Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. (File photo)
President Rodrigo R. Duterte's calls for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to have a greater role in governance is a reiteration and emphasis of its current function, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday.
"In his 5th SONA (State-Of-the-Nation Address, Monday) the President called on the AFP to play a vital role in a whole-of-government governance. We understand that the President did not mean the AFP would take part in the day-to-day management of the LGUs (local government units)," Lorenzana said in a press statement.
It means, Lorenzana said, that since AFP units are deployed nationwide, the military is in a position and an ideal partner of other line agencies and LGUs in the delivery of basic services, and in the implementation of development projects.
He added that such function for the AFP is not new as Army commanders have been members of the Regional Peace and Development Councils and as such, they participate in the crafting of policies and programs to improve security and implement development programs, he added.
"This function was further enhanced by the issuance of the President of EO (Executive Order) 70 in December 2018. EO 70 aims to 'institutionalize the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace' that would allow countryside development," Lorenzana said.
He added EO 70 also provided for the creation of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) with the President as the chairman and the National Task Force composed of all government line agencies and the LGUs.
"The AFP performs an important role in the NTF because it has the manpower and equipment that could easily be mobilized to implement the projects of the NTF ELCAC. Regional Task Forces were likewise created that included regional offices of line agencies and the LGUs," Lorenzana said.
And while NTF-ELCAC's main focus is on ending the communist insurgency, it also devotes a lot of its efforts to partnering with the LGUs to bring development to the countryside, he added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1110432
"In his 5th SONA (State-Of-the-Nation Address, Monday) the President called on the AFP to play a vital role in a whole-of-government governance. We understand that the President did not mean the AFP would take part in the day-to-day management of the LGUs (local government units)," Lorenzana said in a press statement.
It means, Lorenzana said, that since AFP units are deployed nationwide, the military is in a position and an ideal partner of other line agencies and LGUs in the delivery of basic services, and in the implementation of development projects.
He added that such function for the AFP is not new as Army commanders have been members of the Regional Peace and Development Councils and as such, they participate in the crafting of policies and programs to improve security and implement development programs, he added.
"This function was further enhanced by the issuance of the President of EO (Executive Order) 70 in December 2018. EO 70 aims to 'institutionalize the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace' that would allow countryside development," Lorenzana said.
He added EO 70 also provided for the creation of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) with the President as the chairman and the National Task Force composed of all government line agencies and the LGUs.
"The AFP performs an important role in the NTF because it has the manpower and equipment that could easily be mobilized to implement the projects of the NTF ELCAC. Regional Task Forces were likewise created that included regional offices of line agencies and the LGUs," Lorenzana said.
And while NTF-ELCAC's main focus is on ending the communist insurgency, it also devotes a lot of its efforts to partnering with the LGUs to bring development to the countryside, he added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1110432
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