VP BINAY SUPPORTS CALLS TO BARE DAP LIST, AUDIT DAP FUNDS

MANILA-Vice President Jejomar C. Binay on Thursday said he supports calls for the full disclosure of all projects funded by the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

In a speech during the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Manila, the Vice President said full disclosure is “a good starting point” to prove “good faith” by those who conceived and implemented the controversial program.

“Let me state as a lawyer that the question of accountabilities of government officials would have to be reckoned as part of the legal and logical consequences of this groundbreaking decision. As you all know, the Supreme Court (SC) has placed the onus of proving ‘good faith’ on those who conceived and implemented the DAP,” Binay said.

“But where do we start? For me, a good starting point would be to make available to the public all the projects funded by DAP. This is after all, consistent with the tenets of full transparency that is the cornerstone of the Aquino administration and I do hope my colleagues will reconsider a reported decision to withhold the release of the so-called DAP list,” he added.

Binay said he also supports the proposal of some sectors for an independent audit of the DAP funds.

“And this should be done as soon as possible,” he said.

The Vice President said that speaking as a lawyer, the SC decision and the separate concurring opinions are “rather clear, if not brutally frank, on the matter of accountability.”

“There is no room to speculate or look for hidden clues in the decision of the high court,” he said.

Binay also called for continued vigilance on the so-called Napoles scam.

“It is essential that we see this cleansing of government to its just conclusion—public service without taint of self-interest, without a tinge of deception and political persecution,” he said.

Meanwhile, Binay also expressed disbelief over recent sentiments that life was better during Martial Law.

“It is a sentiment I will not accept. Yes there was peace and quiet, but it was, to paraphrase a famous expression, the peace and quiet of the graveyard,” he said.

“I will never trade one day of freedom for all the illusory trappings of tranquility obtained through force under the dictatorship,” the Vice President added.

DILG holds capacity building seminar-workshop for Northern Luzon SalinTubig recipients

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga-Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Central Luzon played host to the three-day capacity building seminar-workshop for Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SalinTubig) beneficiaries in Regions 1, 2, 3 and Cordillera.

 

“The activity was meant to increase the capability of local government units (LGUs) and functionaries in operating and maintaining their water supply system particularly on enhancing their understanding of the concepts, processes, and methodologies involved in the operations and maintenance of the facility,” DILG Regional Director Florida Dijan said.

 

Attendees included municipal mayors, councilors, planning officers, accountants, and engineers and Project and Development Monitoring Unit staff from DILG.

 

Serving as the highlight of the seminar-workshop was a visit to the facilities of Muňoz Water District (MWD) and Central Luzon State University in Nueva Ecija where the participants had the chance to experience the actual operation of a water supply system, specifically the calibration of water meter, extraction of ground water, water testing, and the treatment of ground water.

 

At the end of the activity, each LGU was tasked to prepare and present the Profile of their Water Supply System based on the topics and guidance of the MWD experience.

 

This included their mission and vision as well as basic information regarding their water system and their tariff structure that will guide them in their operations.

 

“Salingtubig is designed to provide water supply systems for the 455 waterless municipalities, barangays, health centers, and resettlement sites across the archipelago; and enhance the capacity of LGUs and water service providers in the planning, implementation, and operation of water supply facilities,” Dijan explained.

 

“It covers LGUs prioritized based on poverty incidence, water borne diseases, and access to water from the priority list identified by National Anti-Poverty Commission using Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Listahanan (formerly National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction). Recipients must also be winners of the Seal of Good Housekeeping which is now known as the Seal of Good Local Governance,” Dijan added.

Employees’ Compensation Commission briefs Pampanga policemen, women on its programs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Around 50 personnel of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office recently attended a seminar regarding the programs of the Employees’ Compensation Commission- an attached agency of Department of Labor and Employment.

 

“Under Republic Act No. 8291, police and soldiers are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). The good news is they are covered by the Employees Compensation (EC) program as mandated by the Labor Code of the Philippines,” ECC Central Luzon Information Officer Naomi Velasquez told attendees.

 

“GSIS is mandated to collect and process EC contributions and claims. Thus, in the event of work-related sickness, injury, or even death, covered uniformed personnel, and/or their immediate beneficiaries, may file an EC claim at any GSIS branch nearest to their places of work or residence,” Velasquez added.

 

Among the EC benefits available include loss of income benefit (or sickness benefit), medical benefit, carer’s allowance, and rehabilitation services under the Commission’s KaGabay Program such as physical restoration, skills training for re-employment, and entrepreneurship training.

 

“The risk of the nature of work of our uniformed personnel is recognized; hence, through the EC Program, they are assured to be protected with social benefits,” Velasquez said.

 

Aside from the ECP overview, DOLE Regional Office Labor Laws Compliance Officer Maria Regina Agustin likewise gave an overview on Republic Act 10361 otherwise known as the Kasambahay Law.

 

Apart from uniformed personnel, ECC also holds information forums in Freeport and Special Economic Zones as well as industrial parks.

Drilon releases details of P100-M DAP funds, invites public to scrutinize his DAP availment

MANILA-Heeding calls for transparency and accountability, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today released documents pertaining to the P100 million he availed of under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

"It is important for the public to be aware of how every centavo of the DAP funds was spent, and to where it all went. Let our people see everything, and judge," said Drilon.

“I have been an advocate of a transparent government. I believe that all projects which involve public funds should be disclosed to the public, and open to scrutiny anytime,” he stressed.

The Palace on Monday called on lawmakers to disclose how they spent the allocation they received under the DAP.

Drilon said he already released to the public and media where the P100 million DAP funds he availed of had gone to as early as October of last year.

Drilon reiterated that the P100 million under the DAP went to the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center, which President Benigno S. Aquino III inspected last June 27.

He said the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center was in line with the objective of the DAP "to boost growth" as the project will create more job opportunities, generate economic activities, promote tourism in the country, and pump-prime the economy.    

The Senate leader said that the project was funded upon his request to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on November 14, 2012. 

“We hereby request for the release of funds in the FY 2012 General Appropriations Act (R.A. 10155) in the amount of One Hundred Million Pesos for the construction of Iloilo Convention Center chargeable under the Department of Public Works and Highways,” Drilon said in a letter addressed to Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad.

The Senate leader said that a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) A-12-01294 was issued on December 12, 2012 to the Department of Public Works and Highwayscentral office as the implementing agency to fund the construction of Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo Business Park, Barangay Airport, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. 

A SARO is a document that authorizes the agency to enter into an obligation or commitment, noted Drilon.

The Senate chief underscored that official records clearly show that every peso in DAP funds went to a worthwhile project which will expand tourism industry in the Western Visayas.

“Clearly, the record shows that the DAP funds I availed of went to a project that will benefit our people. The funds I availed of were not misused, nor were they channeled to a bogus non-government organization,” pointed out Drilon.

“The construction of Iloilo Convention Center is a dream of the Ilonggos and we are very thankful that the Aquino administration has made it a reality,” he concluded.

Apparel manufacturing firm extends lease in Clark, eyes expansion of operations

CLARK FREEPORT-Apparel manufacturing firm L&T International Group Philippines Inc. (LTIGPI) recently signed a 25-year extended lease agreement with Clark Development Corporation (CDC), pouring in an estimated $6.5 million worth of investments as it eyes expanded operations in the Freeport.

 

“Under the agreement, LTIGPI shall construct six 70,000-square meter buildings in its expansion area,” CDC President Arthur Tugade said.

 

Over 5,000 careers shall be generated upon completion of expansion by 2020.

 

LTIGPI is one of the outsourced manufacturers of Ralph Lauren, Nautica, and Victoria’s Secret. (Rosa Bianca R. Pamintuan)

UPRIIS’ Salazar adjudged as NIA’s best operations manager

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija–The multi-awarded chief of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, has been adjudged as outstanding operations  manager by the National Irrigation Administration.

          Josephine Salazar, UPRIIS operations manager, was conferred the prestigious award by NIA Administrator Claro Maranan and senior deputy administrator Felix Razo during awarding ceremonies at the agency’s central office in Quezon City during its 51st anniversary celebration Friday.

          The Personnel Reward And Incentives System Evaluation (PRAISE) committee chaired by Razo cited Salazar for her “exemplary leadership and good governance of UPRIIS which contributed significantly to NIA’s corporate viability and more importantly to the food security program of the government.”

Aside from Razo, the committee was also composed of deputy administrator Lorna Grace Rosario (vice chairman) and deputy administrator Modesto Membreve, Rebecca Malazarte, Angelina Angeles, Conchita Calsana and Louella Mercado, members.

Salazar posted an over-all ranking of 90.84 after UPRIIS ranked highly in terms of operation and maintenance, financial performance, institutional development, project implementation.

          UPRIIS, under her stewardship posted an irrigation service fee (ISF) collection of P297.9 million in 2013, up from P280.196 million in 2012. 

          A holder of a masteral degree in regional development at the University of Queensland, Australia in 2004, Salazar is on record as the youngest and first-ever female operations manager to head a NIS administratively supervised by the male-dominated NIA in its 51-year history.

Before becoming operations manager , she served in various capacities as engineer A, engineer B, senior engineer A, supervising enginer and principal engineer C of UPRIIS’Division 3.

          Salazar, who was three months old when NIA was created by then-President Diosdado Macapagal, was also adjudged most outstanding irrigation management officer and best irrigation service fee (ISF) provider in 2009 and most outstanding division manager of the year, ISF top grosser in 2010 and highest ISF back account collection in 2010.

Her division was also given the best managed frontline irrigation service award, most viable irrigation management office (IMO) and best maintained division in 2010.

          In September 2012, President Aquino conferred on her the prestigious Pag-asa Award of the Civil Service Commission for exemplary performance in government service.  

          UPRIIS is the country’s largest national irrigation system (NIS). It irrigates 102,000 hectares of agricultural lands in Central Luzon which also hosts the third largest NIS – the Angat Maasim River Irrigation System that runs and operates the Bustos Dam in Bulacan. (Manny Galvez)      

Ecija barangay chairman shot dead by car-riding gunmen

ALIAGA, Nueva Ecija – A barangay chairman was gunned down by armed men yesterday morning in this town.

          Chief Inspector Roberto Sena, police station commander, identified the victim as Rodrigo Miranda, 56, of Barangay Sto. Tomas here.

Miranda, nicknamed Ego, was a member of the Josons’ Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija and a known ally of Vice Mayor Alfredo Domingo.

          Sena said Miranda was drinking coffee in the house of the barangay treasurer some eight kilometers from the town proper at around 10:20 am yesterday when the three bonnet-wearing suspects, who were boarded on an unlicensed white Hyundai car stopped and peppered him with bullets.

          The victim sustained several gunshot wounds from Armalite rifles and was rushed to a Cabanatuan hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The car then sped in the direction of Cabanatuan City.

          Sena said that based on their investigation, an old grudge may have been the motive behind the killing.

           “He has many enemies,”he said of Miranda as he ruled out politics as the possible motive for the slaying. 

VP BINAY - INFO ON CHEATING CREDIBLE, PEOPLE SHOULD BE VIGILANT

MANILA-Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has reiterated that the information he personally received regarding plans of massive cheating in the 2016 elections is credible. 

"Basta't ang sinasabi ko may report kaming natanggap na kapani-paniwala na may mga naghahanda na mandaya sa darating na halalan. Mas malungkot 'yun dahil sa hindi 'yung kagustuhan ng taong-bayan na bumoto ang mananaig," said Binay Tuesday after the 35th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters in Makati.

Binay also said the people need to be vigilant in guarding their votes to ensure that such plans do not succeed.

"Makaka-counter natin 'yun. ​U​nang-una 'yung magiging aware tayo. Magiging vigilant tayo. Magkakaisa tayong magbantay. Katulad halimbawa na mabalik 'yung mentalidad ng halalan noong 1986. May mga nag-walkout, [dahil sa] social consciousness, civic spirit," he said.

Binay added that the warnings he received have been consistent.

He also denied that his proclamations of cheating, which he first revealed during the Joint Convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Western and Eastern Visayas in Iloilo, was a form of mind conditioning to sway public opinion in case he lost in the upcoming elections.

"Whatever it is, ito naman hindi naman 'to bagong panganak. Nandito palagi sa bawat eleksiyon, lagi-lagi na may pandaraya. Baka ninyo makalimutan​.​ ​S​ana magkaisa tayo na huwag na muling mangyari ang pandaraya lalung-lalo na sa malakihan," Binay said.

Binay also expressed apprehension over the use of the precinct counting optical scan (PCOS) machines over reports that many of the machines are already obsolete and non-functional.

He also urged the release of funds to purchase new machines.

"​D​apat umpisahan na ang paglalagay ng budget baka naman sa bandang huli ilalabas ang budget eh wala na, 'di na magagawa. So, mapipilitan ka na namang kumapit sa patalim, gagamitin mo na naman 'yung mga makinang 'yun​,​" he said.​

He added that while the PCOS machines could be manipulated, the Philippines should not revert to manual counting of votes. 

Instead, the Commission on Elections should acquire machines that have been proven in other countries and are not vulnerable to manipulation.

"Maghanap tayo ng isang pamamaraan, 'yung mga equipment na talagang napatunayan na sa ibang bansa, na talagang malayo na madaya sa halalan," he said.

Legarda Bats for Law Against Catching of Sharks

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today called for the swift passage of the proposed measure that would prohibit the catching of sharks in Philippine waters, stressing that the absence of such law could lead to the extinction of shark species.

“Sharks, as predators of the sea, play a vital role in regulating the ecological balance, particularly the health of important commercial fish species, population balance, and protection of coral reefs. As such, our country plays a crucial role in protecting marine species,” said Legarda.

The Senator noted that last month, police authorities in Cebu seized a truck loaded with shark meat headed for a fish ball processor in Lapu-Lapu City. News reports indicated that the truck contained at least 467 kilograms of thresher shark meat.

Legarda said that the absence of a law forbidding the catching of sharks gives people the courage to continue the practice, which could eventually lead to the extinction of shark species in the country.

“Sharks are in danger of becoming extinct if we do not proactively protect them, considering that they reproduce slowly. The decline of their population could also endanger the entire marine ecosystem,” she added.

Legarda has filed Senate Bill No. 536, which declares as illegal the catching, sale, purchase, possession, transportation, importation and exportation of all shark and ray species in the country.

Drilon: DAP funds used for Iloilo project

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today stressed that every centavo of the P100 million funds which he availed of under the government’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) in 2012 was properly spent in a project that would spur development in the Western Visayas.

Drilon explained that the P100 million under the DAP went to the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center, which President Benigno S. Aquino III inspected last June 27. 

“I invite everyone to visit Iloilo and take a look at the Iloilo Convention Center which is nearing completion,” Drilon said.  

“The funds I availed of were not misused, nor were they channeled to a bogus non-government organization,” pointed out Drilon. “The funds were used for the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center in order to boost Iloilo’s chances of hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial meetings in 2015.”

“This is a realization of a lifelong dream of the Ilonggos to have their own convention center at par with those of Cebu’s and Davao’s,” said Drilon.

“What is wrong with fulfilling the dreams of your people? What is important is that we can account for every centavo of the public funds and that there is transparency and accountability in the implementation,” he emphasized.

Drilon pointed out that official records would show that every peso in DAP funds he availed of was directly coursed through the Department of Public Works and Highways, which implemented the project.

The Senate chief also said that while he respects the decision of the Supreme Court, he still believes that the DAP has served its purpose of expediting the spending capacity of the government which resulted in higher-than-expected growth rates for the past quarters.

Drilon said that he spearheaded the construction of the convention center, which has a total cost of P700 million, in order to expand tourism industry in the Western Visayas.

“It is designed to attract and accommodate major conferences, summits, congresses, fairs, and trade shows and exhibits. It can accommodate more than 3,700 people,” noted Drilon.

SOCIAL MOBILIZATION, EMPOWERED CITIZENRY BEST DEFENSES VS DRUGS –VP BINAY

MANILA-An empowered citizenry committed to rejecting the temptation of drugs is one of the most effective defenses against drugs, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said Tuesday.

“The war on drugs is an advocacy as much as it is a campaign, and we give proper importance to the power of social mobilization in expanding our cause,” the Vice President said in his keynote speech at the 35th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters in Makati.

“At stake in this fight is the future of our nation, and it is only proper that we enlist the help and power of each and every Filipino to see our efforts culminate in certain victory,” he added.

“We continue to harness the swelling support of our people to create a front that is wide enough and deep enough to withstand the assaults of drug rings worldwide,” he further said.

Binay said that as barriers to international and regional trade continue to come down, drug cartels also continue to expand their operations.

“The supply chain of illegal drugs has moved with greater sophistication and precision. Drug rings have exerted the most determined efforts not just to avoid detection, but to move larger quantities of their merchandise from source to market,” he said.

“The regional entry of top-level Western syndicates in the wholesale manufacturing of narcotics is a great cause for alarm and coldly underscores how complex and borderless the drug trade has become,” he added.

Binay, the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) Concerns, also noted that OFWs as well as those intending to find employment overseas have become prey to both local and international drug syndicates.

“Foreign criminal elements have used both social media channels and local scouts to recruit unsuspecting people from the provinces to serve their illicit end,” he said.

”In 2011, the Philippine Government busted members of the West African Drug Syndicate (WADS) in Manila for possession of cocaine that was to be smuggled into Thailand. WADS have gone as far as to send their operatives here as exchange students to marry Filipinas and then turn their brides into drug mules. The women fly out of Manila to a supply stopover to pick up drugs, and then to a final destination where the contraband is delivered,” he added.

The Vice President also mentioned the case of Sarah Villanueva, one of three Filipinos sentenced to death in China in 2012 for drug smuggling.

“Our countrywoman was asked by a fellow Filipino to bring along what looked to be an empty piece of luggage. It was only upon arrival in China where the suitcase proved to be lined with four kilos of heroin,” he said.

“The person who enticed Ms. Villanueva to transport this seemingly innocuous suitcase has been brought to justice, but Ms. Villanueva’s deceiver is only one of many who will go to great lengths to facilitate the trafficking of drugs, regardless of the lives that are risked and lost,” Binay added.

The Vice President then stressed the Philippines’ commitment to achieve a drug-free ASEAN by 2015.

“Our country’s efforts in supply reduction, demand reduction, alternative development, civic awareness and response, and international cooperation are merely beginnings in addressing the drug menace via a holistic, balanced, integrated and strategic approach,” he said.

He cited the government’s efforts to crackdown drug operations in the country, including the raid on a Batangas game fowl farm in February that led to the arrest of three members of the Mexican Siniloa Cartel and recovery of 84 kilograms of methamphetamine.

NHA TAGS 67 HECTARES AS SETTLEMENT SITES FOR YOLANDA VICTIMS

MANILA-The National Housing Authority (NHA) has identified almost 70 hectares of land that can be developed as settlement sites for Yolanda survivors, said Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.

In a report to the Vice President, NHA General Manager Chito Cruz said the agency has identified about 67 hectares of national and government land on which they can build 8,433 housing units.

Binay said NHA, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and other concerned agencies are fast-tracking the identification of government lands to help displaced families be resettled soon.

He added that NHA and HUDCC, in coordination with Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson, are working vigorously to provide disaster-resilient permanent homes to the survivors of Yolanda.

“Our mandate is to build disaster-resilient homes for families living in unsafe areas in the 171 cities and municipalities along the 50-kilometer typhoon path,” Binay said.

“However, the availability of suitable land remains to be a concern in our permanent housing program for Yolanda victims,” he added.

As chief of the government housing sector, the Vice President heads the Yolanda Resettlement Cluster.

Binay said land development and housing construction are already being undertaken in some areas. The houses being constructed can withstand 250 kph winds, in accordance with the specifications of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“About 2,950 of these units are under construction – 1,193 in Tacloban City, 366 in Tanauan and 200 in Palo all in Leyte; 896 in Roxas City, Capiz, and 295 in Dumangas, Iloilo,” he said.

These projects are being developed in partnership with GMA Kapuso Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and Gawad Kalinga. The NHA funds and undertakes land development while the NGOs build houses, with NHA augmenting funding requirement whenever necessary.

Earlier, Binay called for stronger cooperation between and among government agencies, the private sector and NGOs to fast-track the provision of permanent housing units to the Yolanda-affected families.

JINGGOY: COA SHOULD NOT AUDIT DAP

MANILA-Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada reiterated today his earlier pronouncement that the Commission on Audit may not be the best body to look into the expenditures made under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

 

This developed as the Supreme Court recently struck down the essential provisions of the DAP as unconstitutional.

 

The lawmaker said that though the COA is constitutionally mandated to examine and settle all accounts of the government, its findings will be suspect and will be regarded with partiality as the commission is also a recipient of the DAP funds.

 

Sen. Estrada recalled that during his interrogation of the 2014 budget for the COA, Chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan admitted that they requested and received funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to finance the modernization program of the commission.

 

A total of 143 million which was sourced from the DAP was given to the COA and were used for information technology infrastructure (P68,352,000), installation of closed-circuit television (P2,079,000), hiring of litigation experts and legal and management consultants (P4,607,000), and purchase of service vehicles (P5,115,000).

 

“Did these COA ‘projects’ help boost the economy, as the DAP they say was intended for fast moving projects and to pump prime the economy?” Jinggoy wondered.

 

The senator further said that since the DAP spending was made outside the enacted budget approved by Congress, no one knows how much taxpayer’s money was channeled through the said unconstitutional mechanism.

 

“I think we can all agree that the people have the right to know how public funds were used, how much has been poured into the DAP, what projects were funded using this scheme, and whether these projects were completed or not,” Jinggoy said.

 

“Full disclosure and special audit are in order. However, I have serious reservations about the COA, being a recipient of the fund, as the auditor,” he added.

 

Sen. Estrada again brought up the option of an independent body composed of esteemed personalities from the academe, mass media, retired justices, private auditors, among others to probe and audit the releases made under the DAP.

Phl Air Force to have new fighter jets beginning 2015- PNoy

CLARK AIR BASE, Pampanga-President Benigno Aquino III announced Tuesday that territorial defense and disaster response capabilities of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) shall be reinforced with the arrival of new fighter jets which the government purchased from South Korea.

 

“Sa susunod na taon, inaasahan nating mapasakamay na ang dalawa sa 12 FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer. Target pong makumpleto ang delivery ng mga ito pagdating ng 2017. (Next year, we shall have two out of a total 12 FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer. The delivery is targeted to be completed by 2017),” Aquino told attendees of the service branch’s 67^thanniversary rites.

The FA-50 is a multirole fighter variant of KAI's T-50 Golden Eagle and features upgraded EL/M-2032 pulse-doppler radar, advanced avionics, a longer radome, a greater internal fuel capacity, and a tactical datalink.

 

PAF retired its last fighter jet, the F-5 freedom fighter aircraft, in 2005.

 

Moreover, Aquino disclosed that the remaining 17 of a total of 21 UH-1 helicopters are due for delivery this year.

 

In addition, his administration plans to purchase eight more combat utility helicopters, two long-range patrol aircrafts, six close-air support aircrafts, and radar systems among others.

 

“Kaakibat ng lahat ng ito ang pagsigurong hindi kailanman mawawala ang kakayahan nating magpalipad ng mga fighter jet sa pamamagitan ng mga pagsasanay, at magpatupad ng nararapat na command and control structure para sa mga operasyon nito (On top of this, we ensure that we never lose our capacity to aviate fighter jets through trainings and enforce the appropriate command and control structure for these operations),” the Chief Executive stressed.

Meanwhile, the President extended his gratitude to the members of PAF, urging them to keep up the good work.

 

He said that as commander in chief, he is proud to become a leader of a nation that does what is right and is always ready for any challenge.

PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II.

 

It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corp, which was established in 1941.

 

This year’s celebration carried the theme “PAF at 67: Soaring High for Peace, Freedom, and Development.”