President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Retirement Ceremony of Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz and Philippine Air Force (PAF) Change of Command at the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Grandstand, Fernando Air Base (FAB) in Lipa City, Batangas on Friday (April 25, 2014). Also in photo is newly assumed 33rd Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General Major Gen. Jeffrey Delgado. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday challenged newly installed Philippine Air Force commanding general Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado to continue the good performance of the PAF under the leadership of its outgoing chief, Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz, as he unveiled the next wave of acquisitions planned for the Air Force.
”And so, Jeff, I’ve known you for a long time. I don’t know much about Larry, but his performance is very commendable. Now, I think you know what I should expect from you, double it,” President Aquino told Delgado in Filipino during the PAF change-of-command and retirement ceremony at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.
The President said he expected new PAF chief Delgado to use his vast experience to achieve the modernization of the Air Force.
”He (Delgado) knows the needs of the Air Force which we have to deliver and he will serve as chief adviser towards the direction of modernizing the Air Force so that will improve more our services,” President Aquino stressed.
The President announced the acquisition of new FA50 aircraft from South Korea beginning next year as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.
”Likewise, our target is also to purchase eight combat utility helicopters; six close air support aircraft, two long-range patrol aircraft, and radar systems. Aside from these, we also plan to purchase full motion flight simulator to increase the capability of our pilots,” he said.
President Aquino cited outgoing chief Dela Cruz for his dedication to serve the PAF for the last two years, especially in the delivery of goods and services for the victims of natural calamities despite limited resources.
”When we started, we had only one C-130 aircraft being used to deliver tons of military equipment, military personnel and relief goods in the affected areas. But it did not stop your forces from doing your duties when typhoons Sendong hit the Visayas and Mindanao in 2011,” the President said.
Two years later, the President noted, the PAF again displayed enormous dedication and courage to serve when a big part of the Visayas was devastated by super typhoon "Yolanda," considered as the world’s strongest cyclone, that left over 5,000 people dead and thousands of others homeless.
”Right after the typhoon, our helicopters with soldiers on board arrived in Tacloban to open the airport. Within two hours, our three C-130 planes landed at the Tacloban airport and they were able to deliver relief goods and brought the injured to the hospital in Tacloban,” President Aquino said.
”What I mean is, if your leadership has entertained first your fear, your personal interest; if our armed forces did not think first of their commitment to serve with honesty and dedication, many of the victims would have not been given immediate assistance,” he added.
With their show of courage and dedication, President Aquino commended Dela Cruz for guiding and leaving good examples both to the PAF leadership and personnel.
He noted that Delgado served in the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the term of his mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino. He said Delgado also served as his senior military aide in the first two years of his term as President.
Delgado on Friday vowed to waste no time to propel the command with the incoming modern air defense assets.
“As the new pilot in command I will increase PAF pressure and add more thrusts to propel the organization in-step with the defense establishment, the national government and our valued stakeholders,” Delgado, said in his speech.
Delgado vowed to continue his predecessors' goal of improving the PAF's firepower.
“I am grateful to…all the previous commanding generals of PAF for bringing us closer to the vision of professional and competent Air Force responsive to national security. In this important period in our history, [we should exert more effort in] enabling the defense establishment to shift its focus to the more pressing concerns of territorial defense. The goal is to have a credible defense posture, to pursue the ends of policy and protect our core interest,” he said.
Recently, the Department of National Defense forged an agreement with the Republic of Korea for the procurement of 12 units of lead-in training fighter jets (FA-50 “Golden Eagle”) from the Korean Aerospace, Inc. (KAI). The project is worth almost P19 billion.
“The initial delivery starting this year of various advance aircraft, new radars and modern equipment will translate to increased capabilities for air defense, maritime security and national development,” Delgado said.
“Propelling the Air Force to ably perform its mandate into the future will require learning strategy and character. Learning as we begin to receive and employ new weapon systems of higher technology and sophistication," said Delgado.
"Strategy as we have smartly harness our enhanced capabilities to address current and emerging challenges in our environment. Character as every airman should be a bedrock of discipline, law and order, practitioner of sound core values and a warrior armed with a winning attitude,” he added.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/85453/paf-shopping-list-has-jets-choppers-patrol-craft-flight-simulators---aquino
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