By Priam Nepomuceno/ PNA
MANILA — The newly-turned over engineering equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be utilized for the construction of high-impact projects like farm-to-market roads and repairs of damaged infrastructures during calamities.
“The engineering equipment is what we term as ‘instruments of peace’. This will translate to more, and immediate services to the Filipinos through delivery of high-impact projects like farm-to-market roads and repairs during calamities which our country is prone to,” AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato said in a message to the Philippine News Agency, when asked how the military plans to use this engineering equipment.
Some of the 248 units of engineering equipment with a total contract price of PHP1.56 billion include telescopic cranes, tracked dozers, road graders, scoop loaders, backhoe loaders, road rollers, transit mixers, dump trucks, and water lorries.
“This is a promise made more precise because it is responsive since the equipment will be pre-deployed to all our engineer units who are in the front-lines with our soldiers who are also serving as a bridge of government services,” Detoyato added.
The supply and delivery of the engineering equipment is under Horizon 2 of the AFP Modernization Program, which was completed on Feb. 12, 2019.
The first batch, consisting of 114 units of equipment, was delivered to Camp Pintoy, Iligan City while the second batch of 134 units was delivered to Camp Aguinaldo, in Quezon City; Villamor Air Base, Pasay City and Bonifacio Naval Station, Taguig City.
Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Cardozo Luna, who was the guest-of-honor and speaker, represented Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The event was also attended by AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. and the military’s deputy chief-of-staff for logistics, Maj. Gen. Pio Q. Diñoso III.
“On behalf of the Secretary of National Defense, I am pleased to welcome you all to the symbolic turn-over ceremony of the 248 units of AFP engineering equipment acquired from Polytechnologies of the People’s Republic of China intended for the rehabilitation of Marawi City and nearby affected areas,” he added.
Luna said the various engineering equipment shall be used for humanitarian aid/disaster relief operations and other development programs of the national government.
