President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday, July 2, graced the 75th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Clark, Pampanga.
Marcos was awarded with arrival honors by PAF Commanding General Lt.Gen. Connor Anthony Canlas.
PAF also presented to the Chief Executive their aircraft equipment such as trainer aircrafts, black hawk, attack helicopters, utility helicopters, and fighter jets.
“Transport aircraft, helicopters and the like, are important facilities that only the Philippine Air Force can suitably and sufficiently provide, especially during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. All these are just some of the most fundamental and significant functions that we have come to expect from our Air Force,” Marcos said.
Moreover, PAF Spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano said there are other aircrafts that will arrive in the country this year.
However, Mariano said he is hopeful that the Marcos administration will extend their support in modernizing the air force.
“Marami pa po tayong modernization program na ipapatupad at ipinapatupad po ngayon. Ang we’re hoping that this will continue, for the next years to come,” he continued.
“Kung in the past laging sinasabi na biruam na walang force and air force natin. Ngayon po masasabi nating we’re here again. Ang we’re gonna be doing again our job kung ano ang kailangan naming gampanan. And this is the territorial defense of our country, the defense of our airspace,” Mariano added.
Marcos also vowed to further strengthen and expand the capacity of PAF in defending the country amid the dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
“The ongoing defense modernization effort is in coordination with the basic prerequisites that would complement this administration’s vision for a stronger, bigger, and effective Air Force capable of defending and maintaining our sovereign state, and of assisting our people in times of dire consequences and today’s reality that this dictates,” Marcos said.
“A more modern, aerial, and surveillance capability is all the more felt given the territorial disputes that we in the Philippines are involved in,” he added. —Report from Mark Fetalco/KC – gb
