DND: Air power vital tool vs. all kinds of security concerns

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 21, 2023): DND: Air power vital tool vs. all kinds of security concerns (By Priam Nepomuceno)

DND Assistant Secretary for Logistics, Acquisitions and Self-Reliant Defense Posture Joselito Ramos (left) and PAF chief Lt.Gen. Stephen Parreño (right) (PNA photo by Priam Nepomuceno)

MANILA – Air power is an important tool in addressing all kinds of security concerns and threats, an official of the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Wednesday.

"Air power is a very vital component in addressing all kinds of threats, we’re not only talking about threats in the region but also nakikita natin araw-araw (we see everyday) threats (from) the environment, we have a lot of disasters, and the Air Force is the First Force to be, it’s always the First Force to be there whenever there are calamities and disasters," Joselito Ramos, Defense Assistant Secretary for Logistics, Acquisitions and Self-Reliant Defense Posture, said on the sidelines of the Air Power Symposium held Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

Ramos also said the defense department is well aware of this and is supportive of the Philippine Air Force's (PAF) effort to modernize.

"And so the Department of National Defense is cognizant of this and we are fully supportive of the efforts and initiatives of the PAF," he added.

Meanwhile, PAF chief Lt.Gen. Stephen Parreño said the Air Force Symposium is part of the Air Force's 76th pre-anniversary activities.

The PAF was established on July 1, 1947.

"This (symposium) aims to update our PAF personnel and other stakeholders of the different perspectives of experts coming from the different agencies of the government (with) different backgrounds so meron kaming (we will have) comprehensive knowledge on evolving security landscape. From there, we could base our plans, strategies, proposals so that we could have very good inputs para sa aming (for our) plans for the future," he added.

The Air Force chief also said air power is a very important component in joint forces especially in territorial defense.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203989